Hours and Availability: Academic Schedule, Summer, and Winter

During the course of the regular academic year, Counseling, Health and Wellness Services (CHWS), which includes the PLU Counseling Center and the PLU Health Center, is available Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 5:00pm, with the exception of holidays and the following situations.

2023 Summer Availability

CHWS continues to be available for students seeking care with the following modified summer schedule:

Counseling Center

The Counseling Center (253-535-7206) will transition to summer hours, beginning June 1 through August 11:

    • Counseling Center is open Mondays through Thursdays.
    • Office hours are 8:00am-noon and 1:00-5:00pm (closed for lunch).
      • We will resume regular Monday-Friday office hours Monday, August 14, 2023.
    • The Counseling Center is closed the whole month of July.
    • Lute Telehealth and/or the crisis line (253-535-7075) are available for all enrolled students, per eligibility (see below).
Health Center

The Health Center (253-535-7206) will be CLOSED for medical care* beginning June 1 through August 11New for Academic Year 23-24: Starting August 14, we will be open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9:00am to 4:00pm (closed for lunch from 12:00-1:00pm).

    • Important: There will be no provider to receive, review, or approve medication refill requests during this closure.  If you believe you may need medication refills or other services that we provide for you, please call to schedule an appointment before May 31, 2023 to discuss this.  If you run out after this, you will need to seek care from your primary care provider, Lute TeleHealth, or a local urgent care clinic.
    • If you need medical services during the summer, please use

* The Health Center will be staffed during the summer (3 days/wk from 9:00am – 4:00pm) for administrative work only.  If you have paperwork to turn in, or questions related to required medical paperwork, please email health@plu.edu or call 253-535-7337 for assistance.  Walk-ins are not available.

Review 24/7 Support options below for service availability during our closures. 

Support When Offices Are Closed

For urgent mental health support when offices are closed, please call the After-Hours Crisis Line at 253-535-7075.

For urgent medical assistance after hours, please call the Consulting Nurse line at 253-792-6410.

Additional resources listed below at “24/7 Support” or click the image below to access Lute Telehealth online services.

Lute Telehealth

Eligibility for Summer Services

  • Continuing students enrolled during Summer term or the upcoming Fall semester:
    • may utilize CHWS services (Counseling Center and Health Center) during the summer
    • are eligible for care with Lute Telehealth 24/7/365
  • Students who graduate in May:
    • are eligible for care with Lute TeleHealth until August 1st
    • are ineligible for CHWS services post-graduation (date of graduation)
  • New incoming students for Fall Semester:
    • are eligible for care with Lute Telehealth as of the early arrival / move to campus dates, once the following criteria are met:
      • the enrollment deposit has been made, and
      • they are registered for Fall classes
    • may begin utilizing CHWS services (Counseling Center and Health Center) as of the early arrival / move to campus dates, once the following criteria are met:
      • the enrollment deposit has been made, and
      • they are registered for Fall classes
  • Students enrolled in a PLUS Year are eligible for CHWS services during the summer.

24/7 Support

PLU students have the following additional options for receiving medical and mental health services:

Lute Telehealth

All currently enrolled students may access Lute Telehealth services (free account activation required – use PLU credentials).  Lute Telehealth provides a broader range of options for the PLU student (e.g., access to care for students currently located out of state, broader diversity of provider characteristics, and appointment availability).

  • For students living out-of-state, please use Lute Telehealth to be connected to a counselor or medical provider.
  • Lute Telehealth provides easy access to medical and mental health services (online or by telephone) at any time via on-demand and scheduled appointments. We encourage you to connect with this service as it fits for you.
Counseling Center Crisis Line

Students in need of urgent mental health support have access 24-hours a day to telephone-based support.  The Crisis Line provides a triage service to assess the nature of student’s presenting concerns and help students identify next steps to support their health and safety.

  • Call (253) 535-7075 to speak with a counselor immediately.

Winter Break

All PLU offices, including CHWS, are closed from Christmas Eve through New Years Day.

Inclement Weather

  • CHWS follows the university’s lead on late openings and/or closures due to inclement or severe weather.  If the university is closed, we are as well.  Please be aware that communication from our office is limited during these situations (and likely suspended if the university is closed).  Availability of office staff, counselors, and clinicians are also likely to be adversely affected and schedules modified.
    • If classes are cancelled and the university is closed due to inclement weather, your scheduled appointment will also be cancelled and our offices closed.  Office staff will not be available to contact clients to reschedule appointments.
    • If the university opens late or closes early, CHWS will be on the same schedule — i.e. if the campus has a 2-hour delayed start, our offices will not open until 10:00am.
  • Appointments will be considered cancelled during a weather-related university closure.  We will do our best to reschedule appointments affected by the closure.
  • Students will not be penalized for missing an appointment on a day that classes are cancelled or have a delayed start.