I see it all the time, especially in my Freshmen students: stress and illness. These both increase around midterms and final exam time. College students are notorious for many things, and one of those is letting the new stressful demands of being on their own--not to mention communal living-- take a toll on their health.

I was glad to see this article extolling the importance of this issue, as well as offering helpful advice.

Know where to go for medical emergencies and nonemergencies. Be aware of what services are available at your student health center. Too often, students don't know that there are many services available to them, including counseling for stress. Find out the location of the nearest emergency room and keep important phone numbers for medical services handy.

Practice good hygiene. Dorms are a petri dish for infectious diseases such mononucleosis, so be armed. Wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap, said Jacqueline Deats, director of student health services at Chapman University in Orange, Calif. Don't share your drinking glass, water bottle, towel, toothbrush, cosmetics, razor and other personal items. Wear flip-flops when using the bathrooms and showers at the dorm.

Fill up on zzzs. ''It sounds fairly simple, but getting enough sleep can make a big difference,'' said Patricia Ketcham, chairwoman of the National College Health Assessment advisory committee for the National College Health Association. Too many late nights studying or partying can weaken your immune system. Don't use caffeine regularly to stay awake for class. Take naps.

The improvement in university healthcare is truly amazing. Most schools offer free or discounted medical services and a wide array of options for students. It is not uncommon for university health centers to employ everything from general practitioners to dermatologists to psychiatrists.

Here's to a healthy fall semester.