College Health Surveillance Network (CHSN) is the first national database of college students’ health data, collected from student health centers at universities across the country. College health centers are the primary source of preventive and therapeutic health services for college students. Initially funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CHSN gathers data on more than 1,000,000 enrolled students attending a nationally representative sample of colleges and universities. The prospective data collection, which began on January 1, 2011, includes diagnosis and procedure codes, key demographics, and geographical variables. While students’ records are de-identified, the CHSN data repository provides the ability to study health outcomes and behaviors longitudinally. CHSN data can reveal important trends regarding the health and health care utilization of college students, a unique population with distinct behavioral and health risk factors.
