Dean of Students
What do I do if I know a student who may need to be referred to the CARE Team?
- If you feel there is an immediate threat, call Campus Safety at (518) 388-6911.
- To make a referral, you can call the Director of the Counseling Center or the Dean of Students Office. You will be asked for basic information about the student and a description of the incident or behaviors that prompted the referral.
- You are the CARE Team’s best resource because you are familiar to the student. If you are comfortable doing so, tell the student that you are concerned and ask if he/she is OK. In many cases students will indicate that they could use some help and you can refer them to the Counseling Center.
Who can make a referral to the CARE Team?
Anyone who feels a student is a threat to themselves and/or the community can make a referral; including students, parents, faculty and staff, and other community members.
What happens after I make the referral?
If the concern is urgent the Dean of Students in conjunction with the Director of the Counseling Center, may seek out the student to make sure everything is ok. In a less urgent situation the student will be discussed in our biweekly Care Team meeting, and all of the relevant people will evaluate how to proceed. Each situation is different and requires a unique approach.
What happens to the student under the CARE Team?
If the CARE Team determines a student is appropriate for monitoring, the student will be added to a list of students discussed at each CARE Team meeting. A course of action is outlined and then reviewed during the subsequent meeting. Usually a Team member will be responsible for contacting the student to initiate an appropriate response.
Will students be disciplined?
The CARE Team protocol is aimed specifically at providing for the health of students in the community. It does not address disciplinary issues or mete out sanctions.
How do I know if it is a CARE Team issue or if it is more appropriately handled by other campus resources?
You do not have to make this determination; the CARE Team will do it for you. The most critical step is that you report it the Dean of Students Office or Counseling Center. If another campus resource is more appropriate, the CARE Team will refer the student and handle the transfer of information.
What about confidentiality?
We can never promise confidentiality when life safety is an issue, but we will make every effort to treat each case with discretion. School officials may be required to report situations involving threats to safety.
(adapted from University of South Carolina BIT protocol)
RESOURCES:
Counseling Center
(518) 388-6161
Dean of Students
(518) 388-6116