Recognizing and Assisting Students of Concern
Are you concerned about a student's health and well-being? Has a student's behavior disrupted your class or caused you to worry? If so, the College has compiled this guide to assist you in identifying students of concern and making appropriate referrals to resources on campus.
Where Do I Start?
A situation, observation or instinct tells you to be concerned about a student. If you are not sure where to start or how to proceed, please utilize this guide, talk to your supervisor or department chair, or contact the Needs Assessment Team. Multiple campus resources are available, for both the student and you.
Step 1: Determining an Appropriate Course of Action
Step 2: Assess the Level of Distress
Step 3 Assess Your Relationship with the Student
Campus Resources: Whom Do I Call?
Resources for Consultation and Referral
By clicking the above link, you will find a chart that lists possible student concerns and the appropriate offices or departments that may be contacted in those situations. This list is not exhaustive; however, it should provide you with a good framework from which to start.
The Needs Assessment Team
The Needs Assessment Team is a group of administrators that meets weekly to discuss situations brought to its attention by any member of the campus community seeking guidance on problematic behaviors of students. Depending on the nature of the incident, the team calls upon other members of the College and community as needed.
Making an Impact
Time and time again, Stonehill students report on the significant positive impact that faculty and staff have on their overall experience, both in and out of the classroom. During critical times, you may be the one person a student feels comfortable turning to and asking for help. Knowing how to approach and effectively engage a student, as well as being aware of available campus resources, can best assist you for these potentially difficult conversations.
We recognize that people have different comfort levels when it comes to discussing sensitive topics with students; therefore, please feel free to consult with the Office of Student Affairs if you need assistance at any time.
Other Resources for Supporting Our Students
To further assist faculty and staff in responding to the needs of the students they are concerned about, the Counseling & Testing Center will have monthly tips around how to help. Topics will include anxiety, depression, and adjustment, among many others. For this month's tip on how to help, click here.
For a centralized listing of the many support services available to our students, check out the Center for Teaching and Learning's listing of campus resources by clicking here.
The Counseling & Testing Center, Office of Academic Achievement/Disabilities Services, and the Center for Teaching and Learning have collaborated for the 2012-2013 academic year to offer a series of roundtable discussisions on supporting students called "Faculty SOS." For information, click here.