Care Team & Academic Alert
CARE Team & Academic Alert
Use this table to determine whom to contact when concerned about a student.
ACADEMIC ALERT
Make this report if you are concerned about:
Choice of degree/ major
Does not have books
Frequent tardiness
Frequently unprepared
Incomplete/ inadequate work
Lack of communication
Lack of effort
Late work
Poor class attendance
Poor performance
CARE TEAM ALERT
Make a report if you are concerned about:
Emotional distress or mental health problems
Family, peer or interpersonal problems causing significant distress
Anxiety or panic
Abuse or assault
Death in the family
Emotional outbursts in class
Concerns about general well being and functioning
Concerns about illness
Concerns about drug use
See Something
Robert Morris faculty and staff are in a unique position to demonstrate compassion for RMU students in distress. Both undergraduate and graduate students may feel alone, isolated, and even hopeless when faced with academic and life challenges. These feelings can easily disrupt academic performance and may lead to difficulties coping and other serious consequences. You may be the first person to SEE SOMETHING distressing in your students since you have frequent and prolonged contact with them. Robert Morris University requests that you act with compassion when assisting students.
Say Something
Students exhibiting troubling behaviors in your presence are likely having difficulties in various settings including the classroom, with roommates, with family, and even in social settings. Trust your instincts and SAY SOMETHING if a student leaves you feeling worried, alarmed or threatened!
Do Something
Sometimes students cannot or will not turn to family or friends. DO SOMETHING! Your expression of concern may be a critical factor in saving a student’s academic career or even their life. The purpose of this Website is to help you recognize symptoms of student distress and identify appropriate referrals to campus resources. You can contact resources directly, file a CARE team report, or contact public safety.
Distressed Students
BE PROACTIVE
Engage students early on, pay attention to signs of distress, and set limits on disruptive behavior.
BE DIRECT
Don’t be afraid to ask students directly if they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, feeling confused, or having thoughts of harming themselves or others.
LISTEN SENSITIVELY AND CAREFULLY
Use a non-confrontational approach and a calm voice. Avoid threatening, humiliating and intimidating responses.
SAFETY FIRST
The welfare of the campus community is the top priority when a student displays threatening or potentially violent behavior. Do not hesitate to call for help.
FOLLOW THROUGH
Direct the student to the physical location of the identified resource.
CONSULTATION AND DOCUMENTATION
Always document your interactions with distressed students and consult with your department chair/supervisor after any incident.
- Signs of Academic Difficulty
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- Deterioration in quality/quantity of work or grades
- Missed assignments or exams
- Frequent absences
- Disorganized or erratic performance
- Decline in enthusiasm in class or at work
- Sends frequent, lengthy, angry, or threatening types of emails
- Continual seeking of special provisions (i.e. late papers/projects, extended deadlines)
- Physical Signs of Distress
-
- A dramatic increase or decrease in energy level
- Noticeable changes in hygiene or personal appearance
- Substantial changes in weight
- Recurrent state of alcohol intoxication (i.e. drowsy, hung-over, smelling of alcohol)
- Observable cuts, bruises, or burns
- Falling asleep in class or other inopportune times
- Emotional Signs of Distress
-
- Expressions of hopelessness, fear, or worthlessness
- Themes of suicide, death, and dying in papers/projects
- Inappropriate/unprovoked emotional outbursts
- More withdrawn or more animated than usual
- Direct statements indicating distress, family problems, or other difficulties
- Peer report of a concern about a fellow student
- Potentially Suicidal Students
-
According to the Suicide Prevention Policy, any RMU employee who becomes aware of a suicide threat or gesture, whether written, verbal, or behavioral, must contact the Counseling Center immediately at:
412-397-5900 – during business hours (or you may walk the student to the Counseling Center located in Nicholson Center Suite 259) or call the University Police after business hours.
Disruptive Students
DISRUPTIVE STUDENT
A student whose conduct is clearly and imminently reckless, disorderly, dangerous or threatening.
TO GET HELP
If you are concerned for your own or others’ safety due to a student’s disruptive and/or threatening behavior, call the University Police Department.
REPORT INCIDENT TO
University Police Department
412-397-2424
If a student is causing a disruption but does not pose a threat:
Ensure your and the student’s safety in the environment.
Use a calm, non-confrontational approach to defuse/de-escalate the situation.
Set limits by explaining how the behavior is inappropriate.
If the disruptive behavior persists, notify the student that disciplinary action may be taken. Ask the student to leave. Inform him or her that refusal to leave may be a separate violation subject to discipline.
Immediately report the incident to the appropriate resource (CARE team or Police).
If you believe there is a safety risk, contact the University Police Department.
FAQ
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I MAKE A REPORT?
CARE Team members receive your report and use the information to make a determination about appropriate action. The goal is to assist the student while ensuring the safety of the campus community. At times, the CARE Team may determine that there is no need to take further action but will continue to monitor the situation or concern.
ARE REPORTS TO THE CARE TEAM CONFIDENTIAL?
The CARE Team will take appropriate steps to maintain the privacy of those who make a report, but in some situations, the reporter’s identity may be evident to the student. In accordance with privacy laws, CARE Team members cannot usually share outcomes with those who make an incident report.
Similarly, those making a report should never promise confidentiality to a student during the CARE Team report process, especially regarding suicidal/homicidal ideation or child abuse. Your full disclosure is important to the accuracy of the report and the potential outcome, and many of the situations listed above fall outside the realm of protected confidentiality.*
*Please note that some reports may be subject to mandated reporting under Title IX guidelines.
About the Care Team
The CARE Team works collaboratively with faculty and staff to identify, track, and respond to students in distress (personally or academically) within RMU’s student population. The focus of the CARE Team is to provide assistance to students in academic or personal distress, while also balancing the needs and well-being of the RMU community.
The CARE Team is comprised of representatives from the Center for Student Success, Counseling Center, Faculty, Residence Life, Department of Athletics, University Police, Student Programs & Student Community Standards and the Center for Global Engagement. The CARE Team gathers bi-weekly during the school year to discuss student issues and to create a plan to keep both the individual and the campus safe.
All submissions are reviewed within 24 hours and addressed as soon as possible. Due to privacy limitations, we may not be able to inform you of the outcome of your concern. If the team needs any further information, you will be contacted by a CARE team member. If you would like to submit additional information, please email the CARE team at careteam@rmu.edu.
About Early Alert
The Early Alert program promotes academic success by addressing potential issues within the classroom and subsequent appropriate support system for students. The Early Alert is a great resource that allows faculty and staff to identify students who may need a range of interventions to ensure their academic success. Examples of a faculty/staff member making a report include, but are not limited to:
- frequently late or absent from class
- poor academic performance
- late or missing homework
- poor test grades
- difficulty grasping course concepts
- severely limited class participation
- inappropriate classroom behavior
- sleeping, texting or regular disruption of the class
Faculty members will submit a report that will be distributed to the student's personal Coordinator in the Center for Student Success. The Coordinator will make up to 5 attempts to reach a student and invite them into the Center to create a plan to begin developing positive academic practices. The early intervention that results from an initial report can truly be the difference between the student passing or failing a class.
Campus Resources
UNIVERSITY POLICE
412-397-2424
COUNSELING CENTER
412-397-5900
counseling@rmu.edu
CENTER FOR STUDENT SUCCESS
412-397-6862
center4success@rmu.edu
DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE
412-397-6483
UPMC MYHEALTH@SCHOOL
412-397-6220
STUDENT ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES
412-397-6862
sas@rmu.edu
OFFICE OF DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND EQUITY
412-397-5490
odie@rmu.edu
CARE TEAM/EARLY ALERT
Tiffany Guthrie, LPC, NCC
Director
Counseling Center
guthrie@rmu.edu
412-397-5429