Guides
Guidance for students, faculty, and staff provided by the Office of Student Assistance and Support
Our goal is to be a central resource that helps students connect with campus resources. The office also consults faculty and staff, parents, families, and friends, working together to serve students.
Talking with students
Syllabus, email, and general communication strategies for supporting students, as well as how to address demanding behavior and de-escalation techniques.
Academic flexibility and attendance guidance
Guidance about academic flexibility requests for class attendance or coursework, including for pregnant or parenting students.
Specific concerns
Food and financial support
Resources to assist with food access and financial support.
Anxiety
Ways to support and open a dialogue with students that may be struggling with anxiety.
Crisis loans and grants
Short term loans and grants for students when unexpected or emergency life events take place that causes financial hardship.
Disruptive behavior
How to manage a student who exhibits disruptive behavior in the classroom.
Disordered eating
Guidance on how to respond to a student when you are concerned including resources on who to talk to.
Death of a student
In the event of a student’s death, the Office of Student Assistance and Support will start the process to close the student’s records, provide support to other impacted students and to the student’s family.
Students of concern
Learn how to refer a Student of Concern. This could include concerns about a student’s well-being or a student who may need additional support.
Student privacy
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that governs the privacy of student educational records, access to those records, and disclosure of information from them.
Discussing a student you are concerned about with the Office of Student Assistance and Support is permitted by FERPA if the discussion relates to the student’s experience at UW–Madison or could help the university support the student. Additionally, talking with any campus office that can help you assist the student directly is also permitted by FERPA. The Registrar’s Office has more information on student rights protected under FERPA.
Misconduct
Academic misconduct may involve questions of academic integrity which include honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Plagiarism, cheating, copying homework, and stealing an exam or course materials are all examples.
There are steps to take in this process, which the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards can help guide you through.
Non-academic misconduct may include things like hate or bias, sexual violence, hazing or other issues that may work against the university’s living and learning environment–one that is safe from violence, harassment, fraud, theft, disruption, and intimidation.
Awards and recognition
The Exceptional Citizenship Award is given to students who make the University campus a safer community through their actions.
Contact
Office of Student Assistance and Support
70 Bascom Hall
500 Lincoln Drive Madison, WI 53706-1380
Monday–Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
OSAS@studentaffairs.wisc.edu
608-263-5700
Let’s navigate this together.
After-hours support
- 24/7 mental health and urgent crisis support at 608-265-5600 (option 9)
- Non-emergency UW police line: 608-264-2677
- UW Police Department