Guidance for faculty and staff on how to approach a difficult conversation with a student and how to make a referral in the case where more help is needed.
Students in crisis or who are exhibiting concerning or worrying behaviors often need additional attention in order to ensure they are safe, the community is safe, and that they can continue to be successful while at UW-Madison.
Communicating and supporting students
The Office of Student Assistance and Support recognizes that most faculty and staff are not counselors, psychiatrists, or law enforcement officers. Instead faculty and staff should have the skills and knowledge to respond to students appropriately and make referrals.
Email communications
University Health Services has recommendations on how to respond to a student email that indicates that student may be struggling with a mental health concern, including advice and email examples for different situations.
Discussing suicide
Faculty, staff, and teaching assistants can play a role in preventing suicide and promoting help-seeking behaviors on campus. Taking steps to prevent student suicide can look different in different circumstances.
Your syllabus
A simple way to support students who are struggling with mental health issues is to include a brief statement in course syllabi. By including a statement, you can promote help-seeking behaviors, support campus-wide suicide prevention efforts, and demonstrate a culture of caring.
Responding to specific concerns
Mental health support
Guidance on what to do when you observe a student who may be struggling emotionally.
Disordered eating
Supporting students health and well being, including what to do, and what not to do.
Student anxiety
How to recognize symptoms, types of anxiety, what to do, and what not to do.
Demanding behavior
Working with students who may be intrusive, persistent and require extra time and attention.
Financial support
Crisis loans can support students experiencing financial hardship.
Disoriented/psychotic behavior
Working with students who may show signs of disorientation or psychotic behavior.
Misconduct
Whether it’s a feeling that cheating might have taken place, or something more serious, misconduct is typically handled in two ways: Academic or Non-Academic. The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards are the people who help guide faculty, staff, and students through these situations.
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Academic Misconduct
This 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
This may include things like reporting hate or bias, sexual violence, hazing or other issues that may work against the university’s living and learning environment that is safe and free from violence, harassment, fraud, theft, disruption, and intimidation.