A Student of Concern is any student who may be experiencing personal, financial, or health challenges. They may display behaviors that interfere with their own success or disrupt the learning of others.
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Examples of concerning behavior
Some examples of concerning behavior include:
- Missing classes, meetings, or not responding to communications
- Navigating personal challenges with broad impacts on student
- Experiencing physical or mental health challenges
- Significant change in behavior
- Comments that are inappropriate or irrelevant to class discussion
- Unable to control emotions
- Poor hygiene
- Appears intoxicated or smells of alcohol
- Appears high or smells of marijuana
- Appears tired or is constantly falling asleep in class
- Very anxious
- Concerning writing or art
- Extreme change in weight
- Extreme change in appearance
- Unusual bruising or other injuries
- Interrupting class discussions
- Interfering with other students’ ability to learn
- Making threats or threatening behavior
- Talking or writing about suicide
How we help
The Office of Student Assistance and Support Office can help with:
- Consultation – We consult with faculty, staff, family members, fellow students to discuss resources and ways to support the student
- Resource referral – We share information about campus and community resources and help students get connected
- Outreach – We conduct direct outreach to students of concern to check-in and offer support and assistance
- Coordination of outreach and information among multiple offices – In some cases, another office or resource may be better positioned to assist a student. Our staff can help coordinate this
Students are referred to the Office of Student Assistance and Support from a wide range of sources, including faculty, staff, family members, or other students. The goal is to avert more serious difficulties and provide support as the student works toward academic and personal success.
Process
In many cases, you should first reach out to the student to check in if you observe concerning behavior. Refer to our guide Talking with students.
University of Wisconsin – Madison students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to refer students to the Office of Student Assistance and Support who are experiencing a difficult situation related to their academic success or personal health and well-being.
The Office of Student Assistance and Support staff promptly reviews each Student of Concern referral during business hours (Monday-Friday 8:30am-4pm).
Note: The referral form should not be used for emergency or life-threatening assistance until after contacting emergency services listed on referral form.
There are several possible steps that staff may take to coordinate support options for the student based on the circumstances and information available. Though each response may follow a different path, for each referral our staff will take these steps.
Steps our office takes:
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Review referral and contact submitter to confirm next steps
- Our staff will confirm receipt of the referral and share next steps, typically within one business day (if the submitter provides contact information).
- To respect student privacy, we may not be able to share all details of the situation, but we may share relevant information on a need-to-know basis.
Coordinate student support and outreach
These steps may include (but are not limited to):
- Direct outreach to the student via multiple means (email, phone, text) to offer support.
- Consult with campus partners to coordinate support.
- Consult with student’s academic advisor, faculty, University Housing, or other areas where student is affiliated.
- Utilize UW databases to determine student’s status or engagement on campus.
Update submitter
- In most cases, our staff will provide an update to the submitter either once contact is made with the student or when we have relevant information to share.
- While our staff will promptly take action once a referral is made, submitters should expect that it can take two weeks or more to reach a resolution.
Missing and non-engaged students
Faculty, staff, fellow students, or family members may notice a student has stopped attending classes, meetings, or has stopped communicating. This can sometimes occur suddenly or over a period of time. Our office refers to these students as non-engaging students. Only law enforcement can designate someone as officially “missing”.
If you believe a student is in immediate danger or is missing, please contact the University of Wisconsin Police Department at 911 or 608-264-2677. If a student is experiencing a mental health crisis, please call the UHS 24/7 Crisis Line at 608-265-5600 (option 9)
In other cases, if you are concerned about a student who may has stopped attending classes/meetings and has not responded to communication attempts, you can submit a Student of Concern Referral, either by the linked form, by calling our office at 608-263-5700, or by email at osas@studentaffairs.wisc.edu.
After a referral is submitted, a staff member will respond and initiate the non-engaging student process.
The Office of Student Assistance and Support will determine whether additional measure, such a “welfare check” by police or University Housing staff is warranted.