What is the Best Way to Help a Student?
First, if you think your friend or others might be in immediate danger, stop reading this and call 911. URI Campus Police has officers that are trained specifically to work with students in crisis.
Otherwise, if no one is in immediate danger, the best way to provide support for your friend is to make an online referral or call our office at 401-874-2098 between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Although anonymous reporting is allowed, it is best if you can provide your information for follow-up purposes. Learn more information about what happens when you submit a referral.
In addition to making a referral, you can also connect the student (by walking with them) to a variety of campus resources established to support students in need. Some of these offices include the Counseling Center, Dean of Students Office, Gender and Sexuality Center, Health Services, Multicultural Student Services Center, Office of International Students and Scholars, Spiritual/Religious Centers, and the Women’s Center. No matter what, make sure you submit a referral. This is the best way to ensure proper follow-up for your friend. And remember, please encourage them to respond to outreach from URI staff.
I received a request to meet with a case manager; do I have to make an appointment?
Although you can decline to meet with a case manager, we would prefer to meet with you to make sure that things are okay! A request to meet is sent when someone in the community has raised a concern about a student. The specific concern can vary widely to include concerns about the student’s personal well-being or concerns about the student’s behaviors. The purpose of the meeting is to share these concerns with the student and to determine what steps might be necessary to best support the student. Because so much is unknown about the specific issues involved, we strongly recommend that the student meets with a case manager to begin the process.
Will I know who referred me?
We encourage our community members to share their information when making a referral. However, sometimes students and faculty are concerned that students may not respond or may have other concerns if their identity is disclosed. SSAS will do our best to share all available information that we have about the referral source when possible.
Are you a therapist/counselor who provides clinical services?
SSAS case managers are trained psychologists, counselors, and social workers, but they do not provide clinical services in their role. SSAS can work with students to connect them to appropriate counseling services on campus, or make referrals to the clinical case manager for community referrals.
Is the information I share with the case manager confidential?
The information shared with the Student Behavioral Case Manager is protected under a set of federal regulations known as FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act). As a result, the information shared may only be released when the student provides permission or when there is an exception that allows for sharing. In all cases, every effort is made to protect students’ privacy. The information discussed will only be shared in the context of assisting the student. In order to coordinate services, written releases of information are signed by the student, when necessary. Learn more about FERPA and its exceptions.
Will I be notified when someone expresses a concern about my student?
Student records (including reports of concern) are protected by a set of federal laws and regulations known as FERPA. As a result, in most cases, parents will not be notified at the point where an individual raises an initial concern about the student. Despite this, SSAS works hard in many cases to involve parents by seeking permission from the student to make contact with the parent. During a conversation with a parent, the case manager is interested in learning more about the student while sharing resources that may be available to the parent and student going forward.
How do I get access to my student’s records?
In most cases, parents are prevented from receiving access to their student’s records unless the student has signed a release of information. Students can request their records from SSAS by emailing us at ssas@uri.edu.
Faculty/Staff
What happens once I refer a student?
I’m concerned about how the student will react when they learn I referred them. Can you keep my name out of it?
I have a student who is being very disruptive during class. Can I have them removed from my section?
I already referred a student to the Counseling Center. Should I still submit a referral online or over the phone?
What happens once I refer a student?
If the referral contains all of the information needed by Student Support and Advocacy Services, we will confirm receipt of the referral and reach out to the student. When needed, staff will contact the person making the referral to gather additional information. In most cases, this conversation helps to place the behaviors described in context. In addition, this conversation is used to provide the faculty/staff member with some basic resources for working with the student while the referral process continues.
What happens next in the process depends on the behaviors described, the urgency involved, and other information that is known or has been collected about the student. In some cases, it may be helpful to meet with the student to describe the concerns raised and determine the best approach going forward. Learn more about what happens when you submit a referral.
I’m concerned about how the student will react when they learn I referred them. Can you keep my name out of it?
Many faculty and staff express concern that a student will react strongly when the student learns that they have been referred to our office (perhaps by expressing anger toward the faculty/staff member individually). In most cases, this concern is unfounded, and the student appreciates the concern that has been expressed. Almost all students referred express their understanding that the referral was made based on a concern for them personally and because someone in the community cares enough to get them help.
I have a student who is being very disruptive during class. Can I have them removed from my section?
While some classroom disruptions can be signs of a student in distress, many are simply acts of acting out or disrespect that do not indicate a higher level of concern. Common examples include arriving late to class, inappropriate comments or questions, and interrupting the lecture or discussion. By sharing your concerns with the student in a private setting, you’ll have an opportunity to assess whether the student would benefit from additional support. Prior to submitting a conduct referral, learn more when classroom disruptions may violate the URI code of conduct.
I already referred a student to the Counseling Center. Should I still submit a referral online or over the phone?
Yes. Although Student Support and Advocacy Services maintains very close relationships with the Counseling Center and other campus resources, your referral will do two things: first, you are enhancing the odds that the student will maintain a connection with the resource provided (e.g. the student is less likely to show up once and then leave); and second, you ensure that your information is connected with other referrals submitted for the student so that those working with the student have a fuller picture of the issues involved. The best way to think about submitting the referral is as a way to document that you connected the student with a certain resource.