Ithaca College

What if you are worried about the well-being of an Ithaca College student?

Do you know what to do about a student who shows signs of distress, is disruptive, or unusually sad or angry?

The Assisting Students at Risk initiative, introduced to campus last year, is designed to simplify the reporting of concerns, emphasize the need for early intervention with students, and strengthen campus-wide responsiveness to mental health and safety needs.

The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Life (SACL) serves as the central repository for information regarding students of concern. Once a report is made, the associate vice president will review and gather information, provide consultation and resources and determine if and when to call together an intervention team to strategize an appropriate response.

If you notice a student in distress and would like to enlist help beyond your own resources, then please consider reporting your concerns. Faculty should report concerns to their respective dean's office. That dean's office will work with the faculty member regarding the situation and contact the SACL office as appropriate.

Staff members are encouraged to complete the reporting form on the SACL website (see below) and submit it to the Office of Student Affairs and Campus Life or to call the office directly at 274-3374. Students can share concerns with a professional staff member who may make a formal report to the SACL office.

If you are concerned about the immediate physical safety of yourself or a student, call the Office of Public Safety (274-3333).

In addition to providing a central place for reporting concerns about the well-being of a student or the safety of the campus community, the Assisting Students at Risk initiative provides information to the campus community about risk issues and resources.

Responding to Students in Distress: A Guide for Faculty and Staff at Ithaca College is available at: 

https://www.ithaca.edu/sacl/services/assist   

Provided by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Life and the Counseling Center, this resource guide covers the following topics:

• Responding to Emergencies or Threats to Safety
• Identifying and Responding to Students in Distress
• Responding to Specific Behaviors
• Students with Anxiety
• Students Who Are Demanding
• Students with Depression
• Students Who Have Disordered Eating
• Students Who May Be Suicidal
• Students Who Are Severely Disoriented or Psychotic
• Student Who Are Aggressive or Potentially Violent
• When You Suspect Substance Abuse
• Resources: Campus and Other
• Referring a Student for Professional Help

Portions or the entire document can be downloaded and printed for reference. See the Documents section for details.

Please take a few moments to familiarize yourself with this important information.  Thank you in advance for your role in assisting students at risk and helping to maintain a safe and supportive campus community.