Supporting Students of Concern or in Emergencies
- After Hours Concerns and Psychological Emergencies
- Assisting Students of Concern
- Students of Concern Committee
- Referral Guide: Who to contact for specific issues
- Additional Resources
After Hours Concerns and Psychological Emergencies
An emergency is an event or situation that poses a potential threat to the life, safety, and well-being of an individual or members of the University community or affects the operation or reputation of the University that requires immediate attention. In the event of an emergency, Public Safety is the primary point of contact. University Public Safety Officers are on call 24 hours every day with one trained EMT on every shift and 2 on weekends to respond to medical emergencies. Public Safety will contact the appropriate Student Life on-call staff as needed to respond to the situation.
Public Safety: Call 401-254-3333
Assisting Students of Concern
Faculty, staff, students, or others who are concerned about a student's behavior or well-being during business hours (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.), are encouraged to share the concern with a member of the Student Life staff by calling 401-254-3042 to be referred to the appropriate Student Life staff member. The Student Life staff member will coordinate the necessary follow-up in consultation with other appropriate staff. A referral should be considered when you believe that a student's problems go beyond your own experience and expertise, or when you feel uncomfortable helping a student with a particular issue. Referrals can also be submitted through the STUDENT OF CONCERN FORM.
This form should only be submitted for non-urgent situations. Emergency situations should be directed to University Public Safety at 401-254-3333. The use of electronic mail does not guarantee a timely response and should not be used for urgent needs or emergencies. Please call the appropriate staff member or Public Safety to respond to emergency situations. Behaviors that interfere with the students’ ability to be successful or function well in the living, learning, or work environment, or that disrupts the well-being of others warrant a referral. Some examples include:
- Marked decline in quality of course work, e.g., class participation, quality of papers or test results, increased absence from class, not turning in work.
- Sadness, apathy, weight changes, sleep difficulty, isolation from others, negative statements about self.
- Nervousness, excessive worry, concentration difficulties, irritability, muscle tension.
- Aggression, chronic anger, hostility toward others. Contact Public Safety at 401-254-3333 if a student expresses an immediate threat, intention, or plan to kill others.
- Extreme attachment to faculty, staff, or roommates - e.g., hanging around during office hours and at other times, not able to be alone.
- Change in personal upkeep (i.e., eating, sleep, reduced cleanliness).
- References to suicide, either directly or indirectly (i.e., "I won't be around to take that exam anyway" or "I'm not worried about getting a job - I won't need one"). Contact Public Safety at 401-254-3333 if a student expresses an immediate threat, intention, or plan to kill themselves.
- Alcohol and/or drug use negatively affecting student or others
- Eating-related concerns, such as binging, purging, excessive exercise, negative body image
- Cutting or other forms of self-injury.
- Student art, written material, or oral presentations that prompt concern.
Each student expresses their concerns uniquely. If there is doubt about the seriousness of the problem, consultation to determine next steps is available with:
- Derek Zuckerman, Associate Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students, 401-254-3042
- Allison Chase Padula, Assistant Provost for Student Success, 401-254-3456
- Diana Proto, Director of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, 401-254-3042
- Christopher Bailey, Director Counseling Center, 401-254-3124
The Counseling Center has counselors available to meet with students from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday during the academic year. During winter break, spring break, and during the summer, the Counseling Center is open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday. After hours or during holidays, student life staff are on-call to support and assess students who are experiencing difficulty. Counselors are not available for individual sessions outside of the confines of the Counseling Center during the day or after hours.
Financial Well-being Resources
We make every effort to support students’ financial well-being — the ability to successfully manage expenses and meet short- and long- term financial goals within an established budget and current resources. At times, students experience unanticipated situations or face difficult circumstances that interfere with their financial well-being and academic success.
Referral Guide: Who to contact for specific issues
Students can be referred to the following resources when specific assistance is needed:
Absent from class for a week or more due to sickness or family emergency
Student Life Office, 401-254-3042, Center for Student Development
Academic Concerns
Faculty are invited to partner with the Center for Student Academic Success in supporting students who may be struggling academically by making an academic referral. Reasons for referral might include: currently failing (or in jeopardy of failing) the course, missing a significant amount of classes that impacts the student’s standing in the course, failure to submit homework/coursework, needs support in navigating a University academic policy/process, in need of a referral for further academic support. Faculty referrals are a critical component of successful intervention as it identifies students in need of additional support.
ACADEMIC REFERRAL FORM
Faculty Advisor
Advising and Peer Mentorship Office, 401-254-3456, library 2nd floor
Tutoring Center, Library 2nd floor
Academic Skills: time management, note-taking, test preparation
Tutoring Center, Library 2nd floor
Academic Major Planning
Faculty Advisor Advising and Peer Mentorship Office/Center for Student Academic Success, 401-254-3456, library 2nd floor. Staff in this office work specifically with exploring students or students thinking about major changes.
Center for Career and Professional Development, 401-254-3224, careers@rwu.edu, GHH 1st flr.
Academic Dean’s Office
Accommodations or support for a learning, physical, medical, psychiatric disability
Student Accessibility Services, 401-254-3841, Library 1st floor. This office also assists students with temporary disabilities (including limb breaks, concussions, etc.)
Bias Complaint or filing a report about discrimination act of bigotry, harassment or intimidation based on actual or perceived race, religion, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, pregnancy, marital status, or any other category protected by law.
Bias Incident Response
Office of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, 401-254-3533, Center for Student Development, 1st floor
Community Director (CD) if within a residential community
Career opportunities or career counseling – including summer employment, post-graduation employment, graduate/professional school
Center for Career and Professional Development, 401-254-3224, careers@rwu.edu, GHH 1st floor
Clubs, Organizations and Student Engagement Opportunities
Student Programs and Leadership Office, 401-254-3088 Recreation Center
Cultural or identity issues/support
Intercultural Center Staff (Multicultural, International, LBGTQ), 401-254-5422, Maple Hall
Counseling Center, 401-254-3124, Center for Student Development
Student Life, 401-254-3042, Center for Student Development
Spiritual Life
Community Service Opportunities
Feinstein Center for Engaged Learning, 401-254-3787, service@rwu.edu, Farmhouse Building Across from Commons
Center for Community Partnerships, 401-254-3307, Farmhouse Building, across from the Commons
Emotional distress
Student Life, 401-254-3042, Center for Student Development
Department of Residence Life and Housing, 401-254-3161, Center for Student Development
Director of Student and Family Assistance, 401-254-3042, Center for Student Development
Counseling Center, 401-254-3124, Center for Student Development
Facilities Concerns
During Business Hours 8:30 am – 5:00 pm, Facilities Department, 401-254-3136
After hours contact Public Safety, 401-254-3611
Financial Concerns
Financial Aid Office, 401-254-3356, finaid@rwu.edu, Administration Building
Financial Well-being Resources
Student Life, 401-254-3042, Center for Student Development
Advising & Peer Mentorship Office, 401-254-3456 for assistance related to academic planning/options as they relate to financial concerns.
Health or Wellness information
Health Education, 401-254-3042, Center for Student Development
Health Services, 401-254-3156, Center for Student Development
Counseling Center, 401-254-3124, Center for Student Development
Housing Concerns
Department of Residence Life and Housing, 401-254-3161, Center for Student Development
Immigration issues
Assistant Director of International Student Services, 401-254-3400,
Internships
Center for Career and Professional Development internship information, 401-254-3224, GHH 1st floor
Center for Community Partnerships, 401-254-3307
Leave of absence or transfer to another school (Hiatus)
Center for Student Academic Success, 401-254-3456, library 2nd floor
LGBTQ support
Assistant Director for Queer and Trans Student Initiatives, 401-254-3591, Intercultural Center, Maple Hall
Q-TRAC (Queer & Trans Resource and Advocacy Center), Maple Hall
Counseling Center, 401-254-3124, Center for Student Development
Medical leave or emergency withdrawal
Director of Student and Family Assistance, 401-254-3042, Center for Student Development
Parking
Public Safety, parking@rwu.edu
Taking time away, transfer to another institution or other change in status (including reinstatements) other than for medical leave of absence
Advising & Peer Mentorship Office/Center for Student Academic Success, 401-254-3456, library 2nd floor
Roommate Conflicts
Department of Residence Life and Housing, Community Director, and/or RA, 401-254-3161
Office of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution, 401-254-3042, Center for Student Development
Safety concern (to self or others)
If threat to self or others is immediate, contact Public Safety 401-254-3333
Counseling Center, 401-254-3124, Center for Student Development
Student Life, 401-254-3042, Center for Student Development
Sexual harassment or sexual assault complaint or a complaint about discrimination based on gender, sex, or sexual orientation.
File a Report
Jen Stanley, Title IX Coordinator or other Deputy Title IX Coordinators, 401-254-3123, Center for Student Development 2nd floor
Office of Student Conduct & Conflict Resolution, 401-254-3042, Center for Student Development
For emotional support, Counseling Center, 401-254-3124, Center for Student Development
Spiritual or religious support
Spiritual Life
Tutoring
Tutoring Center, Library 2nd floor
Students of Concern Committee
The Students of Concern Committee (SOC) identifies students who may be experiencing difficulty or distress and accepts referrals of students of concern from members of the university community. A plan for appropriate follow up and resources are identified to assist the student in achieving success at RWU. Led by the Dean of Student Life and Associate Dean of Student Success, this group meets weekly with member representatives from Residence Life and Housing, Student and Family Assistance, the Counseling Center, Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution, Center for Student Academic Success, and other offices as needed to discuss students referred for follow-up or otherwise identified as needing assistance.
The Student of Concern Committee is not intended to substitute for faculty and staff conversations with students or to take the place of referrals to the Counseling Center. Rather, when relevant, it is hoped that faculty and staff contacting the SOC will simultaneously encourage students to visit the Counseling Center or that the person referred to the SOC will be used as an additional resource. Referrals can be made using the STUDENT OF CONCERN FORM or by contacting the Dean of Student Life at 401-254-3042.
Additional Resources
Resident Assistants
Resident Assistants are on-call for each residential area from 7:00 PM – 7:00 AM. The RA on call for each building is listed on the floor RA’s door or can be reached by contacting Public Safety 401-254-3333.
Community Director (CD)
CDs are professional live-in staff who are on-call for the campus each evening and expected to respond to on-campus situations after hours. CDs can be contacted via Public Safety at 401-254-3333.
Crisis Hotlines
- The Samaritans: 401-272-4044 or 800-365-4044
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255 (spells TALK)
- Crisis Text Line: text 741741
- National Hopeline Network: 800-784-2433 (spells SUICIDE)
- The Trevor Project (LGBTQ, ages 13-24): 866-488-7386
- Pathways for Change: 800-870-5905 provides support to those impacted by sexual violence
Bias Incident Response Information
Sexual Assault and Dating Violence Information
Referral Guide – Who to Contact Based on Issue
Medical Resources
- Nurse Care Lines – Most insurance companies offer a nurse care line option – check the back of your insurance card
- Local Emergency Medical Care