CARE Team
Campus Assessment Response and Evaluation
For a Safe UW-L Community
1)
The CARE Team was created to meet
regularly to review critical incidents and students in crisis.
Examples of when to
contact the CARE Team (785-8062) regarding a student:
- Student is
disruptive in class
- Student is
displaying behaviors that may be helped by counseling or medical
attention, i.e., depression, sudden weight loss, exhaustion,
alcohol/drug use
- Other
students voice concern about harassing behavior
The
CARE Team will also meet to review incidents regarding staff and faculty and,
when necessary, will ask appropriate administrators to be part of the
conversation.
2)
UW-L has entered into an agreement with the City of
3)
UW-L’s Emergency Response and Preparedness Plan is available at:
www.uwlax.edu/police/emerg.htm
4)
If there appears to be imminent danger, please call 789-9999 or 911
immediately. All other concerns may be directed to the Office of Student
Life, 785-8062.
CARE Team Members
Helping Campus Community Members in Difficulty
Resources
Preparedness
When to Call
University Police
What is Suspicious?
Information most needed
by Police
FAQs
CARE Team Mission Statement
The mission of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse's CARE
Team is to provide a proactive and supportive
multidisciplinary team approach to the management, assessment and
intervention of situations or individuals that may pose a physical or
psychological threat to the safety and well-being of the University
community, thereby helping maintain a safe campus environment conducive
to learning, personal growth, and success.
CARE Team Members
Brian Allen, Director, Student Health
Bridgette Hensley, Director, Counseling & Testing
Jen Miskowski, Faculty Assistant to the Provost
Anna Zettel, Counseling & Testing
Angie Lee, Student Life Coordinator, Student Life
Nick Nicklaus, Director, Residence Life
John Palmer, Assistant Dean of Students, Student Life
Ingrid Peterson, Violence Prevention & Wellness, Student Life
Scott Rohde, Chief, Police Services
Tim Shantz, Detective, Police Services
Amanda Goodenough, Campus Climate
CARE Team
FACULTY/STAFF/STUDENT DISTRESS GUIDE
Helping Campus Community Members in Difficulty
Campus Community Members in Distress
The CARE Team has developed this
informational guide as a means to assist faculty, staff the
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse community when dealing with
troubled students.
Preparedness
City Watch Website (http://www.uwlax.edu/emergency/)
- Register to obtain campus emergency notifications
If you are dealing with students in difficulty:
Be aware of location of nearest telephone, whether it is
within the building, or a personal cell phone.
If the student is a serious threat to others, contact Campus
Police immediately.
If the student is causing classroom disruption, but is not a
threat to others, discuss with the student individually
AND report to the Office of Student Life at 785-8062.
You may always ask the disruptive student to leave the
classroom.
If in doubt, always call Campus Police: 9-9999
When to Call the University Police – PROMPTLY!
9-1-1 for immediate threat to life
(608) 789-9999 for all others
· Any incident involving any weapon being displayed. (911)
· Any incident where a person has been injured by the actions of another.
· Any incident where a threat to harm or kill someone was make.
· Any suicide attempt
· Any substantial property damage.
· Any incident involving a hate crime.
· Any crime or disturbance in progress when rescue or emergency medical assistance is needed.
IF IN DOUBT, call and let trained personnel decide!
What is Suspicious?
Anything that seems even slightly “out of place” that is
occurring at an unusual time of day could be criminal activity.
Things to watch for include:
·
A stranger
entering any area typically unoccupied.
·
A scream
heard anywhere might mean a robbery or assault.
·
The sound of
possible gunshots.
·
Any removing
of accessories, license plates or gasoline from a car should be
reported.
·
Anyone
peering into parked cars may be looking for a car to steal, or
for valuables left displayed in the car.
·
The sound of
breaking glass or loud explosive noises could mean an accident,
burglary, or vandalism.
·
Persons
loitering around secluded areas of campus at any time.
·
Persons
loitering after campus facilities are closed.
· Suspicious e-mails, Facebook, or My Space messages
Information Most Often Needed by Police
What happened?
When?
Where?
Anyone injured?
Vehicle Description
Vehicle Tag
Direction of Travel
Description of Persons
When describing suspects, notice age, race, sex, height, and
weight, compare your own weight and height with the suspects.
Pick out some UNIQUE characteristics (scars, jewelry, etc.) that
will help you identify the suspect in the future if needed.
FAQ ON WORKING WITH PEOPLE IN DISTRESS
Q. How should I respond when a student is disrupting my
class?
Faculty members have broad authority to manage their classrooms
and establish reasonable guidelines for class discussions that
ensure everyone has an opportunity to participate in an orderly
manner. If you believe a student’s behavior is
inappropriate, consider a general word of caution rather than
singling a student out or embarrassing the student. “If
behavior I question is irritating, but not disruptive, try
speaking with the student after class. Most students are
unaware of distracting habits or mannerisms, and have no intent
to be offensive or disruptive. There may be rare
circumstances where it is necessary to speak to a student during
class about his or her behavior. Correct the student in a
manner, indication that further discussion can occur after
class.” (Pavela, 2001, 5).
If a student’s behavior reaches the point that interferes with
your ability to conduct the class or the ability of other
students to benefit from the class, the student should be asked
to leave the room for the remainder of the class period.
The student should be provided with a reason for this action and
an opportunity to discuss the matter with you as soon as is
practical. In such situations, consultation and referral
to the Dean of your College or another Academic Administrator
may be appropriate.
This item adapted from ASJA Law & Policy Report, No. 26,
ASJA & Gary Pavel, 2001.
Q. What are warning signs of disruptive student
behavior?
Severely troubled or disruptive students exhibit behaviors that
signify an obvious crisis and that necessitate emergency care.
These problems are the easiest to identify.
Examples include:
1. Highly disruptive behavior both verbally and/or physically (e.g. hostility, aggression, violence, etc.)
2.
Inability to
communicate clearly (garbled, slurred speech; unconnected,
disjointed, or rambling thoughts).
3.
Loss of
contact with reality (seeing or hearing things which other
cannot see or hear; beliefs or actions greatly at odds with
reality or probability).
4.
Stalking
behaviors
5.
Inappropriate communications (including threatening letters,
e-mail messages, harassment).
6.
New or
repeated behavior which pushes the limits of decorum and which
interferes with effective management of the immediate
environment.
7.
Overtly
suicidal thoughts (including referring to suicide as a current
option or in a written assignment).
8. Threats to harm others.
Q. How should I respond to a disruptive student?
1.
Remain calm
and know who to call for help, if necessary.
Find someone to stay with the student while calls to the
appropriate resources are made.
2.
Remember
that it is NOT your responsibility to provide the professional
help needed for a severely/troubled disruptive student.
You need only to make the necessary call and request
assistance.
3. When a student expresses a direct threat to themselves or others, or acts in a bizarre, highly irrational or disruptive way, all Campus Police immediately.
Q. What are signs that a student may be in distress?
A student in distress may not be disruptive to others, but may
exhibit behaviors, which indicate something is wrong, show signs
of emotional distress, and indicate that assistance is needed.
They may also be reluctant or unable to acknowledge a need for
personal help.
Behaviors may include:
1.
Serious
grade problems or a change from consistently passing grades to
unaccountably poor performance.
2.
Excessive
absences, especially if the student has previously demonstrated
consistent attendance.
3.
Unusual or
markedly changed patterns of interaction, i.e., avoidance of
participation, excessive anxiety when called upon, domination of
discussions, etc.
4.
Other
characteristics that suggest the student is having trouble
managing stress successfully e.g., a depressed, lethargic mood;
very rapid speech; swollen, red eyes; marked change in personal
dress and hygiene; falling asleep during class.
5.
Repeated
requests for special consideration, such as deadline extensions,
especially if the student appears uncomfortable or highly
emotional while disclosing the circumstances prompting the
request.
6.
New or
repeated behavior which pushes the limits of decorum and which
interferes with effective management of the immediate
environment.
7. Unusual or exaggerated emotional responses which are obviously inappropriate to the situation.
Q. How should I respond to a student that is troubled or
showing signs of distress?
For students that are mildly troubled you can choose to handle
them in the following ways:
1.
Set limits
and deal directly with the behavior/problem according to your
classroom protocol.
2.
Address the
situation on a more personal level, i.e., identify the problem
and refer them to the correct resource.
3.
Consult with
the Office of Student Life at 785-8062.
4. Refer the student to one of the University Resources. See referral phone numbers in this publication for help.
In case of an emergency situation, REMEMBER the Five
Outs identified in Preventing Mass Casualty Shootings in a
Campus Setting (Board of Regents of the University of
Wisconsin System)
Get Out
Call Out
Hide Out
Keep Out
Take Out