Governors State University strives to support students in all aspects of achieving their academic and personal goals. Accordingly, the CARE (Campus Awareness, Response, & Education) Program was developed by the Office of the Dean of Students to provide a centralized method that focuses on identifying and working with students who may be distressed or whose behavior is of concern.
The CARE Program (Formerly known as the Student Concerns Program) is designed to help ensure timely outreach to students that are believed to be in distress or acting in a manner of concern, and connect them to resources best suited to address the conveyed concern. Since members of the campus community play a key role in identifying students who are in distress, the CARE Program depends on referrals that identify students who might benefit from proactive outreach and assistance.
Any member of the campus community is encouraged to report behaviors or concerns of any GSU student by using the online reporting form to identify students and describe their area(s) of concern.
Student concerns can include, but are not limited to academic, physical or emotional concerns such as:
- public outburst
- sporadic attendance at classes
- disruptive classroom behavior
- distressed writing in assignments or
- changes in behavior, appearance or personal habits
A more detailed list of concerns can be found below.
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Completed reports will be directed to the Office of the Dean of Students which will identify resources and personnel best suited to address the concern articulated by faculty and staff. Reports will be tracked for themes, repetition, and increased concern(s) to evaluate student and university trends.
Important Note:
Submissions to CARE Program differ from those intended for the Campus Threat Assessment Team (CTAT) because they are early alerts of student concern intended to direct intervention to students in distress, not behavior significant enough to be a threat to the safety and well-being of others. CARE Program coordinates a proactive effort to prevent and/or manage the situation.
CARE Program is NOT for emergencies; if there is an emergency, call the Department of Public Safety at 708.534.4900 or dial 911.
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How do I submit a report?
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In order to ensure that referrals are reviewed in a timely fashion, CARE referrals are made online.
Be prepared to share the following:
- Name/Student ID Number/Any other known information about the person you are referring
- Summary of the observed behavior or concern, including when and where it occurred
- Any attempts to intervene, manage, or address the behavior
- Any thing else you think seems important
- Your contact information
Please be aware that your communication may be subject to review through FERPA or other laws governing communications. GSU does not tolerate retaliation, and if you have concerns for your own safety, the CARE/Student Concerns team can assist you in contacting the police or other resources.
If your concern pertains to student non-academic misconduct, please consult with your Chair/Dean or supervisor, or learn more about the student conduct procedures.
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What happens when I report something?
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When you submit a report, it is routed to the CARE/Student Concerns Team Chair for review during regular business hours. The team then conducts an initial assessment on every referral to determine any initial action that might be warranted. In many cases, once it is determined there is not a threat of violence present, the outcome may be to offer support and resources to either the individual who reports the concern, the person of concern, or both.
As the reporting party, you will be kept informed as appropriate for the situation, but please be advised that the team strives to maintain privacy of information in the interest of all parties involved.
If there is a potential threat, the CARE/Student Concerns team provides guidance and recommendations to the appropriate individuals (on or off-campus) in order to mitigate or manage the threat. All information reported is maintained so that patterns can be identified over time.
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What behaviors should I report?
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Academic Indicators
- Decline in quality/quantity of work
- A damaging performance in class to cause drop in grade
- Repeated missed assignments or exams
- Repeated absences from class
- Disorganized or erratic performance
- Motivation and/or enthusiasm has decreased
- Student sends frequent, lengthy, "ranting" or concerning emails to professor or staff
- Seeking special provisions without proper documentation
Physical Indicators - Uncommonly falling asleep in class or at other inopportune times
- A dramatic change in energy level (either direction)
- Troublesome changes in hygiene or personal appearance
- Significant changes in weight
- Frequent state of alcohol intoxication
- Noticeable cuts, bruises or burns on student
Emotional Indicators
- Inappropriate emotional outbursts (unprovoked anger or hostility, sobbing)
- Exaggerated personality traits
- More withdrawn or more animated than usual
- Expressions of hopelessness, fear or worthlessness
- Themes of suicide, death and dying in papers/projects
- Direct statements indicating distress, family problems or other difficulties
- Classmate concerned about a fellow student
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For more information and/or questions please contact us:
Campus Location: C1310
Phone: 708.235.7595
email: deanofstudents@govst.edu