Case Management
- Online Peer Support
- Faculty and Staff Resources
- Meet the SACM Team
Resources for Faculty and Staff Supporting Students in Distress
Faculty and staff play a crucial role in creating a community of care at UC San Diego by identifying and assisting students who show signs of emotional, physical, or psychological distress. If a situation appears imminently life-threatening, please call 911.
Who is a student that may need support?
A student whose academic progress or functioning in the university environment is adversely affected due to a number of indicators outlined below, that are impacting their well-being and/or the well-being of others.
Guide for Supporting Students in Distress
Download this informational resource to assist in supporting distressed or disruptive students
Faculty and Staff Resource Guide
Training Videos and Presentations
Responding to Students in Distress
View a recording of the May 15, 2020 presentation by Dr. Mary Anderson on Responding to Students in Distress.
Student Health and Well-being Training
View a recording of the April 24, 2020 presentation on Student Health and Well-being.
What can a case manager do for students?
Connect students with resources both on and/or off campus such as:
- Mental health resources both on and off campus
- Basic needs resources
- Financial Aid and related resources
- Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD)
- Academic resources
- Other resources as needed
Be a person on campus to check in with occasionally.
Indicators of Distress
| PHYSICAL INDICATORS |
ACADEMIC INDICATORS |
BEHAVIORAL INDICATORS |
EMOTIONAL INDICATORS |
| Poor personal hygiene | A drop in grades | Increased procrastination | Changes in mood |
| Extreme fatigue | Avoiding participation | Self-harm | Frequently tearful |
| Changes in sleep | Changes in concentration | Withdrawal from friends and family | Suicidal ideation |
| Agitation | Excessive absences/ loss of motivation | Being excessively demanding of others | Expressions of hopelessness, fear, or worthlessness |
| Increased physical health complaints | Decline in quality of work | Poor self-care and neglected personal hygiene | Increased agitation |
| Continual episodes of illness, colds, flu, etc. | Poor performance and preparation | Irritability | High levels of anxiety and/or feelings of panic |
| Excessively anxious when called upon | Excessive dependency | Unprovoked anger or hostility | |
| Consistent failure to turn in work/ complete assignments | Violent acts toward self or others | ||
| Repeated requests for special considerations | Increase in impulsive or risky behaviors |
How to Respond
Does the student pose a danger to themselves or others,
or need immediate assistance for any reason?
| YES | UNSURE | NO |
|
↓ |
↓ |
↓ |
| The student's conduct is clearly and imminently reckless, disorderly, dangerous, or threatening and is suggestive of harm to self or others in the community. |
The student shows signs of distress, but I am not sure how serious it is. My interaction has left me feeling uneasy and/or concerned about the student. |
I am not concerned for the student's immediate safety, but the student is having significant academic and/or personal issues and could use some support or additional resources. |
|
↓ |
↓ |
↓ |
|
Call Campus Police: |
Call the Triton Concern Line 858-246-1111 Available 24/7 |
Refer to an appropriate resource from the Resources for Students below, or call the |
Deans of Student Affairs
If you are aware of the student's college affiliation, please contact their respective Dean or Assistant Dean of Student Affairs in addition to following the flowchart above.
Undergraduate Colleges/ Graduate Division
Please visit College Resources for more information about resources and contacts that the Undergraduate Colleges can provide for students.
Division of Graduate Education and Postdoctoral Affairs
- Graduate Education – Interim Assistant Dean of Student Affairs - Tamara Schaps
School of Medicine
- Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs - Dr. Kama Guluma
Skaggs School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Associate Dean for Student Affairs - Dr. Candis Morello
Tips for Interacting with a Distressed Student
Safety First
The welfare of the campus community is the top priority when a student displays threatening or potentially violent behavior. Call for the appropriate help.Be Proactive
Engage students early, pay attention to signs of distress, and set limits on disruptive behavior.Use Direct Language
Do not be afraid to ask students directly if they are under the influence of drugs or alcohol, feeling confused, or having suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming others.Listen from a Place of Care
Use a non-confrontational approach and a calm voice. Avoid threatening, humiliating, and intimidating responses.Refer to a Resource
Direct the student to the identified resource. If you are able, make a warm handoff by calling the resource prior to sending the student or walking the student to the resource.Consultation and Documentation
Always document your interactions with the distressed student, notifying your chair/ supervisor as necessary.Follow Up
Follow up with the student to determine how they are doing. This small act will go a long way toward assisting a student in distress.Addressing Disruptive Behavior in the Classroom
All students at UC San Diego have the right to a learning environment free from harassment, discrimination, and other behaviors that disrupt the learning process—and one that protects free speech.
Please see this guide (PDF) for a list of recommendations for creating a positive learning environment and managing disruptive student behavior.
Faculty and Staff Resources
How to Support Students of Concern guide (PDF)
Supporting Students While Preserving Yourself (PDF)
Training, Education and Resources (PDF)
Learner-Centered Syllabus Template (PDF)
Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Team
The goal of the team is to mitigate behavioral threats and significant disruptions to the UC San Diego community through an integrative process of communication, education, prevention, problem identification, assessment, and recommendation of action.
Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP)
FSAP is a free and confidential service designed to help all university employees resolve concerns that may be affecting personal well-being and/or job performance. This includes support for campus leaders such as faculty and staff acting as contacts and first responders in our community.
Office for the Prevention of Harassment & Discrimination (OPHD)
OPHD works to resolve complaints of discrimination and harassment through informal resolution or formal investigation. The office explains and clarifies university policies and procedures regarding discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. OPHD collaborates with other UC San Diego offices in resolving complaints, and offers a variety of training programs and workshops in the prevention of sexual violence, sexual harassment, and all forms of discrimination for students, faculty, and staff.
COVID-19 Compliance Guidance
Contact Us About Student Concerns
To report a non-emergency concern about a student, call the Triton Concern Line at (858) 246-1111.
When you call the Triton Concern Line, your call will be routed to the appropriate Dean of Student Affairs within one business day for appropriate follow-up with the student. The caller will receive an email with contact information for the person to whom the call was routed, should the caller choose to follow up. The Dean of Student Affairs may provide information to the caller as permitted by FERPA.
COVID-19 Email Templates
For undergraduate students (two options):
Dear _____,
I’m so sorry to hear about your illness. Taking care of yourself and your health is most important at this time.
If you haven’t done so already, please reach out to Student Health Services at 858-534-3300 for assistance with your medical care.
In addition, I want to encourage you to connect with your Dean of Student Affairs for support. Some ways the Deans may be able to help you are as follows:
- Assist you in communicating with your other faculty or academic department regarding missed work or absences.
- Contact your Residence Hall or Housing staff for assistance, if necessary.
- Connect you with the Office of Students with Disabilities in the case that ongoing academic support and accommodations may be necessary.
- Assist in connecting you with Basic Needs if you need assistance with meals.
- Explore other options and support resources for your ongoing success.
- Refer you to a case manager if ongoing support is needed.
Undergraduate Students - Deans of Student Affairs:
- Revelle College – Sherry Mallory, slmallory@ucsd.edu
- John Muir College – Jason Thibodeaux, jjthibodeaux@ucsd.edu
- Thurgood Marshall College – Amber Vlasnik, avlasnik@ucsd.edu
- Earl Warren College – James C. Smith, jcs004@ucsd.edu
- Eleanor Roosevelt College – Ashton Cleveland, acleveland@ucsd.edu
- Sixth College – Diane LeGree, dlegree@ucsd.edu
- Seventh College – Josh Brimmeier, jbrimmeier@ucsd.edu
I also want to encourage you to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) at (858) 534-4382 or osd@ucsd.edu to request academic accommodations during this time. They will help you register with their office and support you by providing you accommodations to assist you in your classes.
Finally, as you may be experiencing anxiety, worry, loneliness, or a number of other emotions, please remember that you are not alone and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is available to support you with your emotional needs 24 hours a day by calling (858) 534-3755.
I hope you feel better soon and encourage you to connect with available resources for support.
Hi _____,
Thank you for contacting me about this. I'm more than happy to work with you to figure out what kinds of flexibility can best help you during this time.
If you need additional support, I encourage you to reach out to your Dean of Student Affairs.
If you have medical questions or concerns, I encourage you to reach out to Student Health Services at 858-534-3300 or MyStudentChart at https://mystudentchart.ucsd.edu/
I wish you a speedy recovery, and hope you feel better soon.
For graduate students:
Dear _____,
I’m so sorry to hear about your illness. Taking care of yourself and your health is most important at this time.
If you haven’t done so already, please reach out to Student Health Services at 858-534-3300 for assistance with your medical care.
I want to encourage you to connect with your Assistant Dean of Graduate Student Affairs, April Bjornsen, abjornsen@ucsd.edu, for support. Some ways she may be able to help you are as follows:
- Assist you in communicating with your other faculty or academic department regarding missed work or absences.
- Contact your Residence Hall or Housing staff for assistance, if necessary.
- Connect you with the Office of Students with Disabilities in the case that ongoing academic support and accommodations may be necessary.
- Assist in connecting you with Basic Needs if you need assistance with meals.
- Explore other options and support resources for your ongoing success.
- Refer you to a case manager if ongoing support is needed.
I also want to encourage you to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) at (858) 534-4382 or osd@ucsd.edu to request academic accommodations during this time. They will help you register with their office and support you by providing you accommodations to assist you in your classes.
Finally, as you may be experiencing anxiety, worry, loneliness, or a number of other emotions, please remember that you are not alone and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is available to support you with your emotional needs 24 hours a day by calling (858) 534-3755.
I hope you feel better soon and encourage you to connect with available resources for support.
For School of Medicine students:
Dear _____,
I’m so sorry to hear about your illness. Taking care of yourself and your health is most important at this time.
If you haven’t done so already, please reach out to Student Health Services at 858-534-3300 for assistance with your medical care.
I want to encourage you to connect with your Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Affairs, Dr. Kama Guluma, kguluma@health.ucsd.edu, for support. Some ways he may be able to help you are as follows:
- Assist you in communicating with your other faculty or academic department regarding missed work or absences.
- Contact your Residence Hall or Housing staff for assistance, if necessary.
- Connect you with the Office of Students with Disabilities in the case that ongoing academic support and accommodations may be necessary.
- Assist in connecting you with Basic Needs if you need assistance with meals.
- Explore other options and support resources for your ongoing success.
- Refer you to a case manager if ongoing support is needed.
I also want to encourage you to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) at (858) 534-4382 or osd@ucsd.edu to request academic accommodations during this time. They will help you register with their office and support you by providing you accommodations to assist you in your classes.
Finally, as you may be experiencing anxiety, worry, loneliness, or a number of other emotions, please remember that you are not alone and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is available to support you with your emotional needs 24 hours a day by calling (858) 534-3755.
I hope you feel better soon and encourage you to connect with available resources for support.
For Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences:
Dear _____,
I’m so sorry to hear about your illness. Taking care of yourself and your health is most important at this time.
If you haven’t done so already, please reach out to Student Health Services at 858-534-3300 for assistance with your medical care.
I want to encourage you to connect with Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Dr. Candis Morello, cmmorello@health.ucsd.edu and/or Director of Student Affairs and Admissions, Jenna Bastear, jbastear@health.ucsd.edu for support. Some ways they may be able to help you are as follows:
- Assist you in communicating with your other faculty or academic department regarding missed work or absences.
- Contact your Residence Hall or Housing staff for assistance, if necessary.
- Connect you with the Office of Students with Disabilities in the case that ongoing academic support and accommodations may be necessary.
- Assist in connecting you with Basic Needs if you need assistance with meals.
- Explore other options and support resources for your ongoing success.
- Refer you to a case manager if ongoing support is needed.
I also want to encourage you to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) at (858) 534-4382 or osd@ucsd.edu to request academic accommodations during this time. They will help you register with their office and support you by providing you accommodations to assist you in your classes.
Finally, as you may be experiencing anxiety, worry, loneliness, or a number of other emotions, please remember that you are not alone and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is available to support you with your emotional needs 24 hours a day by calling (858) 534-3755.
I hope you feel better soon and encourage you to connect with available resources for support.
Request a Training
Faculty and staff are encouraged to sign up for the "Creating a Culture of Care: Supporting Students in Distress" training via UC Learning. If you'd like to request a training for your group or department, please fill out the Student Affairs Case Management Presentation Request Form.
Health and Well-being Syllabus Statement
In order to create a culture of care in your classroom, consider using this or a similar statement so that students understand the importance of well-being while striving for academic excellence.
Throughout your time at UC San Diego, you may experience a range of issues that can negatively impact your learning. These may include physical illness, housing or food insecurity, strained relationships, loss of motivation, depression, anxiety, high levels of stress, alcohol and drug problems, feeling down, interpersonal or sexual violence, or grief.
These concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance and affect your ability to participate in day-to-day activities. If there are issues related to coursework that are a source of particular stress or challenge, please speak with me, [Professor's Name], so that I am able to support you. UC San Diego provides a number of resources to all enrolled students, including:
- Counseling and Psychological Services (858-534-3755 | caps.ucsd.edu)
- Student Health Services (858-534-3300 | studenthealth.ucsd.edu)
- CARE at the Sexual Assault Resource Center (858-534-5793 | care.ucsd.edu)
- The Hub Basic Needs Center (858-246-2632 | basicneeds.ucsd.edu)
We care about you at UC San Diego, and there is always help available.
Meet the Team
The Student Affairs Case Management Services team is an excellent resource for faculty and staff who seek consultation about a student in distress, or have general questions about a concerning student situation.
Concerned about a Triton?
Triton Concern Line
Report your concerns 24/7 about distressed/ distressing students by calling the Triton Concern Line.
Triton Concern Form
Please use the link below to submit a Triton Concern Form for NON-URGENT concerns about a student's well-being.
Resources for UC San Diego Students
CAPS
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides free, confidential psychological counseling and crisis services for UC San Diego students.
CARE
CARE at the Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC) provides free and confidential services for those impacted by sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking.
Student Health
Student Health Services (SHS) provides medical care and support from primary care physicians with specialties including gynecology and mental/ behavioral health.
The HUB
The Hub Basic Needs Center provides essential resources required to thrive as a student, including access to food, housing, and financial wellness.
Privacy Laws and Confidentiality
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) permits communication about a student in distress under the following circumstances:
- UC San Diego faculty and staff may disclose personally identifiable information from a student's educational record to appropriate individuals in connection with a health and safety emergency. Information may be released to police, parents, staff or others if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health and safety of the student or other individuals.
- Information may be released to university personnel when there is a specific educational need to know and should be limited to the essentials of university business.
- Observations of a student's conduct or statements made by a student are not considered "educational records," nor are they FERPA-protected. Such information should be shared with appropriate consideration for student privacy.
Note: Health records created or maintained by a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other recognized professional acting or assisting in that capacity, are subject to HIPAA Privacy Rule's restrictions on use and disclosure and cannot be released to a third party without written consent from the student.