Student Care Team

The Student Care Team (SCT) is comprised of representatives from the campus community including members of Student Affairs, Athletics and Academic Affairs. This team was established to identify and address students of concern. Among the team's primary responsibilities will be to meet twice monthly to review the behavioral concerns of students who are of a non-emergency nature and have been brought forward by either a member of the SCT and/or other members of the SHU community.

Mission

The mission of the team is to assist students who are at risk academically, in addition to those who are struggling to maintain stable functioning due to behavioral, psychological or medical concerns. When referring a student to the team, please be sure to include as much information as possible about the student, incident and yourself. Although you may indicate that you wish to remain anonymous, please understand that the more information the team has about contacting you, the better we can assess how to help.

Scope

The types of issues that this team addresses include but are not limited to:

  • inappropriate and concerning behavior in or out of class
  • exhibited aggressive behavior
  • submissions of class assignments that are disturbing as well as similar social media postings
  • excessive absences from class or the residence halls
  • changes in a family or personal situation (deaths, illnesses, family issues such as divorce or separation of parents, etc.)
  • substance abuse issues
  • wellness issues  

The Student Care Team is chaired by the Director of Student Conduct & Community Standards. Any immediate threat or emergency will be addressed directly by Public Safety and the Threat Assessment Team. The Student Care Team, in those instances, may serve as a follow-up and response mechanism moving forward.

Although the form allows for 24-hour reporting, referrals may not be addressed until the next business day. If you believe there is an imminent threat of any kind, please contact the local police at 911 and/or Public Safety at 203-371-7911.

Refer a Student to the Student Care Team

What should I be concerned about?

The following behaviors can all be important signs of distress. You may notice a student exhibiting one or more of the following signs and know right away that something is clearly wrong. On the other hand, you may simply have an "uneasy" feeling about a student and are unsure of whether or not there is truly cause for concern. If the latter is the case, don't dismiss your feelings or feel that you need to wait for "proof" that a problem exists. Once reported, the Student Care Team will make the determination as to the level of concern each report may warrant.

Physical Signs

  • Falling asleep in class or other inopportune times
  • A dramatic change in energy level (either direction)
  • Noticeable changes in hygiene or personal appearance
  • Significant changes in weight (gain or loss)
  • Frequent state of drug/alcohol intoxication
  • Noticeable cuts, bruises or burns on student

Emotional Signs

  • 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
  • Peer concern about a fellow student (in class, lab, residence hall, club)

Academic Signs

  • Deterioration in quality/quantity of work
  • A negative change in classroom performance (e.g., drop in grades)
  • Missed assignments or exams
  • Repeated absences from class
  • Disorganized or erratic performance
  • Decline in enthusiasm in class (e.g., no longer choosing a seat in the front of the room)
  • Student sends frequent, lengthy, "ranting" or threatening types of emails to professor
  • Continual seeking of special provisions (e.g., late papers, extensions, postponed exams, and projects)

If you are not sure if a student's behavior calls for a SCT referral, it is advised that you go ahead and take the steps to do so. You do not have to determine the level of concern; the SCT will do that for you.

What happens when I make a referral?

  • The SCT has developed a streamlined process by which all inquiries are addressed in an appropriate and timely manner.
  • All referrals route directly to the Director of Student Conduct & Community Standards, who will contact the individual who made the report to gather any additional information, when necessary.
  • The SCT will meet as needed throughout the semester to discuss referrals and decide the best course of outreach to each individual student.
  • The Director of Student Conduct & Community Standards will contact the student of concern in order to determine what level of assistance and intervention is needed.
  • Although the SCT will do its best to maintain the confidentiality of the reporting party, absolute anonymity cannot be guaranteed in all cases. 

How do I make a referral?

Refer a Student to the Student Care Team using the online reporting form or contact the Director of Student Conduct & Community Standards at 203-416-3420 or via email at voight-jauseb@sacredheart.edu.

Although the form allows for 24-hour reporting, referrals may not be addressed until the next business day. If you believe there is an imminent threat of any kind, contact the local police at 911 and/or Public Safety at 203-371-7911.

Student Care Team (SCT) Members

  • Beth Anne Voight-Jause, Executive Director of Community Standards/Title IX Coordinator
  • Sara Helfrich, Assistant Dean of Students
  • Denise Tiberio, Dean of Students
  • Peter Bravo, Supervisor of Investigations & Safety Programs
  • James Geisler, Executive Director of Wellness Services
  • Kara Justo, Case Manager, Wellness Center
  • Kristen Eschwie, Director of Student Life Operations
  • Kathy Radziunas, Director, Student Accessibility
  • Jennifer McLaughlin, Executive Director for Student Advising & Success
  • Emily Grobmyer, Associate Director of Residential Life