Counseling Center
Faculty and Staff Resources
Responding to Students in Crisis
ESF has developed this informational guide to aid faculty and staff in assisting students who are experiencing difficulties.
When a student displays threatening or potentially violent behavior, your and the student’s safety and the welfare of the campus community are the top priorities. Call UPD at (315) 470-6666 or 6667 or 911.
If you are concerned about a student, consult with your department chair, supervisor, and/or the Office of the Dean of Students. Promptly report safety concerns and potential violations of the ESF Code of Student Conduct to (315) 470-6660.
Distressed students can be sensitive. Avoid threatening, potentially embarrassing, or intimidating statements. Encourage students to focus on their breathing. Help students connect with the resources they need.
Set early limits on disruptive or self-destructive behavior. Remind students verbally or in writing of standards/expectations for conduct and of possible consequences for disorderly behavior.
Vulnerable students need to be heard and helped. They may find it difficult to articulate their distress. Ask directly if they feel their functioning is impaired or if they have thoughts of harming themselves or others.
State and federal laws and College policies mandate reporting many crisis situations. FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) allows faculty and staff to report student health and safety concerns to relevant campus offices trained to handle situations with sensitivity and care. Taking appropriate action does not violate a student’s privacy.
Consult with appropriate College personnel to coordinate care for the student. Always report serious or persistent behavior to the Office of the Dean of Students as soon as possible. Misconduct may be formally addressed through the student conduct process and additional campus recourse may be necessary to help reduce or eliminate disruptive behaviors.
Once you have referred a student in crisis, it is helpful (but not obligatory) for you to follow up with the student in their ongoing care. Your first-hand knowledge and personal connection to this student is valuable in understanding and appropriately responding to their situation.
Helping a troubled student can take a toll on your personal well- being. Make sure to acknowledge what you have been through and seek adequate support for yourself. Self-care will not only improve your work. It is positive to model a work-life balance for your students. We want you to set good boundaries and seek help when feeling stressed, anxious, or down. Take advantage of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential help anytime. This is provided by the College at no charge to you to assist with a wide array of circumstances. They can be reached at (315) 470-6847 or (315) 470-4730.
Levels of Concern
The following guide is intended to provide general guidelines for what to do if you are interacting with a student who is experiencing difficulty.
Behaviors that may be negatively interfering with academic or personal success and
which warrant consultation or follow-up with Student Affairs staff.
Examples:
- Academic or social performance deteriorates
- Missing class frequently
- Falling asleep in class
- Difficulty adjusting to college life
- Potential withdrawal/leave of absence
- Changes in physical appearance/hygiene
- Time management/procrastination
- Lack of cooperation when requests are made
- Discussion of transferring
- Your expression of interest, concern, and compassion is an important factor in a student seeking out the assistance they need.
- Often you can help a student by asking some basic questions, listening, offering some basic advice, and referring students to campus resources.
- If a student needs more support than you can provide, you can contact the Office of the Dean of Students at (315) 470-6660 or the Counseling Center at (315) 470-4716.
Behaviors that are more than an individual community member should handle, are temporarily manageable, and not usually life threatening, but may be a sign that an individual's coping skills are being challenged. These behaviors may require that the appropriate Student Affairs staff member speak with the student to assess the situation and determine an appropriate response.
Examples:
- Attempts to instigate fights
- Withdrawal from friends
- Covert or indirect threats
- Physically acting out in anger
- Comments about weapons
- Increased isolation or irritability
- Emotionally erratic behavior or severe emotional distress
- Suspicion of drug use or dealing
- Alcohol problems that impair social or academic performance
- Behaviors that significantly disrupt classroom or residence hall environment
- Increased hopelessness or helplessness
- Disturbing content in academic work
- Document the situation with as much detail as you can and contact the Office of the Dean of Students.
- The Office of the Dean of Students (or designee) will respond and determine whether to convene an intervention team to decide on the appropriate intervention and act based on the assessment of the student.
- While the behaviors in this category are not likely to be immediately life threatening, they should be reported at the earliest opportunity.
- You can report these behaviors by:
- Calling the Office of the Dean of Students: (315) 470-6660
- Email: studenthelp@esf.edu
- Calling University Police: (315) 470-6666 or (315) 470-6667
Conduct poses imminent safety concerns for the student in question, for others, or for the general campus community.
Examples:
- Clear intent to harm self or others
- Physical assault
- Intense anger
- Overt threats to kill
- Showing a weapon
- Suicide attempt or expression
- Drug or alcohol overdose
ESF University Police should be called immediately at (315) 470-6666 or call 911.
- ESF University Police officers are the emergency responders on campus and are trained to intervene in emergency situations.
- They will also engage other resources as needed. These resources may include outside law enforcement or medical personnel, etc.
Information on this page is based on content developed by Texas A&M University, Iowa State University, and East Carolina University. This content has been adapted by the SUNY ESF Office of the Dean of Students.
Resources
Emergency
(315) 470-6666, (315) 470-6667, or 911
- Immediate emergency services for threatening or dangerous behavior
- Active shooter and campus safety trainings
- Campus-wide alarm system for crisis notification and response
(315) 470-4716
- Short-term counseling, crisis intervention
- Staff & faculty consultations regarding students of concern
- App for ESF students to have 24/7 access to medical and mental health care services
- For students: use ESF credentials to log in
- For staff/faculty only: call (833) 484-6359 and request guidance for a student situation
- 24/7 support via telephone, text, or live chat via website: 988lifeline.org
- Mobile crisis response can be dispatched to support adults and youth having a mental health crisis
Follow-Up & Support
(315) 468-3260 answered 24/7 or (315) 425-0818 for questions
- 24/7 hotline, crisis intervention and safety planning
- Emergency shelter services
- Advocacy, counseling, and support services for those who have experienced relationship violence and/or sexual assault
(315) 470-6660
- Managing challenging classroom situations
- Supporting a student in crisis or trauma
(315) 470-6847 or (315) 470-4730
- Resources for staff members managing stress and other reactions to challenging situations
(315) 443-4498
- Registering and accommodating students with all types of disabilities
- Faculty and staff consultation on issues related to students with disabilities
Prevention of Disruptive Behavior
Faculty members have significant authority to manage the classroom environment. They may set and enforce reasonable rules of classroom decorum, including prohibitions against speaking without being called upon, using cell phones, or engaging in other disruptive conduct.
Individual faculty or staff members are encouraged to provide a first-level response to problem student behavior unless they feel threatened, or the behavior warrants more serious attention by the College. Experience indicates that, despite the common fear that responding to problem behaviors will escalate the trouble, the opposite is true. Concurrently, other students have expressed gratitude when faculty members respond effectively to problem behaviors.
Recommendations
- Keep interactions with students calm and respectful
- Set expectations and tone for your classroom from the beginning
- Learn strategies for diffusing problems
- Develop and publish policies on classroom behavior
- Consult and seek advice from qualified staff
- Consistently enforce published policies
- Respond immediately to problem behaviors before they escalate
- Follow through with stated consequences if problem behavior continues
- Document problem behaviors in writing
- Understand the standards of clear and present danger
- Create a safe setting when meeting with a student about behavior problems by having another person close by or present
Confusion about FERPA and Confidentiality
- It is important that you not guarantee confidentiality to a student, but rather assure them that you will only inform those on campus who can assist them in getting the help they need.
- Counseling Services is the only confidential entity at ESF that a student may report a sexual assault to if they choose not to file an official report. All other staff and faculty are required by law to make a report.
- University personnel are generally permitted and encouraged to share student information between College offices on a “need to know” basis.
- Classroom observations of a student, conversations, email exchanges, and notes kept for personal use, or other non-official information are not considered part of a “student record”.
- For more information about FERPA, contact the Registrar’s Office at (315) 470-6655 or registrar@esf.edu.
Title IX
An employee who becomes aware of a potential incident of sexual assault, sexual harassment, relationship violence, or stalking, on or off campus, must promptly report the matter to the Title IX Coordinator at (315) 565-3012. An investigation will be undertaken, as appropriate under the circumstances, and every precaution will be taken to ensure privacy.
What to do if someone reports to you:
- Let them know you are glad they came to talk to you and offer resources. Before they provide you with any information, make sure they understand your role.
- If safety is an immediate concern, call 911 or ESF University Police. If they need medical attention, you can help them secure assistance from Counseling Services or a local hospital.
- Let them know you have an obligation to report the information to the Title IX Coordinator or a Deputy Title IX Coordinator.
Report to the Title IX Coordinator or a Deputy Title IX Coordinator.