Care Team Mission: The Care team is a campus-wide team that engages in proactive and collaborative approaches to identify, assess, and support students who could benefit from academic, emotional, or psychological support, as well as those presenting risk to the health or safety of the community. By partnering with members of the community, the team strives to promote individual student well-being and success while prioritizing community safety.
The Care Team is not for emergencies. Referrals are monitored Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Please call 911 if there is an immediate threat to a student’s safety or well-being.
The Care Team also supports members of the university community who interact with these students of concern by assessing and evaluating situations, communicating with individuals involved or impacted by a student’s behavior, and providing referrals and resources to assist and address behavioral concerns. The Care Team is committed to educating the university community about existing policies and instructs community members on how to address students of concern.
Make a referral to the Care Team Crisis Resources
Examples of Care Team referrals
- There are perceived concerns regarding the mental and/or physical health, welfare, and safety of a student.
- A student's physical appearance is deteriorating.
- A student is suffering from or dealing with the side effects of a serious illness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Accordion Content
If you have concerns about a student's behavior or life experiences that do not necessitate and immediate response, you may submit a referral to the Care Team. For immediate emergencies, contact University Police by call 911 from a campus phone or 508.531.1212.
A student in distress may seem troubled, confused, severely depressed, highly anxious, and/or irritable. These students often lack motivation and/or concentration and may demonstrate bizarre behaviors or have suicidal inclinations.
Warning signs of a student in distress:
- A sudden change from passing grades to poor performance
- Excessive absence from a previously consistent attendance
- Avoidance of participation, anxiety, or dominance of discussions in class
- Increase or decrease in energy level or sleeping in class
- Depression, rapid speech, swollen red eyes, or change in personal hygiene
- Unusual or exaggerated emotional responses that are inappropriate to the situation
- Highly emotional or repeated requests for special consideration
For students who appear to be in distress, it is appropriate to consider one of the following responses:
- In the event of an emergency or imminent threat, contact BSU PD immediately at 508.531.1212 or dial 9-1-1 from a campus landline.
- Deal directly with the behavior or problem according to your established classroom protocol as outlined in the course syllabus.
- Address the situation on a more personal level, rather than in front of others.
- Consult with a member of the Counseling Center or a member of the Care Team.
- Make a referral to the Care Team.
A student who meets this criteria may be engaging in conduct that is visibly disruptive or dangerous and may include verbal or physical threats. In some instances, the student may even make active threats of suicide or be resistant to help when offered.
Warning signs of a student exhibiting disruptive behaviors
A disruptive student exhibits behaviors that signify an obvious crisis that necessitates an emergency intervention. These problems are the easiest to identify. Examples include:
- Highly disruptive behavior which may include hostility, aggression towards others, or in serious cases, violent outbursts
- Garbled or slurred speech with unconnected or disjointed thoughts and rambling
- Loss of contact with reality such as seeing or hearing things that are not witnessed or heard by others present and may also include holding beliefs or engaging in actions that are not consistent with reality or that a reasonable person would perceive to be probable
- Stalking behavior or repeated unwelcome advances
- Inappropriate communications including threatening or intimidating messages, e-mails, or verbal harassment
- Suicidal ideations expressed verbally or in classroom assignments
- Threats to harm self or others
Remain calm and know who to call for help if necessary.
- If a student expresses a direct threat to themselves or others, or acts in a bizarre, highly irrational or disruptive way, contact BSU PD at 508-531-1212 or call 9-1-1 from a landline immediately.
- If it is safe to do so, find someone to stay with the student while you call for help.
- Remember that it is not your responsibility to provide professional counseling
- Your priority is to connect the student with the resource best suited to address the concern
If a student is noticeably distressed, here are the roles you can play to help them recognize the benefits of counseling services:
- Recommend the Counseling Center to the student as an available option.
- Determine the student’s willingness to meet with a representative from the Counseling Center.
- Reassure the student that it is an act of strength to ask for help and seek assistance.
- Dispute the myth that only “weak or crazy” people go for counseling for personal help.
- Remind them that the Counseling Center resources are free and confidential services.
- Offer to help make the initial contact with the Counseling Center for them.
Make a referral by:
- Submitting an online referral to the Care Team
The Care Team will evaluate the referral and determine the appropriate response. The Care Team will also notify other university officials as warranted.
Care Team Members:
- Chris Frazer, Care Team co-chair, Assistant Vice President, Division for Student Life, Email: cfrazer@bridgew.edu Phone: 508.531.1331
- Eileen Estudante, Care Team co-chair, Director of the Center for Student Support, Email: lestudante@bridgew.edu Phone: 508.531.1276
- Gabrielle Beck, Case Manager, Center for Student Support, Email: g1beck@bridgew.edu Phone: 508.531.1076
- Caren Collins, Interim Director, Community Standards
- Erin Hennessy, Administrative Assistant, Center for Student Engagement
- Kaleigh Longe, Student Navigator, Student Success and Equity Interventions
- Meredith Michaelson, Assistant Director, Center for Student Engagement
- Donna Schiavo, Clinical Director, Counseling Services
- Jenna Shales, Director of Student Accessibility Services
- Ryan Tepper, Deputy Chief of Police for Operations
- Peter Wiernicki, Interim Executive Director of Residence Life & Community Standards