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Students of Concern

When to Refer to the Office of the Dean of Students - Student Support, Success and Retention

Be aware of the following indicators of distress. Look for groupings, frequency, duration and severity — not just isolated symptoms.

Academic Indicators

  • Sudden decline in quality of work and grades
  • Repeated absences
  • Disorganized performance
  • Multiple requests for extensions
  • Overly demanding of faculty’s or staff’s time and attention
  • Bizarre content in writings or presentations
  • You find yourself providing more personal than academic support

 

Physical Indicators

  • Marked changes in physical appearance (e.g., grooming or hygiene deterioration, weight loss/gain)
  • Excessive fatigue or sleep disturbance
  • Intoxication, hangovers, or smelling of alcohol
  • Disoriented or “out of it”
  • Garbled, tangential, disconnected, or slurred speech
  • Behavior is out of context or bizarre
  • Delusions and paranoia

 

Psychological Indicators

  • Self-disclosure of personal distress (e.g., family or financial problems, grief, suicidal thoughts)
  • Unusual/disproportionate emotional response to events
  • Excessive tearfulness or panic reactions
  • Irritability or unusual apathy
  • Verbal abuse (e.g., taunting, badgering, intimidation)
  • Concern from peers

 

Safety Risk Indicators

  • Unprovoked anger or hostility
  • Physical violence (e.g., shoving, grabbing, assault, use of weapons)
  • Implying or making direct threat to harm self or others
  • Academic assignments dominated by themes of extreme hopelessness, rage, worthlessness, isolation, despair, acting out, suicidal ideations/violent behaviors 
  • Stalking or harassing
  • Communicating threats via email, correspondence, texting, or phone calls

(from CSU Red Folder: Assisting Students in Distress)

 

Frequent Examples of Referable Concerning Behaviors

  • Unusual or erratic behavior in class, in the residence halls, during advising sessions, etc.
  • Extended absence from class or activities by a typically engaged student
  • Written work or creative expression with troubling themes or references
  • Verbal or written threats made by a student toward other students, faculty, and/or staff
  • Written or verbal expressions of suicidal ideation or intent
  • Other actions that cause an alarm or call into question the safety of the student or his/her peers

Student of Concern

If you would like to report a Student of Concern, which may include, but are not limited to non-emergency worries about a student’s behavior, such as signs of depression, suicidal ideation, the intent to be violent, and/or sudden mood shifts, please click the button below: 

 

For additional support, please contact:

Office of the Dean of Students- Student Support, Success, and Retention
Email: student-success@calpoly.edu

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