Students of Concern Team

Look for clusters, frequency, duration, and severity - not just isolated symptoms:

Follow the chart to determine whom to contact when faced with a student in distress:

Expressing Your Concern to the Student:

If you choose to approach a student you are concerned about or if a student reaches out to you for help with a personal problem, follow these guidelines to make the situation more comfortable for you and more helpful for the student:

• Talk to the student in a face-to-face meeting when you both have time and are not rushed or preoccupied. If you have initiated the contact, express your concern in behavioral, non-judgmental terms.
• Listen to thoughts and feelings in a sensitive, non-threatening way. Communicate understanding by repeating back key points the student shared.
• Give hope that things can get better. It can be important to encourage students to realize there are options. Suggest resources and enable them to consult a professional. Do not try to solve the student’s problem.
• Avoid judging, evaluating, or criticizing even if the student asks for your opinion. Such behavior will push the student away. It is important to respect the student’s value system even if you do not agree with it.
• Maintain clear and consistent boundaries and expectations. Maintain the professional nature of a relationship with the student and help them understand available options.
• Refer the student to the appropriate professional. Help them understand that help is available and seeking help is a sign of strength. Let the student know what they should expect and what options are available. One of the best options is to walk the student to the resource - or make the call together to schedule an appointment. 
• Time of day is important. Know what help is available when. The Counseling Center is open for appointments, walk-ins, and crisis intervention during campus business hours (see Counseling Center website for walk-in hours and more information on how to refer students). For emergencies, help is available 24/7/365 by calling University Police at 716-673-3333.
• Follow up with the student after your initial meeting. Find out if they were able to obtain appropriate help, and show your commitment to assisting them.
• Consult the Counseling Center (716-673-3424) or the Students of Concern Team (716-673-3271) if you are ever in doubt about advising or the intervention. For emergencies, help is available 24 hours a day by calling University Police at 716-673-3333.

If you see something, say something! 

If you are concerned about a student, please report your concern. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) permits communication about a student of concern in connection with a health and safety issue to an appropriate campus resource. A staff member will confirm receipt of the report, contact you if any additional information is required, assess your willingness to participate beyond making the report, and let you know that the student is being assisted.

If you want to know more before submitting a report, see our FAQ page. 

To submit a concern via a secure online reporting form CLICK HERE. You may also call 716-673-3271. 

Please note that reports are not monitored after 4:30 PM (4 PM during summer hours) or on weekends or holidays. Reports received during this time will be reviewed on the next business day. Emergency concerns should be reported to University Police at 716-673-3333. 

What if I want to talk with someone confidentially before I report, or if I just want some advice without filing a report?

You may contact the following confidential campus resources listed below for a confidential consultation. Please note that unless you file a SOC Report, the SOC Team will not receive any information regarding your concern (except under very strict circumstances that may vary from resource to resource, but typically involve immediate danger to the student, another person, or the community in general, when a student is unable to care for him-or herself, or when the student provides written permission).

Counseling Center - 716-673-3424
Student Health Center - 716-673-3131
 

What happens with the information in a SOC report?

In many cases, it will be appropriate for your report to be shared with Fredonia's Students of Concern Team, which complies with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Student information is kept private and is only shared on a need-know-basis in order to assist the student and/or protect the campus community.

How does my report impact a student’s record?

SOC reports are part of a student’s Education Record. As per the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, information on a student Education Record may not be shared unless there is a “need-to-know” by a University employee in the course of performing their job duties. In general, Educational Records are not shared outside the University unless the student provides written permission.

There are exceptions: to ensure the safety of the student or others, when a student is under 21 years of age and is involved in alcohol or drug incident (campus may notify parents or guardians and SUNY Fredonia does so), and when a student transfers or applies to another institution (information may be shared to ensure the safety of that campus and community members). Students have access to their own records and are notified when information is shared beyond a SUNY Fredonia employee’s need-to-know. Students may petition to have inaccurate information corrected.

What is the SOC Team and who sits on it?

Fredonia's Students of Concern Team facilitates the identification and management of behaviors which may disrupt or interfere with the day to day functions of the University.

The SOC Team:

• serves as the coordinating hub of a network of existing resources, focused on prevention and early intervention in community situations involving members experiencing distress or engaging in harmful or disruptive behaviors; 
• assesses student needs and conducts an assessment in cases where the actions or behaviors of the student may pose a threat to the student or others;
• develops intervention and support strategies and offer case coordination;
• regularly reviews and assesses these situations and recommend actions in accord with existing University policies;
• educates the campus community about how to identify and promptly report concerning behaviors.

TEAM COMPOSITION

The Team is currently co-chaired by the Executive Director of Student Wellness and Support and the Care Coordinator. In addition, the Team is comprised of representatives from various departments, including:

• University Police
• Academic Advising
• Residence Life
• Counseling Center
• Student Conduct
• Care Coordination (Prevention, Advocacy, & Wellness)
• Academic Affairs (Associate Vice President for Retention & Student Success)
• Student Affairs

Ad hoc members are added from other areas of the University on a case-by-case basis. All SOC Team actions are tailored to the needs of the specific student’s circumstances and balanced with needs of the campus community.

Will I be informed of the outcome of my SOC Report?

You will be informed that your report has been received and that the student is being assisted. You may be contacted, if you choose to share your name, so that additional information can be gathered and so that you may be offered the opportunity to be involved as appropriate and in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. While experience suggests that students appreciate your care and concern and we do prefer to be completely transparent with the students we assist, we will not share your name without your permission.  Please note that based on the details and circumstances of the report, it might become obvious to the student who reported the concern.

Setting Healthy Boundaries - Faculty Resource

How to Listen Less (Inside Higher Ed)

Creating a Culture of Caring - Faculty Resource

Practical Approaches for College and University Faculty to Support Student Wellbeing and Mental Health (PDF) - Resource created by the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) and Active Minds (activeminds.org) 

Keeping Stress from Evolving into Distress: A Three-Part Guide on Managing Student Stress through Course Design

Download Part 1: Defining Stress, Distress and Their Origins (PDF)

Download Part 2: How Distress Manifests in the College Setting  (PDF)

Download Part 3: Reducing Distress in the Classroom  (PDF)

Students of Concern Team - Helping Students in Distress: FREDwell Mental Health Speaker Series 

The Students of Concern Team (SOC) is a campus-wide, multidisciplinary team that provides a caring program of identification, intervention, and response for students while balancing the needs of the individual with those of the community. This presentation is aimed at providing participants with an understanding of how to better identify concerning behaviors and how to report concerns, as well as what happens when a report is received by the Team. 

To schedule a training for your area, email care@fredonia.edu or call 716.673.3271.