Frequently Asked Questions

First, if you think your friend or others might be in immediate danger, stop reading this and call 911 or NC State Police at 919.515.3000. They have officers that are trained specifically to work with students in crisis. Otherwise, the best way to provide support for your friend is to make a referral. You can do so online or by calling our office at 919.515.4405 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Although the online form allows for anonymous reporting, it is best if you can provide your information for follow-up purposes. For more information on what happens when you submit a referral, see this page.

In addition to making a referral, you can also connect the student (by walking with them) to a variety of campus resources established to support students in need. These include the Counseling Center, GLBT Center, Women’s Center,Office of International Student, Wellness & Recreation, DisabilityResource Office, and many more. No matter what, make sure you submit a referral. This is the best way to ensure proper follow-up and long-term care for your friend.

You can decline to meet with a case manager, however, it is ideal in the process of following up that we make contact. A request to meet is sent when someone in the community has raised a concern about a student. The specific concern can vary widely to include concerns about the student’s personal well-being or concerns about the student’s behaviors. The purpose of the meeting is to share these concerns with the student and to determine what steps might be necessary to best support the student. Because so much is unknown about the specific issues involved, we strongly recommend that the student meets with a case manager to begin the process.

The information shared with the Student Behavioral Case Manager is protected under a set of federal regulations known as FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act). As a result, the information shared may only be released when the student provides permission or when there is an exception that allows for sharing. In all cases, every effort is made to protect students’ privacy. The information discussed will only be shared in the context of assisting the student. In order to coordinate services, written releases of information are signed by the student, when necessary. Learn more about FERPA and its exceptions.

Often, the first step following a referral is to contact the person making the referral to gather additional information. In most cases, this conversation helps to place the behaviors described in context. In addition, this conversation is used to provide the faculty/staff member with some basic resources for working with the student while the referral process continues.

What happens next in the process depends on the behaviors described, the urgency involved, and other information that is known or has been collected about the student. In some cases, it may be helpful to meet with the student to describe the concerns raised and determine the best approach going forward. For more information on what happens when you submit a referral, see this page.

Many faculty and staff express concern that a student will over-react when the student learns that he or she has been referred to our office (perhaps by expressing anger toward the faculty/staff member individually). In most cases, this concern is unfounded and the student appreciates the concern that has been expressed. Almost all students referred express their understanding that the referral was made based on a concern for them personally and because someone in the community cares enough to get them help.

While some classroom disruptions can be signs of a student in distress, many are simply acts of acting out or disrespect that do not indicate a higher level of concern. Common examples include arriving late to class, inappropriate comments or questions, and interrupting the lecture or discussion. By sharing your concerns with the student in a private setting, you’ll have an opportunity to assess whether the student would benefit from additional support. Learn more about how to deal with classroom disruptions (including information on when a student may be removed from class).

Yes. Although the case manager maintains very close relationships with the Counseling Center and other campus resources, your referral will do two things: First, you are enhancing the odds that the student will maintain a connection with the resource provided (e.g. the student is less likely to show up once and then leave); and second, you ensure that your information is connected with other referrals submitted for the student so that those working with the student have a fuller picture of the issues involved. The best way to think about submitting the referral is as a way to document that you connected the student with a certain resource.

Student records (including reports of concern) are protected by a set of federal laws and regulations known as FERPA. As a result, in most cases, parents will not be notified at the point where an individual raises an initial concern about the student. Despite this, the case managers work hard in many cases to involve parents by seeking permission from the student to make contact with the parent. During a conversation with a parent, the case manager is interested in learning more about the student while sharing resources that may be available to the parent and student going forward.

In most cases, parents are prevented from receiving access to their student’s records unless the student has signed a release of information. Parents and students can obtain a copy of the release by contacting the Case Managers at 919.515.4405.