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Sent: 2017-12-04
From: Lynette Drake, Interim VPSA and Jay Gattrell, PhD, Provost and VPAA
To: All Staff, All Faculty, Various Recipients

Subject: Helping Students in Distress

<p>Dear Faculty and Staff:</p><p>Throughout this final week of classes and next week&rsquo;s exams, you may encounter students who are struggling.<span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Warning signs that a student is in distress include:&nbsp;&nbsp;<em>nervousness, increased irritability or undue abrasive behavior, poorly-prepared work, change in attendance patterns, marked change in personal hygiene, and/or excessive social isolation with alarming behavior.</em>&nbsp;If you identify these or other unusual signals in a student, we offer these guidelines in helping your students:</p><p>&bull;&nbsp;<strong>Do not ignore unusual and/or inappropriate behavior.&nbsp;</strong><span>&nbsp;</span>Share specific concerns about behavior with the student as quickly as possible.&nbsp;<span>&nbsp;</span>Inform the student that such behavior is distracting and inappropriate.&nbsp;</p><p>&bull;&nbsp;<strong>Listen to the student.&nbsp;</strong><span>&nbsp;</span>Request to talk with the student and listen carefully to the student.&nbsp;<span>&nbsp;</span>While respecting the student&rsquo;s privacy, consider your comfort level and personal safety.&nbsp; If you choose to meet with a student in your office, you may ask a colleague to join you.</p><p>&bull;<strong>&nbsp;Document your observations.&nbsp;<span>&nbsp;</span></strong>Write detailed notes about the student&rsquo;s behavior and your concerns.&nbsp; These notes can be extremely helpful when a student needs to be referred to another department for assistance.&nbsp;</p><p>&bull;&nbsp;<strong>Referral options.&nbsp;<span>&nbsp;</span></strong>If you believe that the student is in need of additional assistance, there are a variety of offices on campus to help, including:</p><p style="margin-left: .75in; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New';"><span>o<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span>The Counseling Clinic in the Human Services Building (581-3413,&nbsp;<span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.eiu.edu/counsctr</span>) for students who need emotional assistance.&nbsp;<span>&nbsp;</span>(<strong><span style="font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If it is after&nbsp;</span></strong>business hours, please contact LifeLinks for assistance at 1-866-567-2400.)</p><p style="margin-left: .75in; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New';"><span>o<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span>The Office of Student Standards in the University Union (581-3827,&nbsp;<span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.eiu.edu/judicial</span>) for students who are disruptive in the classroom.</p><p style="margin-left: .75in; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New';"><span>o<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span>The University Police Department (581-3212,&nbsp;<span style="color: windowtext;">/police/</span>) for concerns involving public safety.<span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Use 911 in an emergency situation.</p><p style="margin-left: .75in; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New';"><span>o<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span>The Medical Clinic in the Human Services Building (581-3013,&nbsp;<span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.eiu.edu/health/</span>) for a health-related concern.</p><p style="margin-left: .75in; text-indent: -.25in; mso-list: l0 level2 lfo1;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New',serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Courier New';"><span>o<span style="font: 7.0pt 'Times New Roman';">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span>Additionally, a resource entitled &ldquo;Distressed Student Handbook&rdquo; is available at&nbsp;<span style="color: windowtext;">http://www.eiu.edu/counsctr/Distressed%20Student%20Handbook%202016.pdf</span>.</p><p>We hope this information will be helpful, both as we close this semester and as we welcome a new semester in January.<span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Thank you for the care, concern, and guidance that you give our students.<span>&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Please contact either of our offices at any time if you have questions about finding the right resources to assist our students.</p><p>Sincerely,</p><p>Lynette Drake<br />Interim Vice President for Student Affairs</p><p>Jay Gatrell, Ph.D.<br />Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs</p>