Faculty and Staff Resources
Important Programs and Services
Undergraduate Advising
Undergraduate Advising provides undergraduate students a variety of opportunities and services designed to facilitate the best academic experience possible.
Career Services
Faculty and staff are encouraged to refer students to Career Services for all career development and job searching concerns.
First Year IntelligenceExperience (FYI)
The First Year Intelligence (FYI) program helps students build relationships with other students, faculty and staff, and provides academic and personal support.
Fall New Students Orientation (NSO)
Faculty and staff are invited to participate in Fall NSO to help welcome students to campus.
Other Resources
Community Standards- Policies and Guidelines includes Code of Student Conduct, Academic Honesty, and FERPA.
The Assessment and Care Team (ACT)
Recognizing and Helping Students in Distress
The University of Massachusetts Amherst is comitted to maintaining a safe working, learning and living environment for all members of the campus community. The rise in levels of violence has become increasingly a national and local concern. The Assessment and Care Team (ACT) focuses on students who may pose a threat to themselves or others, taking action to help the individual and protect campus safety. Representatives from key student support offices meet weekly to share information and develop action plans. ACT also consults with faculty and staff in identifying problematic behaviors. Members of the campus community concerned about a student are encouraged to involve ACT by calling the Dean of Students Office, (413) 545-2684.
In an emergency, call 911 for the UMass Amherst Police Department (UMPD).
Recognizing and Helping Students in Distress
Are you concerned about a student's physical or mental health? Has a student's behavior disrupted your class or caused you to worry about his or her future actions? You may have the opportunity to help a student avoid dangerous situations and obtain help. The ACT has compiled this guide as an aid to identifying signs of possible distress and making appropriate referrals.
Where do I start?
A situation, observation or instinct tells you to be concerned about a student. But, you're not sure what to do or where to start, and worry that you'll make things worse. Don't let that stop you from taking action. Use this resource guide, talk to your supervisor or department chair, or call the ACT. Help is available - for your student and for you.
Helping a student who is:
Anxious
SIGNS
- Stress, panic, avoidance, excessive worry, sleeping or eating problems
CONSULTATION AND REFERRAL
Demanding
SIGNS
- Sense of entitlement, need for control, difficulty with structure and limits, perfectionism, disruptive behavior
CONSULTATION AND REFERRAL
- Code of Student Conduct: “Guidelines For Classroom Civility and Respect”
- Dean of Students Office
- Center for Counseling and Psychological Health
Depressed, suicidal, disoriented
SIGNS
- Deep sense of sadness, fatigue and social withdrawal, difficulty with concentration, memory and decision-making, feelings of helplessness, hopelessness or worthlessness
CONSULTATION AND REFERRAL
Aggressive or potentially violent
SIGNS
- Paranoia, distrust, fascination with weapons, violence evident in communication or writings, direct or indirect threats
CONSULTATION AND REFERRAL
Immediate safety concern:
- Call 911, UMPD Assessment
- Dean of Students Office
- Center for Counseling and Psychological Health
Abusing Substances
SIGNS
- Coming to class high or smelling of alcohol, excessive absence, neglecting work, inappropriate behavior
CONSULTATION AND REFERRAL
A victim of assault or abuse
SIGNS
- Self-reporting, appears with bruises
CONSULTATION AND REFERRAL