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Helping Students in Distress
College can be both an intellectually exciting and a personally stressful time for students, especially first year students. New college students may for the first time be experiencing personal and academic crises far away from the support of their friends and families. While we in the Writing Program are not counselors, as teachers we are sometimes privy to signs of these stresses that our students are experiencing, and in the event of a serious situation, we can provide referrals for our students.
Behaviors that may indicate a student is in trouble or needs assistance:
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Essays or creative work that indicate extremes of hopelessness, social isolation, rage, or despair;
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A negative change in classroom performance: repeated absences, a drop in grades, disorganized or erratic performance;
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Tearfulness or unprovoked anger or hostility; excessive or inappropriate attachment to the teacher;
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Deterioration of physical appearance; or
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Statements indicating behavior that would be self-injurious or injurious to others.
What to Do
If a student in your class displays any of the above behaviors, please be aware that UMass and the Writing Program provide a wide variety of resources to help you. Your first step is to contact your Course Director, Resource Center mentor, Practicum leader, or any Writing Program staff for any classroom management problem you are experiencing. This can be an informal conversation and does not constitute “reporting” the student. We can help and advise you on the next step.
In an Emergency
In an emergency or if you cannot contact your CD leader or a Writing Program staff member, the following resources are available:
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Dean of Students Office—545-2684. This office provides guidance to TOs and faculty for dealing with challenging classroom situations.
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Mental Health Services—545-2337 or after hours: 577-5000. This office provides consultation in assessing the seriousness of a situation as well as providing crisis intervention and ongoing therapy and assistance.
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UMass Police—545-2121. The UMass Police will provide immediate emergency service in a threatening or dangerous situation.
It is important to remember that you are not, nor should you try to be, a counselor for your students. However, if a student’s behavior concerns you, please avail yourself of the many resources available to assist you and your student. You are not breaking student confidentiality by asking for assistance. Our goal is to help the student.
Next section: Additional Student Services
