The DSA is committed to excellence and selfless service by promoting a high level of care for students’ needs and their well-being.
By Mariah Patrick, Melanie McKoin Owens, & Jaclyn Upshaw-Brown, Texas A&M University Division of Student Affairs
The Division of Student Affairs (DSA) recognizes its responsibility to cultivate a welcoming, supportive, and affirming environment that instills a sense of belonging in an ever-changing campus community. Individualized student care and support is a crucial part of cultivating that environment.
Like many universities nationwide, Texas A&M is navigating increasing enrollment and an environment where mental health is at a crisis level, meaning that student well-being and care have become a primary focus. With more than 70,000 students who frequent the College Station campus, many resources are in place to ensure that each Aggie is cared for in their moment of need.
Tell Somebody Report (TSR): Often, after a tragedy, people come forward with information and observations that, in retrospect, may have signaled a more significant issue. The Tell Somebody Reporting system is a proactive approach to viewing this information collectively, which can help prevent tragic events and initiate assistance to an individual. Members of the Texas A&M community can submit a report at any time and choose to be contacted for more information or to remain anonymous. A team of professionals manages TSRs and often results in outreach to students to help them learn about resources and support that may help them through any challenge or concern they are experiencing.
Special Situations Team (SST): The Special Situations Team exists to enhance existing processes and align Texas A&M University with emerging national standards for dealing with troubled or at-risk faculty, staff, and students. They meet regularly to assess circumstances, enhance communication, and initiate appropriate responses to behavioral problems that may involve threats to the safety and security of the university community. TSRs route to the Special Situations Team, whose authority comes from the university staff members comprising the team.
Student Behavioral Issues Committee (SBIC): The Student Behavioral Issues Committee provides high-level care for students in crisis or of concern at the university. SBIC convenes routinely to review student cases and intentionally create strategies of care and support to prioritize student well-being and success. The committee comprises campus stakeholders who directly support student success, including academic advisors, case managers, and representatives for various special populations on campus.
Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT): The Critical Incident Response Team is a service unique to Texas A&M. Comprised of university staff members, the team is on-call 24/7/365. CIRT is activated when a student is transported to a local hospital or if the student is involved in an emergency incident. Suppose a student is sent to a hospital after an auto accident. In that case, a CIRT member is there to provide support, which can include sitting with the student until a family member arrives or providing other logistical support. Another example is assisting students who experience an apartment fire. CIRT will work with them to cover immediate basic needs until a more sustainable solution is found. Critical incidents can be traumatic, and having the CIRT member present provides a different type of care in the moment, which speaks to DSA’s commitment to excellence and selfless service.
Focusing on individual needs, the Division infuses care through basic needs support, providing resources for students who experienced a critical incident, are pregnant or parenting, or are navigating a barrier prohibiting their opportunity for excellence. Support is also offered for more profound struggles, partnering with University Health Services and the University Police Department on mental health and physical concerns, from working through hospitalization and car accidents to managing concerning behavior that causes anxious feelings in our larger campus community.
Often, a case manager is assigned to the student during these challenges. The case manager meets with the student routinely to provide initial care and then develops a plan. This plan usually involves various supporting factors, such as individuals from the DSA, academic advisors, faculty, student organization advisors, and parent and family members who play a critical role in helping a student during a trying time. Successful implementation of the plan is essential to providing individualized care and support to ensure that the student can achieve their academic goals.
The Aggie community, including faculty, staff, and student supporters, such as parents and family members, is crucial in caring for our students. Each supporter has a unique interaction and insight to their students and will notice challenges and behavior changes that others may not. Luckily, no supporter, Division or department is alone in providing excellent care. It is a collaborative effort across campus, and the Division of Student Affairs is here to help contribute to those efforts.
Faculty and staff who want more information about concerning student behavior and the resources available can read the Concerning Behavior Response Guide located under Helpful Resources on the Tell Somebody website. Those with questions about the mentioned resources or who may be worried about a student should submit a Tell Somebody Report or reach out to Student Life at 979-845-3111 or [email protected].
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Media contact: Mariah Patrick, 979-458-7826, [email protected]
