1. Supporting Students and Addressing Concerning Behavior
Dean of Students Office
Becky Freer, Assistant Dean of Students
Rob Longwell-Grice, Interim Associate Dean of Students
Supporting Students and Addressing Concerning Behavior

2. Student concerns you may encounter
Homelessness, food insecurity, financial troubles, severe illness, medical emergencies
Signs of substance abuse, weight change, poor hygiene, sleeping in class, cuts or bruises
Change in behavior, quality of assignments, participation, and attendance
Cheating, plagiarizing
Disruption, outbursts, aggression, violence
Allusions to violence, threats
Strange communication patterns, paranoia, emotional disconnection (e.g. blank stares)
Crying, depression, suicide ideation

3. What to do?
Talk to the student -if possible after class or in an office.
Genuinely listen.
Acknowledge the student’s concerns and avoid judgment.
Set limits and expectations; be firm.
Ask the student questions to assess their intentions.
e.g. What have you thought about doing?
Connect the student to resources.
Look out for your safety: have another staff member nearby or contact UWM PD to request officer presence.
Do not promise confidentiality (threats to self and others, and abuse must be reported).
UWM Administrative Policy S-9 “Behavior Cases Impeding Learning Process”
Norris Health Center publication “Assisting the Emotionally Distressed Student”

4. ALWAYS SUBMIT A REPORT TO: www.care.uwm.edu
Reporting concerns
Emergencies: contact UWM PD at 9-911
Counseling and Consultation: walk students to Norris Health Center or call x4716
Consultation and reporting: contact the Dean of Students Office at x4632 or
ALWAYS SUBMIT A REPORT TO:

5. How the Dean of Students Office can help
Consult with faculty and staff about student behavior and legal ways to respond
Lead the Student Support Team
Provide ongoing student support and advocacy
Respond to crises and emergencies
Assess potential threats
Coordinate campus response to student deaths
Grant medical tuition credits
Adjudicate non-academic misconduct cases
Facilitate academic misconduct process

6. Student Support Team
Supports student retention and a healthy campus community by identifying students in distress and coordinating appropriate interventions.
Committee meets weekly and includes:
Dean of Students Office
Norris Health Center
University Housing
Student Success Center
Student Accessibility Center
By invitation: units directly connected to the student

7. Student Conduct Guided by UW System Administrative Codes
Chapter 14: Academic Misconduct
Chapter 17: Non-academic Misconduct
Chapter 18: Conduct on University Lands
Guarantees “Due Process” for students
Right to notification of reports
Right to a hearing
If found responsible for violating the Code, the student may face sanctions ranging from a warning to expulsion from UW System.

8. Examples of recent cases
Kurt: readmitted after being academically dismissed
Georgia: referred to our office for plagiarism
William: sent an instructor an suggesting he might commit suicide
Josh: posted on Facebook that he wanted to shoot his professor
Kurt: Complained the University wasn’t helping him. Faculty reported aggressive/combative behavior. Met with him and determined he was not a threat. In treatment for anger management. Chronic medical condition. Food Scarcity. Non-traditional aged. Smart. No familiarity with technology and navigating University. Pride interfered with seeking help. Determined. Failing grades for 2 semesters. Department readmitted him. Still does not have a 2.0 cumulative. Has 2.0 semester GPA propped up by sport and rec classes. Maxing out Aid. Ethics of leading him on?
Georgia: Professor found student unstable after meeting about academic misconduct and questioned appropriate sanctions. Advised not to change standards. Learned of multiple suicide attempts from housing. Learned of panic attacks from advisor. Learned of potential disconnect from reality from counselors. No independent living skills. Offered number of options for her to focus on herself. No ability to force her to do anything. We persistantly guided her to get appropriate medical care. Ultimately, she failed out.
William: Instructor contacted our office. We advised her to contact student and followed guidelines for talking to students (earlier slide). We contacted student. Student did not want to talk to us. Contacted other faculty member and discovered more concerning behaviors. Had police do a welfare check. Reached out to him on a regular basis. Months later responded. Currently working on mental health and plans to return to school.
Josh: Posting on facebook led to arrest. Led to emergency suspension. Had documentation from other offices to show a gradual escalation of behavior (annoying employers through a career placement website, frustrated with faculty, frustrated with landlord, lower levels of disruption). Took him through non-academic misconduct process. Had documentation to support elevated sanction removing him from campus and completion of a psychological assessment

9. Dean of Students Office
Tom McGinnity, Interim Dean of Students
Robert Longwell-Grice, Interim Associate Dean of Students
Becky Freer, Assistant Dean of Students for Student Support
Dan Kast, Assistant Dean of Students for Student Conduct
Pahoua Xiong, Graduate Student for Student Conduct
Parna Banerjee, Graduate Student for Student Support
Mellencamp 118
Submit reports to