Care Team

Student Life CARE Team

The Student Life CARE (coordination, assessment, response, and education) Team takes a collaborative approach and referral process to connect students to appropriate wellbeing, academic, cultural, and other related student support services and resources to help them continue their progress at Morris. The Student Life CARE Team brings representatives campus offices and resource areas together to:

• address non-academic student centered concerns (e.g. a mental health concern that requires assistance of case management, disclosure of significant extenuating circumstances that impact student health, wellbeing, and success, and other areas requiring additional follow-up with a Student Life-centered approach
• share advice and insights about student concerns and students in distress/crisis
• collaborate on strategies to support students, faculty, and staff
• develop an understanding of the patterns of individual and collective student concerns
• identify strategies and processes to build a healthy campus environment 

The Student Care Team is coordinated by UMN Morris Student Affairs. For more information contact Adrienne Conley, associate director for residential & community life, email the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, or call 320-589-6013.

Support for Students

The Student Life CARE Team works collaboratively within and outside of the group to identify resources and strategies for UMN Morris students who are experiencing distress or are in need of support. The team works to support and foster student wellbeing as an important component of student success.

In addition to addressing particular concerns and providing direct support for individual students, the Student Life CARE Team recommends strategies and procedures for addressing issues such as sexual assault, alcohol and drug abuse, self-harm, and mental health concerns. The team facilitates parental notification when needed and appropriate, in accordance with FERPA and UMN policies.

Sharing Non-academic Student Concerns

Contact: Adrienne Conley, associate director for residential & community life

When faculty or staff have a non-academic concern about a student (e.g., a mental health concern that requires assistance of case management, disclosure of extenuating circumstances that impact student health and wellbeing, and/or areas that require additional follow-up with a Student Life-centered approach), please submit the CARE Report Form to share your concern with the Student Life Care Team. Care Team representatives from Student Affairs, Student Counseling, and the Student Success Center meet regularly to coordinate student support. Designated CARE Team members also collaborate with others, including Public Safety, in behavioral intervention and critical incident response teams to address higher-level student centered health and safety concerns. If you have questions or would like assistance, please contact Adrienne.

CARE Report Form 

If you have academic concerns, please see Academic Alert resources.

Disruptions to the Academic Environment

Students sometimes present concerning behavior in classrooms and service areas. Students have the right to a productive and stimulating learning environment. In turn, instructors have a responsibility to nurture and maintain such an environment. Student behavior that is an obstacle to teaching and learning should be addressed. Faculty and staff are positioned to respond in the moment. This requires leadership, a sense of compassion, and an understanding of your students. 

Responding to disruptions 

• Check with your division and discipline colleagues to see if they have specific expectations for students enrolled in your programs or certain practices for responding to disruptions
• Consult with Student Life colleagues as needed. Complete a CARE report to log the concern and/or its resolution
• Meet with the student to discuss their behavior. Explain to them why their behavior is disruptive
• Give the student an opportunity to discuss concerns that may be contributing to their behavior
• Clearly state that behavior that disrupts the class cannot continue. If, in the meeting, they appear unwilling to modify their behavior, let them know that Disruption of the Academic Environment is prohibited by the UMN Student Conduct Code and the Administrative Policy on Teaching and Learning: Student Responsibilities. Inform them that continued disruptions may be referred to the Student Behavior Committee for their review and action

Managing Concerning Student Behavior

Faculty and staff are encouraged to report behaviors that may be prohibited under the Student Conduct Code to the Student Behavior Committee. For assistance in responding to possible student misconduct or more information about the UMN Morris Student Behavior Committee, please contact one of the committee’s administrative secretaries:

Everyone makes mistakes, and we believe it’s important for students to learn and grow from their mistakes. By responding to harmful behaviors we can ensure that the University is a safe environment for students to learn and grow in.