The landscape of higher education is significantly different today than in the past. Students are coming to college with more complex life journeys and higher expectations of available resources. Some of the more common areas of concern may include physical and mental health, family emergencies, academic issues, and additional life and transition-related issues. We work to promote a community of care in every facet of campus life. When a student is working through personal difficulties or crises they may be apprehensive to seek out help. If you notice a change in a student, whether academically or in their personality, we encourage you to facilitate a conversation with the student as you are comfortable. We want to empower all faculty and staff members to understand the resources students have available during their times of need so you can help connect them appropriately. If you have any questions or concerns regarding available resources and how to navigate potentially challenging conversations, do not hesitate to call the Student Affairs Case Manager, Laura Carper, or the Dean of Students, Megan Pugh. To submit a concern that required CARE team follow up, please use the “Refer a Concern” form to submit information. Please do not use this form in the case of emergencies as it is only monitored during regular business hours.
If a student is not attending class or if you have noticed a decline in the quality of a student’s work, please let the Academic Success Center know as quickly as possible so they can reach out to the student.
CARE and Crisis Team
The Campus Assessment, Response, and Education (CARE) and Crisis Team is an interdisciplinary unit that works collaboratively to provide intervention, resources, and assistance to students that are struggling with their success at UNC Asheville. College is a time of continual growth and transition and some of these transitions and life events may spark personal crises that inhibit a student’s personal and academic success. The CARE and Crisis Team partners with faculty, staff, students, parents, and families to address these concerns and crises to ensure the health and safety of all our students. If you are concerned about a student and are not sure how to address the concern, please reach out to our Student Affairs Case Manager, Laura Carper. The Case Manager will work with you to ensure that the concern is addressed in an appropriate manner.
Please use the “Refer a Concern” form to submit information to the CARE and Crisis Team. Please do not use this form in the case of emergencies as it is only monitored during regular business.
Representatives on the CARE and Crisis Team
- Dean of Students (Chair)
- Associate Dean of Students/Director of Residential Education
- Student Affairs Case Manager
- Title IX & Clery Coordinator
- Assistant Chief of Police
- Clinical Director for the Health and Counseling Center,
- Medical Director for the Health and Counseling Center,
- Director of the Academic Success Center
- Director of Accessibility
- Director of First and Second Year Academic Success
- (or the above’s designee)
Classroom Behavioral Expectations
We encourage faculty members and any individual serving as a course instructor to include behavioral expectations in their course syllabi. Setting these expectations early on can help you address any concerns regarding a student’s behavior in the classroom and to better manage disruption in the classroom. Deaver Traywick, our Director of Institutional Planning and Accreditation Support, can be a valuable resource as you work to craft behavioral expectations for your students. Megan Pugh, the Dean of Students, can also serve as a resource to you should you have any concerns.
Balancing FERPA and a Duty to Report
The University values student privacy and works to remain compliant with the regulations outlined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). If a student discloses that they are experiencing thoughts of harming themselves or others, please call the Health and Counseling Center at 828.251.6520 immediately to connect the student with the crisis services they need. You are not violating a student’s privacy by doing so, you are merely ensuring the prolonged health and safety of your student and the campus community.
Reports regarding an alleged violation of Title IX, including those taking place off-campus, such as sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking; sexual misconduct incidents involving minors, guests and third party users; and any allegation of inequity in educational programs and activities should be reported to any University Responsible Employee and communicated to the Title IX Administrator immediately.
University Police: 828-251-6710 | Title IX & Clery Coordinator, Heather Lindkvist: 828-232-5658
Office of Accessibility
If you are working with a student that has a documented learning disability and you have questions about how to best support them, please work with the Office of Accessibility (OAA). If your are working with a student that is experiencing inexplicable learning challenges, encourage them to work with OAA or the Student Affairs Case Manager, so they can help the student identify resources to promote their academic success and overall well being.
Anxiety or Depression
If you are made aware of a student experiencing a critical mental health emergency, call University Police, (828) 251-6710, immediately. University Police can connect with one of our after-hours counselors to ensure that each individual is safe and cared for.
People will struggle many times throughout their life. We do not want our students experiencing struggles on their own. If a student expresses that they have considered suicide, please reach out to our Health and Counseling Center or a member of our Dean of Students team. If you are concerned about a peer and there is no immediate risk, please submit a Concern or connect with a member of the Health and Counseling or Dean of Students’ teams. Please refer to the “How to talk to your students” section of this site if you are seeking resources on productive ways to facilitate a conversation about a student’s potential suicide ideation.
On-Campus Resources
- Health and Counseling Center
- Advising and Learning Support
- Test Taking Anxiety
- Test anxiety is an uneasiness or apprehension experienced before, during, or after an exam because of concern, worry, or fear. Almost everyone experiences some anxiety, but some students find that anxiety interferes with their learning and test-taking to such an extent that their grades are seriously affected. The team in Advising and Learning Support has different resources available to address this type of concern.
- Test Taking Anxiety
Off-Campus Resources
- The JED Foundation is working to address emotional health issues and prevent college student suicide in America. The organization provides resources for various
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America
- Information on Anxiety
- Information on Depression
Sexual Assault
All members of the University community are expected to engage in conduct that contributes to the culture of integrity and honor upon which the University of North Carolina at Asheville is grounded. Acts of sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking, jeopardize the health and welfare of our campus community and the larger community as a whole. The University has established procedures for preventing and investigating allegations of sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, dating violence, domestic violence and stalking that are compliant with Title IX federal regulations. To learn more about these procedures, visit the Title IX Information and Support site. Below are additional on and off campus resources for survivors of sexual assault.
On-Campus Resources
Off-Campus Resources
Disordered Eating Behaviors
The UNC Asheville community uses a holistic approach to promoting the health and wellness of our students. Our Registered Dietician, Health and Counseling Center, and our Dean of Students team work collaboratively to address and manage remedies for students working with disordered eating behaviors or diagnosed eating disorders. Disordered eating behaviors can manifest in a variety of ways and there is no overnight resolution plan to addressing this concern. However, by promoting a community of care in every facet of campus life, we work to address both the physical and mental health components that catalyze disordered eating behaviors. We want to help our students develop healthy, safe, and sustainable plans for their lives on campus and post-graduation. Below are resources both on and off-campus that can help students work through disordered eating behaviors.
On-Campus Resources
Off-Campus Resources
- Carolina Resource Center for Eating Disorders (formerly T.H.E. Center for Disordered Eating)
- 828-337-4685
- Park Ridge Health
Alcohol or Drug Use
Fall 2014 saw the first Collegiate Recovery Community at UNC Asheville. This community of students, staff, and faculty provides a culture of care for individuals working to achieve or maintain sobriety. This space is not one of judgment or blame but rather of care and support. Substance use is typically related to managing unwanted or unknown emotions. Being mindful of care for yourself as you work through substance use is crucially important and the Collegiate Recovery Community can help you manage that. The Health and Counseling Center at UNC Asheville offers a variety of support services for individuals working through substance abuse-related issues. The website provides information for both on and off-campus resources if you are seeking help for a student.
Report a Bias Incident
A bias incident is an act of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, violence or criminal offense committed against any person, group or property that appears to be intentional and motivated by prejudice or bias. Such are usually associated with negative feelings and beliefs with respect to others’ race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age social class, political affiliation, disability, veteran status, club affiliation or organizational membership.
If you or a student have experienced or witnessed a biased-related incident, please click here to report.