Faculty, staff urged to be aware of, help troubled students
Faculty and staff serve an important role in working with students on campus. Faculty, academic staff or teaching assistants may directly encounter troubled or disruptive students in the classroom or office.
Faculty and staff may be the first to learn of an emotional or mental health issue, including suicidal references, the effects of a sexual assault or other crime, they may encounter disruptive behavior. In all of these cases, faculty and staff can play a positive role in helping that student to receive resources and be successful at UW–Madison while at the same time help to keep campus safe.
- Should a student exhibit dangerous, disruptive or suicidal behavior and physical safety is of immediate concern, call the UW Police Department. The 911 emergency number on campus connects directly to campus police.
- Some disruptive behavior, such as yelling or inappropriate language, can be dealt with informally by speaking directly with a student and setting clear expectations for conduct.
- If a student seems to be having mental health issues or appears to be depressed, please refer them to UHS Counseling and Consultation Services at 265-5600.
For questions, call 263-5700 and asking for a dean-on-call.
The dean of students’ staff is available for faculty and staff needs, as well as students’ concerns. In particular, receive guidance on respecting student privacy under FERPA, handling an escalating case, dealing with academic misconduct or any other assistance you require.
Additional resources about dealing with these situations are available at: