To: All Faculty & All Academic Professionals & All Civil Service Staff
           <everybody@illinois.edu> 
    From: "Provost Linda Katehi/Vice Chancellor Renee Romano" <vcsa@uiuc.edu>

Reply-To: vcsa@uiuc.edu
 Subject: MASSMAIL - Safe and Supportive Environment

As we move toward the end of the semester, the pressure on students 
grows.  We all play important roles in assisting and supporting students.  
We recognize that recent events may raise concerns for students and 
faculty about stress, safety, and preparedness.  With this in mind, we 
would like to remind you of the following campus resources.

First, the Division of Public Safety (9-911 from any campus phone) is the 
contact for any emergency situation or immediate crisis including any 
direct or indirect threatening behavior.  If you are off campus, call 911 
directly.  In a non-emergency, the Division of Public Safety can be 
reached at 333-1216.  Public Safety's website, http://www.dps.uiuc.edu, 
contains safety-related information along with a link to the Office of 
Campus Emergency Planning.  This site will provide you with an overview of 
the security and emergency planning done on campus.  

Second, the campus already has several ways to reach you, including:  
massmail, the campus homepage, a telephone tree, local media, recorded 
messages at 265-UIPD, weather sirens, and loudspeakers in police cars.  We 
are adding several new ways to reach you:  one is a pop-up on campus Web 
pages, another is destination signs on MTD buses/bus stops, and the final 
new method is the emergency messaging system.  The system will send e-mail 
and text message notifications to all users who register their 
information.  We encourage all faculty, staff, and students to register 
their contact information for this system at:  emergency.illinois.edu. 

Third, we are enlisting your help in identifying students who may be 
struggling emotionally, psychologically, or academically. Because you are 
the ?front line? personnel of the University, your connections to the 
students you teach and mentor are critical components of the support the 
University works hard to provide students.  While it is often impossible 
to precisely predict or anticipate acts of violence to self or others, it 
is important to try to be sensitive concerning these possibilities and 
report relevant information to campus police or other resources.

Some of the behavioral signs of psychological crisis or acute distress are 
as follows:

-Sad, anxious, or empty mood
-Expressions of hopelessness or extreme pessimism
-Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
-Lost interest or pleasure in hobbies and social activities
-Fatigued or slowed down behavior
-Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
-Problems sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
-Appetite or weight changes
-Agitation or irritability
-Social withdrawal
-Diminished hygiene (stops washing hair, bathing, changing clothes)

Other signs that instructors might be especially cognizant of include:

-Diminished class attendance
-Significant decline in academic performance
-Failure to keep appointments with faculty or teaching assistants
-Failure (especially among graduate students) to make satisfactory 
progress in their program of study or to be in contact with their graduate 
advisor
-Difficulty completing or submitting assignments in a timely manner
-Speech that seems disorganized or confusing

While these behavioral markers do not always parallel a psychological 
problem, they may be indicative of someone who is not managing his or her 
life very effectively.  So these types of behaviors may merit follow up 
with the student.  This inquiry might be accomplished by having a 
conversation with the student to see if he or she is feeling in crisis or 
overwhelmed by life demands.

Therefore, we are asking for your help.  We know from national statistics 
that early referral to counseling services for students who are struggling 
psychologically is the best way to treat their problems effectively, and 
we know from studies that effective treatment positively correlates to 
academic persistence and retention.  Our counseling services include a 
suicide prevention program that is nationally recognized.  If you observe 
or believe that one of your students is struggling with psychological 
problems, is in crisis, or is floundering academically, please refer them 
to one of the following resources for help: 

COUNSELING CENTER
	206 Turner Student Services Building
	ccserver4.ad.uiuc.edu
	333-3704

SUICIDE PREVENTION TEAM
	Paul Joffe
	p-joffe@uiuc.edu
	333-3704

MCKINLEY MENTAL HEALTH
	313 McKinley Health Center
	www.mckinley.uiuc.edu
	333-2705

EMERGENCY DEAN
	Office of the Dean of Students
	300 Turner Student Services Building (24 hours daily)
	333-0050
	www.odos.uiuc.edu

STUDENT CONFLICT RESOLUTION
	409 Turner Student Services Building  
	333-3680 
	www.conflictresolution.uiuc.edu

CRISIS LINE (a service of Provena Behavioral Health)
	359-4141
	24-Hour Emergency Mental Health Assistance

If you need assistance or support in approaching a student you believe may 
be struggling, you can refer to the following Web site for tips on how to 
effectively refer a student, ccserver4.ad.uiuc.edu, or you can call the 
Counseling Center or McKinley Mental Health and consult with a mental 
health professional.  If you believe a student may be at risk for suicide, 
please consult with a mental health professional.  Thank you for your 
willingness to be a vital part of the University's support network for our 
students.  
This mailing approved by:
The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

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