Campus Assessment, Referral, and Evaluation
The Upstate CARE (Campus Assessment, Referral, and Evaluation) Team supports the safety, health, and well-being of all students, faculty and staff. Its goal is to provide a structured, positive method for addressing student behaviors that may adversely affect the community and other students, or may involve mental health and safety issues.
CARE Team Mission Statement
USC Upstate denotes itself with a living-learning environment that holistically develops students for their futures. The CARE Team provides a systematic but caring response to students in crisis or whose emotional, mental, physical or psychological health condition may threaten their wellbeing or the safety of the surrounding campus community. Comprised of a dedicated cohort of professionals, the CARE Team extends a compassionate and confidential procedure for identification, intervention, and response in efforts supporting the students’ success as well as the University community’s protection. The CARE Team abides by the following policies and procedures which are updated periodically. These policies and procedures do not supplant any academic-based withdrawal nor dismissal policies nor any student disciplinary issues resolved by the Student Code of Conduct, the Code of Academic Integrity, or the Sexual Misconduct Adjudication Procedures.
Submit an “R U OK?” / Student CARE Team Referral
Anyone who feels a student is a risk to herself/himself/themselves or the community can make a CARE Team referral. When an “R U OK?” or Student Affairs Reporting Form is received, the CARE Team assesses the report and formulates a response. The response may include referrals to university resources that support the well-being and safety of students.
If you are concerned about someone’s health, well-being, or safety, submit a referral at “R U OK?” or call the Division of Student Affairs at 864-503-5107 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 am – 5 pm. Non-emergency referrals submitted after 5 p.m. will not be received until the next business day).
In the event of an emergency, contact Upstate University Police Department at 803-503-7777 or call 911 or the After-Hours Crisis Line at 864-503-5195, Option #2.
When to register a CARE Team Referral
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- Suicide attempt or talking about suicide
- Illegal drug use
- Disordered eating
- Self-harming behaviors
- Emotional distress
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- Substance abuse
- Unusual behavior
- Victimization
- Grief or Intense Loss
- Emotional distress
Signs or Signals to Consider Before a CARE Team Referral
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- Significant changes in energy
- Frequent state of intoxication
- Significant weight loss
- Worrisome changes in hygiene
- Noticeable cuts, bruises and burns
- Sleeping in class or at other inappropriate time
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- Inappropriate emotional outbursts
- Direct statements indicating distress
- Expressions of hopelessness or suicide
- Peer concerns for another student
- Exaggerated personality traits (more withdrawn or animated than usual)
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- Deterioration in academic work
- Disorganized or concerning performance
- Repeated absences and missed assignments
- Ranting or threatening emails
- Continual seeking of special provisions or permissions
For general academic concerns, refer to the Upstate Student Success Center
Reviewing the CARE Team Referral and Initial Meeting
There are a number of responses the Care Team may take when it receives a referral. After a review of concerns in the Care Team referral, a Team member may give the student a phone call to check-in and/or send her/him the information for a resource that may be helpful to her/him.
Or, the Team may invite a student to a meeting to speak one-on-one about the concerns. The purpose of the meeting is to determine an action plan moving forward that will promote the student’s well-being and success at Upstate. In some instances, the CARE Team may ask the student to participate in an assessment by Counseling Services, including Psychiatry Services.
If the student feels more comfortable having an advisor with her/him during the meeting, please invite them and we will make accommodations. This person can be a family member, parent, attorney, student, faculty or staff member. Please note that because the meeting is confidential, students must sign a Release of Information waiver to permit the advisor to have access to the meeting and to the case.
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The assessment process generally consists of 1-2 hour-long sessions. Counseling Services, including Psychiatry Services, will provide the student and the Care Team with a treatment recommendation after the assessment.
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After receiving a recommendation from Counseling and Psychiatry the CARE Team may then schedule a Case Management Meeting to discuss the treatment recommendation, assist the student in setting up appointments with treatment providers, and answer any questions the student may have.
If the student is referred to an off-campus treatment facility, the Case Manager/Coordinator of the Student Conduct Office will support the student in finding a provider and ensure the proper documentation is provided to the CARE Team. For the first appointment at an off-campus treatment facility, the student takes insurance information and expects to complete initial paperwork and an assessment.
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In accordance with the Family Education Rights Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), the access to student conduct and health records is carefully restricted to the minimum number of CARE Team members needed for each report, incident, or issue. Before any user is granted access to student records, the user will acknowledge confidentiality/student privacy provisions. On an annual basis, the list of users will be reviewed by the Director of Risk Management to ensure only the necessary individuals have access to student records, and also that they have acknowledged the confidentiality provision. CARE Team cases are student-centered, not punitive, and will not appear on a student’s academic record nor transcript. Case records are confidential and/or private without the student’s explicit and written permission, unless there is an immediate health or safety risk.