Campus Assessment Response and Education Team (CARE Team)

CARE Mission Statement

The Campus Assessment Response and Education Team (CARE Team) is a campus-wide team that provides a caring approach of identification, consultation, and coordination of the University response to situations involving students who engage in concerning, disruptive and/or potentially harmful behavior. CARE Team serves as a resource to the campus community and centralizes communication. The team identifies risk and develops a collaborative outreach and support plan with campus and community resources.

CARE Team Description

West Chester University’s CARE Team collaborates with specialized members to promote the safety and well-being of our campus community. The purpose of CARE is to identify an alarming behavior, and provide support to someone who may have academic and/or personal challenges which may have an impact on a successful college experience. This may include behavior regarding a peer or conversations between groups or individuals that may potentially be unhealthy. CARE requests your input so we may be proactive in fostering safety, healthy well-being, and academic achievement for our community.

 

When to submit a CARE Referral

You are concerned for a student If possible, did Have you already talked you talk with the student? Yes with the student about No, this is the first time this issue/ concern? No, I was not able to talk with them Yes, I have talked about this issue/ concern before with the student Submit a CARE Referral After your conversation, do you still feel concerns for the student or that they need additional support? Yes, I am still concerned for this student No Thank you for supporting our students. You do not need to submit a CARE Referral at this time.

Some examples of concerning behaviors are: 

  • Talks about suicide or homicide
  • Inappropriate anger or hostility
  • Decrease in self care
  • Actions that don't match the situation
  • Distorted body image or disordered eating
  • Depressed or anxious and needs support
  • Stark change in personality or behavior
  • Feeling isolated, alone, or hopeless
  • Any concerns for a student's mental health

Additional concerns and who to connect with:

Concerning Behaviors Who to connect with Helpful Links
  • Poses immediate threat to themselves or others
  • Write/verbalizes direct threats to another
 Public Safety Public Safety: Police Services
  • Victim of sexual assault
  • Reports sexual harassment or discrimination
 Office of Equal Opportunity & Compliance (EOC)

Report Sexual Misconduct

Report Discrimination of Harassment
  • Class Disruption
 Consult with your Department Chair for support Disruptive Classroom Policy
  • Missing classes
  • Serious issues with test-taking/presentations
 Academic Support and Advocacy (ASA) Report concerns through Navigate
  • Suspect student of cheating/ academic dishonesty
 Consult with your Department Chair for support Academic Integrity Policy

Report concerning incident or behavior

CARE Training Request Form

How do I submit a CARE Referral Form?

*If the situation is an emergency, please call Public Safety now, at 610-436-3311*

Complete a CARE Referral Form

While we understand that every situation is different, we encourage that reporters connect with the student of concern prior to completing the CARE referral form. Talking with students prior to completing the CARE referral form allows reporters together more information about the situation so CARE can better assist. In many cases, reporters who talked with the student of concern, were able to provide resources directly to the student and avoid delay in support.

The information in this form will be kept as private as possible and only shared with those who need to know. You may submit an anonymous report, although it may hamper our ability to provide full support to the student. West Chester University is committed to creating and maintaining a campus environment where safety, health, and well-being are priorities for all.

What happens when I submit a CARE Referral Form?

 

CARE referral is submitted - Referral is sent to the CARE Team for review - Information Gathering: The CARE Team Case Manager gathers additional information for the student of concern (1) - CARE Team Review: The CARE Team meets to review new and existing cases (2) - Intervention Implementation: A CARE Team member will begin to implement interventions discussed by the CARE Team (3) - External Office Referral: There are times when the CARE Team will review an incident and determine that another office is better equipped to respond (4) - Closing: The CARE Team closes cases once all interventions have been exhausted or the incident is being addressed by another office (5)

1 While gathering information, we consider the following: Does the student of concern have any previous interactions with the CARE Team? Have there been any interactions with other offices (e.g. Student Conduct, ASA, Residence Life & Housing)? Are there any additional concerns (e.g. academic probation, multiple concerns for absences in Navigate, incomplete student conduct sanctions)? Are there any safety risks identified, such as suicidal thoughts, harm to themselves, or harm to others?

2 The CARE Team reviews all new CARE referrals, shares any additional information they have for a student of concern, discusses next steps (interventions), re-reviews all active CARE cases for any changes, and discusses the closing of cases when appropriate.

3 Examples of interventions include: The CARE Team making contact with the student of concern, connecting the student with campus resources, connecting with student's emergency contact, or a risk assessment.

4 There are times when another office is more appropriate to respond to a concern. When another office can more appropriately respond, the incident will no longer be handled by the CARE Team, and the team may not have updates. We will do our best to provide you with the contact information for the new office handling the concern.

5 Once the CARE Team decides to close a case, a member of the CARE Team will reconnect with the referral source to inform them of the closing. Referral sources will be asked for feedback on the referral process and their intentions with the CARE Team. Due to FERPA Regulations, the CARE Team is limited in communications to external parties. Communications within the university are on a need-to-know basis.

Meet the CARE Team

Title

Name and Contact Information

Assistant Vice President for Health and Wellness 

Chair of CARE Team

Dr. B.K. Taylor

610-436-3086

btaylor3@wcupa.edu

Case Manager for CARE Support Services

Kristin Yeager

610-436-3089

care@wcupa.edu

Director of Wellness Promotion

Dr. Jayme Trogus

610-436-2336

jtrogus@wcupa.edu

Faculty Associate for Student Engagement and Retention

Dr. Tammy James

610-436-6999

tjames@wcupa.edu

Associate Director of Residence Life

 

Brett Buckridge

610-436-1016

bbuckridge@wcupa.edu 

Assistant Dean of Students

Christina Brenner

610-436-3511

cbrenner@wcupa.edu

Public Safety Special Investigator

Detective Matthew Rychlak

610-436-3174

mrychlak@wcupa.edu

Director of Counseling Services

Dr. Rachel Daltry

610-436-2301

rdaltry@wcupa.edu

Director for Equal Opportunity and Compliance

Tashell Jenkins, Esq.

610-436-2433

tjenkins601@wcupa.edu

Assistant Director of Holistic Student Support

Nicole Young

610-436-3091

nyoung438@wcupa.edu 

Helpful Resources

  • The Counseling Center- Provides free and confidential consultation with a therapist, along with various group therapies.  
    • Phone number: 610-436-2301
    • Located: Lawrence Center, second Level
  • Wellness Promotion- Provides various services and programs, such as BASICS & CASICS, Wellness Coaching, RefRAMe Campaign, and more! 
    • Phone number: 610-426-0730
    • Email: wellness@wcupa.edu
    • Located: Commonwealth Hall, Ground floor
  • Office of Educational Accessibility (OEA) - Provides accommodations on campus and support to students with disabilities.
    • Phone number: 610-436-2564
    • Email: oea@wcupa.edu
    • Located: Wayne Hall, Suite 107
  • Dub-C Autism Program (D-CAP) - Provides supports to degree-seeking WCU students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
  • Learning and Resource Center (LARC)- Provides academic supports to students such as tutoring, Success Coaching, and Academic Success Workshops. 
    • Phone number: 610-436-2535
    • Email: larc@wcupa.edu
    • Located: Lawrence Center 224
  • Resource Pantry- Provides fresh produce, non-perishable food items, personal care items, and school supplies to any WCU student regardless of need level. 
    • Phone number: 610-436-2378
    • Email: pantry@wcupa.edu
    • Located: Commonwealth Hall, Lower Level
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
    • If you or a loved one is feeling distressed, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The Crisis center provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to civilians and veterans.
    • Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988
    • Text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 741-741

Have More Questions?

For any additional questions, please reach out to us at care@wcupa.edu!