Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Care & Assistance provides case management within the Dean of Students Office. The focus of Care & Assistance is to assist TAMU-CC students with resources, support, and guidance as they manage various levels of distress or the impact from extenuating circumstances. Case managers meet with students to assess current needs, explore options, and connect with resources.
Yes, you can do this by scheduling an appointment, calling 361.825.6219, or emailing DeanofStudents@tamucc.edu or by clicking here.
Learn more about referring a student by clicking here.
No, we are here to provide support and early intervention.
After a student is referred to Care & Assistance, additional information is obtained, and a case manager will reach out to the student and offer help. Other campus offices are involved as needed.
Care & Assistance also leads the I-CARE Behavioral Intervention Team. The team reviews high risk cases presented by the I-CARE Case Manager regarding students exhibiting disruptive, distressed, or high-risk behaviors. The team provides recommendations for campus and community resources to help and support the student of concern. Learn more about I-CARE by clicking here.
Care & Assistance is not designed to handle cases of immediate threats to the safety of the student or others. In these cases, UPD, or other local emergency services, should be notified directly.
Care & Assistance provides support and connects students to resources on-campus and in the community. This will sometimes include a referral to counseling. The University Counseling Center provides counseling services for enrolled students. For more information, visit the University Counseling Center webpage.
When in doubt, just call 361.825.6219, email DeanofStudents@tamucc.edu, or make the referral. We will consult with you on options for helping. Some behaviors that may warrant a referral to the I-CARE team include (but are not limited to):
- Unusual changes in behavior and/or appearance
- Significant changes in attendance or academic performance
- Self-injurious behavior
- Unusual emotional responses (persistent sadness, extreme irritability, etc.)
- Unusually high energy, rapid speech, and/or racing thoughts
- Extreme difficulty in organizing thoughts or communicating clearly
- Expressing feelings of hopelessness
- Expressing thoughts of doing harm to self or others
- Concerns about an eating disorder
- Suicidal thoughts or actions
- Student reports that violence is an acceptable response to problems
A student ombuds is here to listen and discuss concerns, provide guidance to relevant options available, and provide education on policies and procedures set by the University. It can be helpful when a student is struggling to understand policies and procedures regarding things like appeals, scholastic probation, etc. Click here to make an appointment with a TAMU-CC ombuds person.
Every situation can be different, but we find it is useful to talk to the student privately, in a direct and caring manner, indicating your concern. Next, listen to the student and explore what kind of help are they needing or wanting right now. Some students just need to talk and know that someone on campus notices and cares. Some students may need to connect with campus resources. If you think they may need tutoring, talk to them about academic services on campus. If you think they may benefit from counseling, share information with them or walk them over to the University Counseling Center. If you think they may need help from the Dean of Students office, make a care referral. If you are not sure, let them know you will look into things and then get back with them. Then consult with us, the University Counseling Center, or your supervisor. Lastly, it is good to follow up with students after you have had these types of conversations with them.
- If a student’s behavior is threatening towards self or others, immediately contact University Police Department at 361.825.4444 or other local emergency services.
- If a student makes you feel unsafe – consult with UPD and a Supervisor. Do not meet the student in an isolated place. Set limits with the student.
- If a student reports suicidal ideation (expressing thoughts, feelings, or intentions about wanting to cause harm to oneself but there is no immediate threat), contact the University Counseling Center at 361-825-2703 (depending on the nature of the ideation, University Police Department may need to be contacted as well); then make a secondary phone call to I-CARE at 361.825.6219.