As a new academic year takes hold, I write to introduce you to an important resource for students on our campus: The Student Support and Intervention Team. Formerly known as the Behavioral Health and Safety Review Committee, this team works to provide a living and learning environment where all members of the Lafayette College community thrive.
The student support team meets regularly to proactively sustain a culture of safety and well-being on-campus. They process information shared by students, faculty, staff, or other community members to identify students who might be in distress or in need of campus support and resources. The team then works to determine the most helpful form(s) of outreach and support. Most often, a member of the team meets one on one with a student to discuss what the student needs to be successful at Lafayette and connect them with related offices and/or programs.
Members of the team include representatives from Dean of Students’ Office, Residence Life, Student Support & Wellness, the academic deans, and others. To read more about the team, including its membership, please visit the website: https://deanofstudents.lafayette.edu/community-support-and-response/support-intervention-team/
In order to serve its purpose, the team needs you to share information when you are concerned for a student’s well-being. Some observations you should consider sharing include:
Any major changes in behavior (departures from the student’s norm)
Extreme mood changes
Excessive absences
Preoccupation with food or body image
We also encourage you to let us know any time you are concerned enough about a student that you make a referral to the Counseling Center. Students may or may not choose to go to counseling, but alerting the team will ensure proactive follow-up if necessary.
To share information with the Student Support and Intervention Team, please complete a universal reporting form (found at onepard.lafayette.edu) or call any member of the team.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Jennifer Dize, Assistant Dean of Students, at dizej@lafayette.edu.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Dize, on behalf of the Student Support and Intervention Team