Student Care Services

Student Care Services is here to assist students in managing life stressors that may impact their academics and personal well-being. Our goal is to offer guidance, resources, and referrals by identifying essential needs, and attempting to remove obstacles to reduce distress.

When a student requests assistance or our office receives a referral for services we will attempt to contact or meet with the student in person. Our office may assist through a variety of interventions, university services, and community referrals. In addition, this office assist students looking to complete a withdrawal for extenuating circumstances. Our goal is to ensure the safety of both the student and the FGCU community by intervening before a student reaches crisis level.

I need help/I am concerned about myself 
If you need assistance and it is not an emergency, please contact us at care@fgcu.edu or Submit a Care and Concern Report and someone in our office will connect with you as soon as possible. Our office is open during business hours 8am-5pm, and is closed on the weekends and during university holidays and closures.

If you need urgent help related to managing your mental health, you can contact a counselor in Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) at any time - during business hours, call 239-590-7950. If you are an FGCU student in immediate distress outside of normal business hours (evenings, weekends, and holidays) who would like to speak with a mental health professional can call the CAPS help line: 239-745-EARS (3277).

If you need urgent help related to an incident involving sexual violence or sexual harassment, you can contact the Confidential Victim Advocate.

I am concerned for another student

Peer support is one of the most important and effective resources for students managing distress or difficult life circumstances. If you are concerned about a FGCU student, you are also welcome to share your concern with Student Care Services. Although we are not able to disclose information about students or share information about actions that we might take, your insights about another student can be incredibly helpful to us in creating a community of care.

Please consider offering support resources and encouraging students to contact campus resources. One resource that students commonly use is Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS).

Student Care Services

The goal is to assist at-risk students whose success may be impeded by crises, life stressors, and other barriers or obstacles.

To that end, Student Care Services may:

• Reach out to students via email and phone call to offer an appointment
• Assist students who return to campus after hospitalization
• Provide support and on-going follow-up to students identified as high-risk
• Provide referrals to support services within the University as well as community agencies
• Foster self-advocacy in students to manage their academic, personal, and fiscal responsibilities.
• Advocate for students individually and systemically
• Assist Homeless/Unaccompanied Minors

In addition, to coordinate care across campus resources such as the Counseling & Psychological Services, Adaptive Services, Student Health Services, Academic Services, Financial Aid, Prevention and Wellness, etc. The SCS staff is typically the first contact when gathering information about how to assist a student in need or connecting them with additional resources. If a student is struggling and you are unsure how to assist, please contact our office.

I received a letter from Student Care Services

When you receive a letter from a Student Care Services, this means that we received information suggesting that you might benefit from a supportive conversation and connection with additional support. Our goal is to meet with you, hear about what you have been experiencing, and try to connect you with the right resources to help manage your needs.

Student Care Serices is not part of the Student Conduct Office or Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance (OIEC), and are not meeting with you as part of a formal investigation. Meeting with Student Care is intended to be a non-punitive measure to help support you through whatever you may be going through. We encourage you to contact us to schedule a time to meet.

Initial Meeting
Your initial appointment with a member of the Student Care Services team may last approximately 30 minutes to discuss your particular situation an assess options for you as a student. Depending on the situation we will explore areas related to mental and emotional health, academic difficulties, living environment, financial circumstances, etc., in an effort to identify areas of need and options for support. We may discuss processes available to assist the student in addition to on and off-campus resources and options to address a student’s need.

Follow-up or Check-in Appointments

Follow-up or check-in appointments are a way for you to remain connected with SCS to discuss your connection to resources, academic success, and mental and emotional well-being. Often these follow up appointments are conducted during a 30 minute in-person appointment, but you and SCS staff may also arrange to check in by phone, email or video conference when appropriate.

Post-Hospital Services

If you've been in hospital for a behavioral health crisis, such as a psychiatric emergency or medical care for severe intoxication, you will need to meet with a SCS in order to support your transition back to the campus environment. The goal of this appointment is to ensure you have the resources and care in place that you may need to maintain your academic and personal well-being.

Class Absence Notifications

Unforeseen events or circumstances may occur that cause a student to be absent from class. These could include illness, bereavement, accident, or a catastrophic event such as fire. If such issues arise, students are encouraged to notify their instructors as soon as possible in order to apprise them of the circumstances leading to their absence from classes and to develop a plan, with a timetable, to make up missed coursework. Students may be asked to provide documentation to provide perspective that the class absence is warranted. Instructors are expected to make reasonable accommodations for these class absences including administration of make-up assignments and exams whenever possible.  After receiving appropriate documentation, we can send a courtesy class absence notification to faculty informing them of a student’s current situation and the period of time the student is anticipating missing class. This memorandum does not necessarily constitute an excused absence. It is strongly recommended that students alert their academic advisor as well to notify them of the circumstances and discuss potential next steps with them.

Class Absence Request

The short answer is anyone can make a referral for CARE services.  We frequently receive referrals from:

• Faculty
• Administrators
• Other Students
• Parents
• Police and Sheriff's Offices
• Medical and Care Facilities (With Student Permission)

Parents and families can be important parts of a student’s support network during their time in college or graduate school. Parents and families are welcome to share concerns about students with Student Care Services. We are able to answer general questions about support resources and processes at the university. However Case we are required to maintain privacy around student records, and therefore we are generally unable to share information with parents and families about a specific student.

Privacy and Confidentiality

Information provided to Student Care Services is protected according to educational privacy laws. This is different from the type of confidentiality a student would have when working with a mental health or medical professional, or with an attorney.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) allows University faculty and staff to share observations about the behavior of students, statements made by students, and concerns about students generally with staff and faculty who have responsibility for the welfare of students, and with law enforcement.

FERPA and other student privacy regulations generally allow the University to release such information to parents, police, or others whose knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health and safety of the student or other individuals. Appropriate consideration for student privacy should be given before information is shared with people other than those suggested in this document.
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Additional Resources and Options:

• Students may sign a FERPA waiver in cases where they would like for Student Care Services to be able to communicate information about their student record with an outside provider, such as an off-campus counselor, doctor, parent, or attorney.
• Students may also sign a Release of Information when they would like greater coordination of care between Student Care Services and other offices.
• If you are seeking a confidential resource to consult about a mental health concern, you can contact Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) during business hours at 239-590-7950.
• If you are seeking a confidential resource to consult about an incident involving sexual harassment or sexual violence it is suggested to contact the Confidential Victim Advocate.

Complete our Online Referral Form.

When making a referral, complete the "Description/Narrative" section with as much detail as possible. We ask that you provide a detailed and objective description of actual observed behavior, concern, statements, written communication, etc. Also, provide specific examples of observed behavior, direct quotes of what the student said and attach any emails exchanged, concerning writings, personal statements, etc.  

We have found that when you have a relationship with the student, it is helpful to let the student know that you plan to make a referral based on your concerns.  Let them know why you are concerned, and how you think Student Care Services can be helpful.  Remind them that the referral is designed to get them support and resources.  

It is a good idea to file a Referral to Student Care if you are working with a student and: 

• Do not know where to refer them
• Would like to consult about possible responses to a student’s behavior
• Notice a student’s behavior is making others feel uncomfortable
• Believe there may be safety concerns in the future
• If you walk a student over or refer a student to the Counseling Center
• Have called 911 because of a safety concern
• Would like future follow up to ensure that the student is connected to Counseling and Psychological Services

If you need further assistance in determining if you need to file a report, please contact us. It is our goal to intervene before the student reaches a crisis level. This process offers supportive intervention and guidance to any FGCU student who is in distress or struggling.

Behavioral Consultation and Assessment Team (BCAT) and Threat Management Team (TAM) 

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National Hunger and Homelessness: Each year, Student Care Services coordinates programs in the month of November to help educate our students. We offer support for students dealing with food insecurities or find themselves in a possible homeless situation throughout the year. 

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