Referring Students

At times students present explicit symptoms which clearly should be referred to other departments or offices.

Referral Guidelines

Develop good listening and questioning skillsl.
Identify, cooperatively, issues impacting student.
Understand referral resources.
Explain clearly to the student the expertise fot eh office and why such help is useful.
Include name, location, telephone number, and e-mail address of contact person at the office where referred.
Have student call or make the appointment in your presence to increase the likelihood of a successful referral.
Follow-up with the student to determine if additional support is needed.

Source:

Adapted from Nutt, C. (2000) One-to-One Advising, pp. 200-217, In Gordon, V., Habley, W. & Associates, Academic Advising:The comprehensive handbook. San-Francisco: Jossey Bass.

Where and How to Refer

Counseling Center

You may confront a variety of situations wherein it would be appropriate to refer a student to the University Counseling Center. To refer a student, encourage the student to make the call to extension #1481. The student will make an appointment to complete some initial paperwork. Once this paperwork is reviewed, the appropriate counselor and another appointment will be assigned. The waiting period for a counselor varies and depends on the time of the semester but usually does exceed two weeks. The director personally reviews the intake information to determine if the student can wait. If the student requests immediate help or if the director feels the student needs immediate intervention, appropriate arrangements are made.

Students can be assured of complete confidentiality when they visit the Counseling Center. In fact, the Center will not even inform you that your student has been there unless the student signs a release form.

The Counseling Center is located on the first floor of Wright Hall and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 5:00 PM. There are four senior staff counselors and several graduate interns available to counsel students. The Center serves approximately 400 students each academic year.

Referring Students to the Counseling Center

If the situation is life threatening (i.e., a verbal or written threat or an attempt to hurt self or someone else was made), contact the University Counseling Center (UCC) immediately at #1481 or the University Police at #1911 (they will contact the counselor on call).

If the situation is not life threatening, proceed in making your referral. Some suggestions follow.

Meet in a confidential location.
Be calm, maintain appropriate eye contact, and focus on what is said without making judgments.
Acknowledge the importance of the student's concerns. Emphasize that seeking help is not a weakness.
Tell the student of the free confidential counseling service on campus. Emphasize that counseling information is not part of the University's record.
Ask if you can call the UCC to schedule an appointment. If the student says yes, then call and explain the situation to the UCC secretary while the student is in your presence. The UCC secretary will tell you what to do next.
If the student doesn't want you to make the call or a referral, respect that decision but let the student know that you would be willing to talk again. Try to make the student aware of your willingness to assist in making the appointment.
Students can also make counseling appointments on their own. You should give them the number of the UCC (#477-1481) and encourage them to call if they change their mind.

Other helpful information concerning referrals and helping students in general may be found at the UCC web site at http://www.ship.edu/~counctr

The Office of Disability Services

The Office of Disability Services advocates for the protection of the rights of all constituencies to work and learn in an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment. This office assists and supports the learning of those students who have physical, psychological and/or learning disabilities. As an advisor, you may have an advisee who is currently benefiting from or who would benefit from services provided by the office. Services can include extended time or individual testing, note-takers, classroom communication aids, readers, and personal escorts. The necessary accommodations are provided based on the individual's need as documented by a licensed professional. Confidentiality is assured.

Professors who have students in their classes registered with the Office of Disability Services receive notice at the beginning of each semester. The student is expected to work directly with the professor and the Office to ensure that the necessary accommodations are provided. These students also receive priority scheduling, which means they need to come to see you for advisement early in the scheduling process.

If you suspect one of your advisees may have a learning disability or if an advisee experiences an injury that affects his or her learning, a referral to the Office of Disability Services is appropriate. The office is located in Horton Hall 120 and the telephone extension is #1329 or 1364.

Etter Heath Center

The Etter Heath Center is open 24/7 while school is in session and is staffed by registered nurses. Physicians have daily hours and are on-call for emergencies. Ill students should be referred to the Health Center (#1458). The Center does

not provide notes. If a student claims illness as an excuse for a missed class or late assignment, with the student's permission, a professor (or advisor) may call the Center for verification that the student has, in fact, visited the Center for treatment. The Center cannot verify a student's condition if the student has not visited the Center.

If a student is suffering from a prolonged illness that requires referral to a hospital or is sent home, the Center notifies the appropriate college dean and he or she notifies the professors.

Learning Center

Advisors are encouraged to make a referral to the tutoring service at the Learning Center (LC) if the advisee expresses concerns about one or more courses. The LC, which is the primary tutoring facility on campus, provides free one-on-one assistance for many of the courses offered. Individual appointments and group workshops are offered for help with time management, note taking, test taking, and other essential study skills.

Learning specialists are available to work with students who are unable to identify why they struggle academically. A learning specialist can help students better understand how they learn and do preliminary evaluations to identify possible learning disabilities.

Because the LC is not a walk-in service, students must call ahead (#1420) to make appointments. The LC's hours of operation are:

Sundays: 5:00 PM _ 9:00 PM
Mondays: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesdays: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesdays: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursdays: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Advisors can encourage advisees reluctant to make an initial appointment to contact one of the LC staff members, all of whom will be glad to meet and speak with the advisee.

Dr. Nanette Hatzes, Director #1182 or 1420
Dr. Billie Jones, Asst. Director for Writing Support #3127 or 1420
Mr. Zach Grabowsky, Asst. Director #3129 or 1420