Grand Valley State University CARE Team
While attending GVSU, students may experience a variety of concerns, including but not limited to: concerns for well-being, financial or basic needs, physical and mental health, and disruptive/disturbing behavior.
The CARE Team (Coordination, Assistance, Response and Education) is a team of staff who support all students through challenges they may experience during their time at GVSU.
Please complete a CARE Referral if you are a student in need of support, know a student who needs support, or are generally concerned about a student.
IF YOUR CONCERN INVOLVES AN IMMEDIATE SAFETY RISK TO SELF OR OTHERS, PLEASE STOP AND CALL 911.
CARE Reports are only monitored during regular work hours (Weekdays 8am - 5pm).
When Should I Make A Care Referral?
Student Well-being
CARE referrals can be submitted for health and safety, family issues, or life situations.
This can include, but is not limited to:
- Mental Health Concerns
- Death of Family Member/Close Friend
- Self-Disclosed personal distress, including family problems, financial difficulties, suicidal thoughts, grief
- Bizarre content in writings/presentations
- Marked changes in physical behavior (deterioration in grooming or hygiene, significant weight loss/gain).
- Social/Adjustment Concerns
- Increased need for personal (rather then academic) counseling
- Unusual/Disproportionate emotional response to events
- Excessive tearfulness
- Excessive fatigue
- Signs of substance abuse
- Unprovoked anger of hostility
- Academic assignments/or communication dominated by themes of hopelessness, rage, worthlessness, isolation, despair, acting out, suicidal ideation, violence to others
Resource Concerns
CARE referrals can be submitted for student concerns that are related to resource needs.
This can include, but is not limited to:
- Food Insecurity
- Financial Hardship
- Housing Concerns
- Living out of car
- Couch surfing
- About to be evicted
- Unstable housing
- Homeless
- Lack of academic resources or supplies
- In need of technology support (can't afford laptop repair, or in need of temporary laptop replacement)
- In need of menstrual health products
- In need of health insurance
All Academic referrals should be placed in the Navigate Advising System and not through the CARE referral form.
Academic Referrals include:
Non-Attendance or Repeated Absences
Student decline in quality of work/grades
Disorganized Performance
Student not responding to Faculty outreach.
Missing crucial academic milestones (for example: not performing well on first exam or midterm exam).
Poor time management/organizational skills
Procrastination/Lack of Motivation
Student would benefit from Success Coaching