Student Support FAQs
The CARE Team is a program in place to ensure that students who experience any sort of challenge during their time at GW are connected proactively to a staff member or resource that can help them through and maintain their success.
Students
- Does a CARE Referral mean I'm in trouble?
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No, a CARE Referral is a safe and centralized way for the public to express any concerns over a GW student.
- What if I don't want outreach from CARE or campus partners?
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Students are allowed to refuse services from the CARE Team or campus partners unless safety to themselves or others are threatened.
- Can the CARE Team write excuse notes?
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The CARE Team can offer communications for students who may be experiencing a death in the family or a personal emergency. Requests for communication are reviewed case-by-case and are not guaranteed.
We encourage students to engage in the following:
- Always reach out to your faculty directly to arrange making up missed work or assignments.
- When possible, Student Support should be contacted prior to a student leaving campus and not after the student returned.
- A Student Support Absence Notification does not excuse an absence or replace any absence policy listed on a course syllabus. Faculty may excuse absences at their own discretion.
- Will my future employers or schools know about my CARE Referral?
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CARE Referrals are protected by FERPA. To read more about FERPA, please click here: https://privacy.gwu.edu/ferpa
- Can I submit a CARE Referral?
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Yes, you can submit a CARE Referral for yourself or another GW student (undergraduate or graduate).
Faculty/Staff
- What are some common signs a student may benefit from CARE Outreach?
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Common Signs Academically:
- Sudden decline in quality of work or grades
- Repeated absences
- Multiple requests for extensions on assignments
- Overly demanding of faculty and staff on time and attention
- Disturbing content in writing or presentation (i.e. violence, death, etc.)
- Continuous classroom disruptions
Common Signs Physically:
- Marked changes in physical appearance, including deterioration in grooming, hygiene, or weight change
- Excessive fatigue/sleep disturbance
- Intoxication, hangovers, or smelling of alcohol
- Disoriented or "out of it"
- Garbled, tangential, disconnected, or slurred speech
- Behavior is out of context or bizarre
Commons Signs Psychologically:
- Self-disclosure of personal distress such as family problems, financial difficulties, grief, or relationship issues
- Unusual/disproportionate emotional response to events
- Excessive tearfulness or panic reactions
- Verbal abuse (i.e. taunting, badgering, intimidation)
- Expression of concern about the student by their peers
- Delusions and paranoia
- What should I include in a CARE Referral?
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We encourage all potential reporters to include basic information of the student such as first name, last name, and GWID if possible. Reporters should provide a brief description of the challenges/obstacles the student may be experiencing to ensure the student receives the appropriate support.
- Can I submit a report anonymously?
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Yes, however, the CARE Team cannot guarantee anonymity. If anonymity is not possible, please contact the GW CARE Team ([email protected]) for any additional assistance.
- I've submitted a CARE Referral but I have not seen any changes from the student's behaviors/actions. Why would that be?
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Students in distress may not always be prepared to move forward with solutions to their obstacles/challenges. If you notice patterns of behavior/action continuing, submit an additional referral to reflect these updates.
- Will a CARE Referral affect a student's future employment or education opportunities?
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CARE Referrals are protected by FERPA. To read more about FERPA, please click here: https://privacy.gwu.edu/ferpa
Parents/Guardians
- My student has been acting differently. When should I be concerned?
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Common Signs Academically:
- Sudden decline in quality of work or grades
- Repeated absences
- Multiple requests for extensions on assignments
- Overly demanding of faculty and staff on time and attention
- Disturbing content in writing or presentation (i.e. violence, death, etc.)
Common Signs Physically:
- Marked changes in physical appearance, including deterioration in grooming, hygiene, or weight change
- Excessive fatigue/sleep disturbance
- Intoxication, hangovers, or smelling of alcohol
- Disoriented or "out of it"
- Garbled, tangential, disconnected, or slurred speech
- Behavior is out of context or bizarre
Common Signs Psychologically:
- Self-disclosure of personal distress such as family problems, financial difficulties, grief, or relationship issues
- Unusual/disproportionate emotional response to events
- Excessive tearfulness or panic reactions
- Irritability or unusual apathy
- Verbal abuse (i.e. taunting, badgering, intimidation)
- Expression of concern about the student by their peers
- Delusions and paranoia
- How can I be involved in the CARE Referral process?
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We encourage parents/guardians to be involved through this process through supporting their plan of action and active listening. This may vary across students as each student presents a different set of needs. We encourage you to openly communicate with your student about their needs and how you can provide support for those needs.
- Will a CARE Referral affect my student's future employment or education opportunities?
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CARE Referrals are protected by FERPA. To read more about FERPA, please click here: https://privacy.gwu.edu/ferpa
- My student was helped in the past but now is facing different challenges. Can I submit a CARE Referral again?
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Yes, the CARE Team can serve a student any time during their enrollment at GW.
- Can I submit a report anonymously?
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Yes, however, the CARE Team cannot guarantee anonymity. If anonymity is not possible, please contact the GW CARE Team ([email protected]) for any additional assistance.
Contact Us:
If you have any questions or would like to learn more, feel free to contact the GW Care Team at [email protected]