Faculty have a unique opportunity to assist when a student is experiencing challenges. Due to frequent interactions with students, you may be the first to notice a significant decline in a student’s academic performance, a change in a student’s behavior or appearance, or be someone a student feels comfortable opening up to about their personal struggles.
If your concern for a student is solely academic related and you have no reason to be concerned for a student’s well-being, you can submit an Interim Grade (Progress Report) or contact the Office of Student Success if you would like to talk through your academic concerns with a staff member. If you have non-urgent well-being related concerns for a student and would like to inform staff from multiple offices to ensure the student is receiving comprehensive support, please submit a Care referral.
Below are possible signs that may indicate a student is experiencing challenges and could benefit from a Care referral:
- Regular and unexplained absences or sharing a reason for absence that indicates student is managing significant stress (e.g. physical health, mental health, hospitalization, family stressors)
- Repeatedly arriving late to class or leaving early
- Missing out on group projects or collaborative activities
- Gradual or sudden difficulty in grasping concepts that the student previously understood
- Trouble meeting deadlines
- Drop in the complexity or thoroughness of work
- Suddenly becomes passive in class
- Stops participating in discussions
- Shows a lack of interest in subjects they were previously enthusiastic about
- Isolating themselves from peers
- Changes in eating or sleeping habits
- Showing up to class intoxicated
- Increasingly sad, irritable, anxious or angry
- Disorganized speech or behavior
- Neglecting personal hygiene like frequency of bathing or changing clothes
- Looking consistently tired or significantly energized
- Significant weight change
- Changes in the tone or quality of written communication
- Sharing information that indicates distress or personal difficulty
- Repeated expressions of dissatisfaction with their own academic performance
- Increasingly asking for extensions or special considerations
- Seeking out frequent one-on-one discussions
- Voicing concerns about their ability to continue with the course or program
- Requesting advice on issues that extend beyond academic concerns
- Making statements about perceived inability to meet personal or academic expectations
- Conveying a sense of resignation when discussing academic or career goals
- Other comments that indicate feeling overwhelmed, without hope, or expressing an unusually negative outlook on the future
Submit a Care Referral
Have concerns for a student but are not sure on how to start the conversation? Below are some suggestions from the Care Team:
| "You mentioned struggling with the recent coursework. Bentley has excellent tutoring services that could really help. Would you like some information on how to get in touch with them?" |
| "I've noticed you've been missing a few classes lately which isn't like you. Is everything okay? Remember, my office is always open if you need to talk, or I can help connect you with campus resources if you prefer." |
| "Thank you for sharing with me what you have been going through. I can imagine that this has been a really tough time for you. I want to make sure you have the support you need. There is a group on campus called the Care Team that can assist students in identifying which campus resources may be the most helpful to them. Would you like help in connecting with them?" |
| "How have you been feeling since we last spoke? I want to ensure that the academic accommodations we discussed are helping you manage better with your health concerns. Let's make sure you have everything you need to succeed." |
| "I've noticed some changes in your participation and performance lately, and it seems like you've been having a tough time. You've always been very engaged in class, and I'm concerned to see this shift. Is everything alright? Do you feel comfortable talking about what's been going on?" |