Concerns for Student Behavior, Health & Safety
FERPA allows the disclosure of information from the educational record without written student consent when students are perceived to be behaving oddly; have a disturbing change in behavior; generate concerns about the safety of the student or others, including in the classroom environment; or are in a health or safety emergency. Information may be disclosed to appropriate university officials or to parents if a health or safety emergency involves their son or daughter. This includes the disclosure of information when a student has indicated that they are seeing mental health or other medical professionals.
Appropriate university officials or personnel who may assist in such situations include:
- : Serves as the primary resource for managing student issues, providing intervention and crisis prevention. Case managers coordinate with other CU Boulder departments and facilitate communication to and from the Student of Concern Team (SOCT).
- Office of the Dean of Students: Offers help and referrals for faculty and staff who are unsure of how to advise a student in need of support.
- Counseling and Psychiatric Services (CAPS): Offers confidential, on-campus mental health and psychiatric services for a variety of concerns such as academics, anxiety, body image, depression, relationships, substance use and more.
- Office of Victim Assistance (OVA): Offers free confidential information, support, advocacy and short-term counseling to students, faculty and staff at CU, including their significant others.
- CU Boulder Police Department (CUPD): Authorities may initiate a threat assessment regarding the behavior of a particular individual.
- Division of Academic Affairs: Seek advice from a supervising professor (for teaching assistants), chair or assistant dean.
Faculty members may reveal the name of the student and are not required to keep the student anonymous in consultations with appropriate university officials. University officials may already have information about the student of concern that may help formulate the best way to proceed.