When something about a student's circumstances, communication, behavior, attendance, or well-being causes you concern.
You do not need to know what is wrong, determine whether the concern is serious enough, or identify the right campus resource before contacting us. If you are concerned about a student, please let us know. We can help determine what, if anything, needs to happen next.
Examples include a student who is unexpectedly absent or unresponsive, experiencing a significant hardship, making concerning statements, or whose behavior or circumstances have changed noticeably.
You know your students. Your concern may be the first indication that something is wrong. When in doubt, reach out. You're not bothering us.
You do not need to know what is wrong, determine whether the concern is serious enough, or identify the right campus resource before contacting us. If you are concerned about a student, please let us know. We can help determine what, if anything, needs to happen next.
Examples include a student who is unexpectedly absent or unresponsive, experiencing a significant hardship, making concerning statements, or whose behavior or circumstances have changed noticeably.
You know your students. Your concern may be the first indication that something is wrong. When in doubt, reach out. You're not bothering us.
No. You do not need a student's permission to contact the Dean of Students Office with a concern.
FERPA permits the university to share student information with university officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the information. We serve an institutional function in supporting student well-being, addressing significant student concerns, and helping students navigate circumstances that may affect their ability to succeed at the university.
Direct personal observations (such as changes in behavior, expressed distress, or classroom disruptions) are not education records under FERPA and may always be reported. If you are concerned about a student, please contact us. Providing relevant details allows us to determine appropriate outreach or support.
This does not mean FERPA allows unrestricted sharing of student information. Information should be shared only with university officials who have a legitimate educational interest and only to the extent appropriate for the purpose.
FERPA permits the university to share student information with university officials who have a legitimate educational interest in the information. We serve an institutional function in supporting student well-being, addressing significant student concerns, and helping students navigate circumstances that may affect their ability to succeed at the university.
Direct personal observations (such as changes in behavior, expressed distress, or classroom disruptions) are not education records under FERPA and may always be reported. If you are concerned about a student, please contact us. Providing relevant details allows us to determine appropriate outreach or support.
This does not mean FERPA allows unrestricted sharing of student information. Information should be shared only with university officials who have a legitimate educational interest and only to the extent appropriate for the purpose.
If a student's absence causes you concern about the student's academic success or general well-being, and you feel the student would benefit from additional support, please let us know.
We can reach out to the student and, when appropriate, their emergency contacts to check on their well-being, discuss their circumstances and needs, and connect them with resources and support.
You do not need to wait until you know why the student is absent or until the situation becomes a crisis.
We can reach out to the student and, when appropriate, their emergency contacts to check on their well-being, discuss their circumstances and needs, and connect them with resources and support.
You do not need to wait until you know why the student is absent or until the situation becomes a crisis.
If a student tells you about something significant—such as the death of a family member, a serious accident or injury, hospitalization, family crisis, relationship difficulty, or another major hardship —please let our office know.
The student may not be asking for help, and you may not know whether the situation will affect their academic work. You don't need to determine that. If you believe the circumstances may affect the student's well-being or ability to succeed at the university, please contact us.
We can help the student identify appropriate resources and determine whether additional support or follow-up would be helpful.
The student may not be asking for help, and you may not know whether the situation will affect their academic work. You don't need to determine that. If you believe the circumstances may affect the student's well-being or ability to succeed at the university, please contact us.
We can help the student identify appropriate resources and determine whether additional support or follow-up would be helpful.
Please let us know.
If a student references a significant mental-health challenge, encourage them to consider contacting the Counseling Center for professional support.
If a student references a significant roommate or housing concern, encourage them to consult with Housing & Student Living, their apartment manager, bishop, or the Student Honor Office, as appropriate.
In any case where a student is struggling and seems unsure how to navigate school or which campus resources may help, please feel free to notify our office so we can add our support to yours.
Your role is not to diagnose, counsel, or solve the student's problem. Listen, express concern, encourage appropriate support, and connect the student with additional help when needed.
If a student references a significant mental-health challenge, encourage them to consider contacting the Counseling Center for professional support.
If a student references a significant roommate or housing concern, encourage them to consult with Housing & Student Living, their apartment manager, bishop, or the Student Honor Office, as appropriate.
In any case where a student is struggling and seems unsure how to navigate school or which campus resources may help, please feel free to notify our office so we can add our support to yours.
Your role is not to diagnose, counsel, or solve the student's problem. Listen, express concern, encourage appropriate support, and connect the student with additional help when needed.
Please let us know.
Students sometimes communicate significant concerns indirectly or in places where they may not be explicitly asking for help. A statement about hopelessness, self-harm, abuse, a serious family situation, a traumatic event, or another concerning circumstance may warrant follow-up even when it appears in an assignment or other academic communication.
You do not need to determine whether the statement is serious, whether the student intended it literally, or what resource the student needs. Share your concern with us, along with the relevant context, and we can help determine an appropriate response.
Students sometimes communicate significant concerns indirectly or in places where they may not be explicitly asking for help. A statement about hopelessness, self-harm, abuse, a serious family situation, a traumatic event, or another concerning circumstance may warrant follow-up even when it appears in an assignment or other academic communication.
You do not need to determine whether the statement is serious, whether the student intended it literally, or what resource the student needs. Share your concern with us, along with the relevant context, and we can help determine an appropriate response.
Take the statement seriously and contact us immediately.
If you believe the student is in immediate danger or may act imminently, contact University Security at ex. 3000 or 911.
If there does not appear to be an immediate danger but the student's statement causes concern, contact the Dean of Students Office and/or Counseling Center so the student can receive appropriate support and follow-up.
Do not promise a student that you will keep information about a serious safety concern confidential. You can let the student know that you care about them and want to help connect them with people who can provide appropriate support.
If you believe the student is in immediate danger or may act imminently, contact University Security at ex. 3000 or 911.
If there does not appear to be an immediate danger but the student's statement causes concern, contact the Dean of Students Office and/or Counseling Center so the student can receive appropriate support and follow-up.
Do not promise a student that you will keep information about a serious safety concern confidential. You can let the student know that you care about them and want to help connect them with people who can provide appropriate support.
Take the concern seriously and report it.
If you believe there is an immediate threat to someone's safety, contact University Security at ex. 3000 or 911.
For concerning statements or behavior that do not appear to represent an immediate threat, contact the Dean of Students Office and provide as much context as possible. You do not need to determine whether the student was serious, whether the statement constitutes a threat, or what action should be taken.
If you believe there is an immediate threat to someone's safety, contact University Security at ex. 3000 or 911.
For concerning statements or behavior that do not appear to represent an immediate threat, contact the Dean of Students Office and provide as much context as possible. You do not need to determine whether the student was serious, whether the statement constitutes a threat, or what action should be taken.
A significant change in a student's attendance, engagement, academic performance, or behavior may indicate that something else is happening in the student's life.
You do not need to know the cause before reaching out. If a student who was previously engaged suddenly stops attending, stops submitting work, withdraws from others, appears significantly distressed, or exhibits a noticeable change in behavior, please consider contacting our office.
We can help determine whether outreach or additional support may be appropriate.
You do not need to know the cause before reaching out. If a student who was previously engaged suddenly stops attending, stops submitting work, withdraws from others, appears significantly distressed, or exhibits a noticeable change in behavior, please consider contacting our office.
We can help determine whether outreach or additional support may be appropriate.
You do not have to manage threatening or seriously concerning behavior on your own.
If a student's communication is simply difficult or frustrating, you may address it through normal course or departmental processes. If the communication becomes threatening, intimidating, harassing, or otherwise causes you concern for your safety or the safety of others, contact University Security at ext. 3000 and notify your department chair and the Dean of Students Office.
If you are unsure whether a communication crosses that line, contact us and we can help you think through the situation.
If a student's communication is simply difficult or frustrating, you may address it through normal course or departmental processes. If the communication becomes threatening, intimidating, harassing, or otherwise causes you concern for your safety or the safety of others, contact University Security at ext. 3000 and notify your department chair and the Dean of Students Office.
If you are unsure whether a communication crosses that line, contact us and we can help you think through the situation.
Faculty have discretion to work with students within the structure and requirements of their courses.
The Dean of Students Office does not excuse students from course requirements or override an instructor's academic judgment.
If a student's circumstances involve a significant hardship and you are unsure how best to respond, please feel free to contact us. We can help the student identify resources, communicate appropriately, and understand what options may be available.
If the student may need formal academic accommodations because of a disability or medical condition, refer them to Accessibility Services.
The Dean of Students Office does not excuse students from course requirements or override an instructor's academic judgment.
If a student's circumstances involve a significant hardship and you are unsure how best to respond, please feel free to contact us. We can help the student identify resources, communicate appropriately, and understand what options may be available.
If the student may need formal academic accommodations because of a disability or medical condition, refer them to Accessibility Services.
The depth and breadth of our work with any one student varies. On occasion, as we work with students facing hardships, we encourage them to email instructors to communicate their circumstances and needs. Sometimes we invite students to include our office in that email correspondence so we can stay close to the situation.
However, we are quick to emphasize to students our deference to instructors in the classroom, and that we cannot excuse any student from attendance or coursework.
Occasionally, with the student's permission, we may write directly to explain the student's circumstances. These messages may include sensitive information and request support, but they are always offered in deference to the instructor and the respective course structure and requirements.
If you receive such an email and have questions or concerns about the message's intent or our office's involvement, please feel free to contact us.
However, we are quick to emphasize to students our deference to instructors in the classroom, and that we cannot excuse any student from attendance or coursework.
Occasionally, with the student's permission, we may write directly to explain the student's circumstances. These messages may include sensitive information and request support, but they are always offered in deference to the instructor and the respective course structure and requirements.
If you receive such an email and have questions or concerns about the message's intent or our office's involvement, please feel free to contact us.
Listen, support the student, and contact the Title IX Coordinator (titleix@byui.edu; 208-496-9209).
There is no need for you to investigate the situation yourself or attempt to determine what happened. Depending on the circumstances, different reporting obligations and support requirements may apply.
The Title IX Coordinator can help you understand your responsibilities, connect the student with appropriate resources, and work to ensure the student's safety.
There is no need for you to investigate the situation yourself or attempt to determine what happened. Depending on the circumstances, different reporting obligations and support requirements may apply.
The Title IX Coordinator can help you understand your responsibilities, connect the student with appropriate resources, and work to ensure the student's safety.