Concerned About a Champlain College Student?

Students in Distress

Whereas isolated behaviors may not indicate a problem, students in a state of distress may exhibit a pattern of behaviors including (but not limited to) any of those listed below. If you have a concern about a student who is displaying behaviors that may interfere with their ability to be successful, or if you are concerned that a student's behavior or well-being are negatively impacting those around the them, please let the Care Team know. You can refer a student by completing the form linked here.

Academic Indicators

  • Decline in attendance or stopped attending
  • Significant decline in grades or quality of work
  • Continual requests for extended deadlines or other special consideration
  • Excessive dependency on faculty
  • Sustained erratic performance

Mental/Emotional Indicators

  • Tearfulness
  • Expressions of concern from another student
  • Withdrawal from social interactions or isolates self
  • Alcohol or drug abuse
  • Death or serious illness of friend or family member
  • Extreme shyness/lack of social skills
  • Change in ability to focus, loss of memory, confusion
  • Signs of eating disorder

Physical Indicators

  • Decline in personal hygiene/appearance
  • Visible change in weight
  • Excessive fatigue
  • Appearing sick or ill
  • Preoccupation with death
  • Self-injurious or self-destructive behavior
  • Suicidal or other emotionally distressed content reported through course work or classroom discussion
  • Exhibiting disruptive or bizarre behavior
  • Unprovoked anger or hostility

Students in Crisis

If a student is in immediate danger of harming themselves or someone else, please call 911 or Campus Public Safety at (802) 865-6465. Students not in immediate danger but experiencing a mental health emergency, might fall into one or more of the categories below:   

  • Is experiencing significant, acute, emotional distress or anxiety.
  • Does not feel they are able to cope or be in control of a situation.
  • Is communicating thoughts about suicide or self-harm.
  • Is experiencing hallucinations and/or hearing voices. 

If you are with a student who is experiencing a mental health emergency, it is acceptable to stay "in role" as a staff or faculty member. Be compassionate, but do not take on the role of counselor. You can refer the student to the Counseling Center by emailing counselingcenter@champlain.edu. The student can also speak with someone immediately by calling (802) 865-5745. This crisis line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

It may feel necessary to walk them to the Counseling Center. When you arrive, please let the staff person at the front desk know the student would like to meet with the crisis counselor on-duty. If the crisis counselor on-duty is free, they will meet with the student immediately. If they are assisting another student in crisis, they will meet with the student as soon as they are able to. Please note the Counseling Center is a safe place; you are welcome to wait with your student, but you are under no obligation to do so. 

Due to confidentiality requirements, it may be difficult to "close the loop" and directly inform you what occurred following your student referral. In most cases the Counseling Center can confirm your concern has been received, but cannot confirm or deny if the student has agreed to crisis or on-going services.