Safety and Health
UW–Madison is committed to your health and safety as members of our campus community. Everyone plays a role in maintaining this environment. Many resources are available to inform students, faculty and staff about health and safety issues.
Urgent Situations
For assistance with urgent mental health concerns, 24-hour crisis intervention services are available to UW–Madison students, and to others concerned about a UW–Madison student, by calling 608-265-5600 (select option 9). More information on the services available can be found on the University Health Services (UHS) website.
Safety Resources for Faculty, Staff and Teaching Assistants
As faculty and staff members, sometimes we encounter troubled or disruptive students in the classroom, office or work area. You may be the first to learn of an emotional or mental health issue, including suicidal references, the effects of a sexual assault or other crimes. You may confront insensitive or inappropriate remarks. In rare instances, you may even encounter dangerous or disruptive behavior.
In all of these cases, you can play a positive role in helping students access resources or receive assistance and, ultimately, to be successful at UW-Madison:
- Should a student exhibit dangerous, disruptive or suicidal behavior and physical safety is of immediate concern, call the UW Police Department. The 911 emergency number on campus connects directly to campus police.
- Students sometimes express issues through behavior especially observable to their instructors: sudden prolonged absences or a sharp decrease in class performance, for instance. Any time you are worried about a student or witness an observable change of behavior, act with concern. “Acting with concern” may include discussing your unease with a colleague or your department chair/supervisor, contacting the staff in the Dean of Students Office, talking to the student you are concerned about or calling 911 in an urgent situation.
- If a student seems to be having mental health issues, is homesick, sad or troubled, please refer them to UHS Counseling and Consultation Services at 608-265-5600. For more information, please visit the UHS Counseling site.
- UW-Madison, like universities around the country, convenes a group designed to conduct threat assessment on behalf of the entire campus community. It is our belief that the best ways to learn of and curb a threat is through extensive communication between administrators and members of the campus community like you. If you are aware of an individual of concern, call 608-263-5700 and ask for the on-call dean. Your care and concern is important in keeping our community safe.
- If you observe inappropriate or demeaning behavior, please confront it. You can also contact the Dean of Students Office and speak with an assistant dean, who can be a resource if needed. Part of our campus focus on inclusivity requires you to confront students when their actions are disrespectful or harmful to their peers.
- UW-Madison has a history of setting high expectations for its students. Among these expectations is a high standard of academic integrity. Assistant Dean Tonya Schmidt, tschmidt@studentlife.wisc.edu, works with cases of academic misconduct and is available as a resource in case you need assistance working with students who potentially violated academic standards.
- In any case in which you have a question or are seeking consultation, use the Dean of Students Office staff as a resource by calling 608-263-5700 during office hours and asking for the dean-on-call. You can also send an email to dean@studentlife.wisc.edu. We are partners in helping all our students be successful while on campus.
Don’t hesitate to ask for guidance for respecting student privacy under The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), handling an escalating case, dealing with academic misconduct or any other assistance you need.
Faculty and staff are encouraged to seek a consultation or guidance from the Division of Student Life by calling 608-263-5700 and asking for the on-call dean. Your concern and care is important in keeping our community safe.
Parents
Parents can always play an important role in detecting mental health issues or serious health problems. For assistance in how to handle these situations, contact the Parent Program online or at 877-262-3977.
Additional resources
