Frequently Asked Questions

Care Team is part of the Care & Student Advocacy Services office. These staff members provide brief, nonclinical case management to students who are experiencing stress, distress, or crisis. The Care Team connects students to appropriate on and off campus resources based on their unique needs. The Care Team staff convene the Behavioral Consultation Team.

The goal of the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Behavioral Consultation Team (BCT) is to provide a coordinated campus response to situations arising from students who may represent a threat of harm to themselves or others. Membership includes staff from several departments across the University with administrative, psychological, academic and legal expertise. The team operates within FERPA/HIPAA requirements. More information about the BCT can be found here.

• If you feel there is an immediate threat, call 911 or 612-624-COPS (2677).
• To make a referral, call 612-626-3030, send an e-mail to [email protected] or complete the Online Referral Form. Please provide basic information about the student, a description of the incident or behaviors that prompted the referral and your contact information.
• Each referral is reviewed by staff in the OSA Care Team.

Often times you are the best resource for the student & Care Team because you are familiar with the student. If you are comfortable doing so, tell the student that you are concerned and ask if they are okay. In many cases, students will indicate that they could use some help and you can refer them to the Campus Mental Health Resources.

Your first call should be to 911 if you are concerned about your safety or the safety of others. The Care Team may be alerted as a follow up but the team does not provide emergency response services and should not be viewed as such.

Any indication of thoughts of harm to self or others, as well as behavior that is making you or others uncomfortable. Some examples of behaviors that require immediate attention include:

• Student has been missing many classes and is not responsive to email outreach.
• Student is missing and you/friends/family are unable to locate the student.
• Student is needing basic needs support - food, finances, housing, transportation, insurance, etc.
• Student is experiencing a physical or mental health concern and needs assistance.
• Student is struggling with academic success or needs academic support.
• Student is expressing violent or threatening behavior towards themselves or others.

Our goal is to get back to you within 48 hours, M-F 9am - 4pm. 

Any person who feels a University of Minnesota Twin Cities student is a threat to themselves and/or the community can make a BCT referral. Reporting parties may include students, parents, faculty and staff, and other community members.

Whenever possible, you should share your concern(s) directly with the student. However, should you have any concern about your safety or the safety of others, your best course of action is to contact the BCT or in an emergency, UMPD via 911 or 624-COPS.

Upon receipt of the referral, the Care Team will determine whether intervention by the team is appropriate. If deemed appropriate, the Care Team staff will create a plan to engage the student and assess the behavior in question. Care Team staff will always respond to your referral thanking you for the submission. Sometimes you may be asked to directly intervene with the student. Other times, your name will be directly stated in our outreach communications. Care Team staff will communicate this with you, and if you have any questions/concerns, they can be discussed directly with the Care Team member.

If the team determines the student is appropriate for the BCT process and is a threat to themselves or others, the student will be contacted and directed to meet with a member of the Care Team. Staff operates in a nonclinical capacity and do not provide formal counseling but will connect the student to appropriate resources as needed and make recommendations.

Being referred to the Care Team does not impact students negatively. We do document our student interactions in a secure database, but those notes are only used for internal purposes. 

You do not have to make this determination; the Care Team staff will consult with you to determine the next best steps. The most critical step is that you report your concern. If another campus resource is more appropriate, the team will make that recommendation.

Every effort is made to keep the BCT process private. That being said, there may be times when it is not possible. Please refrain from promising confidentiality to a student referred to the BCT/Care Team.

The BCT and its processes are bound by FERPA and handled similar to other student educational records. If it is determined that you have a legitimate educational need to know about the matter, someone will follow up with you.

The Care Team is the best place to start for consultation on a concern. Care Team staff can provide tips, ideas and resources on how to best approach a situation. Call 612-626-3030 or email [email protected].

Yes. However, you are encouraged to identify yourself because this may assist the BCT if clarification or additional information is needed. This is a transparent process, and as such, we are only able to reach out to students if we can name a reporting party. If there are concerns of imminent harm to self or others, we will likely make an exception. If you request anonymity, we will likely contact you to coach you on offering support and resources to that student directly. 

If you are witnessing or experiencing behaviors that do not align with the Student Code of Conduct, please reach out to the Office for Community Standards (OCS). Classroom conduct violations are addressed through the OCS. They are available for consultation and assistance through the process.