• InsideSMCM
  • News
  • Events
  • Academic Calendar
  • Contact Directory
  • IT Support
  • Campus Map
  • H.C.L. Library
  • Student Portal
  • Apply
  • Visit
  • Learn More
  • Give
  • Families
  • Events
  • Honoring the Enslaved
    St. Mary's College of Maryland, the National Public Honors College
  • LEAD
      • Students working on a problem in our outdoor classroom
    • What is LEAD?
      • LEAD stands for Learning Through Experiential and Applied Discovery. Think of it as an all-encompassing, integrative pathway that will prepare you for whatever your next step is—research, graduate school, or the workforce.
      • LEAD Curriculum
      • Center for Career and Professional Development
      • Job-IQ
      • Beyond St. Mary's
  • Academics
      • Students working on a problem in our outdoor classroom
    • Academics
      • Majors & Minors
      • Academic Departments
      • Study Abroad
      • St. Mary's Projects
      • Internships
      • Undergraduate Research
      • Core Curriculum
      • Faculty
    • Student Resources
      • ADA Accessibility & Accommodations
      • Office of Student Success Services
      • Writing Center
      • Portal
      • Course Catalog
      • Registrar's Office
      • DeSousa-Brent Scholars
      • Campus Bookstore
      • Hilda C. Landers Library
      • Phi Beta Kappa
      • Center for Career and Professional Development
      • Boyden Gallery
      • Dodge Performing Arts Center
  • Admissions & Aid
    • Tuition & Financial Aid
      • Financial Aid
      • Scholarships & Grants
      • Tuition & Fees
      • Tuition Calculator
    • How To Apply
      • First Year
      • Transfer
      • International
      • Graduate Studies
      • Test Optional Policy
    • Resources
      • Resources for New Students
      • I'm in! What's Next?
      • DeSousa-Brent Scholars
      • Beyond St. Mary's
      • Schedule a Visit
      • Request Info
      • Apply
      • Connect with a Counselor
      • Virtual Tour
      • Explore SMCM
  • Alumni
      • Alumni in San Francisco volunteer at one of our Bay to Bay Service Day projects
    • Office of Alumni Relations
      • Get Involved
      • Benefits & Services
      • Alumni Council
      • Alumni Scholarships
    • Signature Events
      • Alumni Weekend
      • Hawktoberfest
      • Bay to Bay Service Days
      • Spring Break-a-Sweat
      • Governor's Cup & Zero Year Reunion
      • Submit News/Updates
      • Find Alumni Chapter
      • Request a Transcript
      • Rent the Alumni Lodge
      • Career Center
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      • Flickr
  • Athletics
      • Seahawk logo
      • Men's Sports
      • Baseball
      • Basketball
      • Cross Country
      • Lacrosse
      • Rowing
      • Sailing
      • Soccer
      • Swimming
      • Tennis
      • Track and Field
      • Women's Sports
      • Basketball
      • Cross Country
      • Field Hockey
      • Lacrosse
      • Rowing
      • Sailing
      • Soccer
      • Swimming
      • Tennis
      • Track and Field
      • Volleyball
      • Sports Schedules
      • Intramural Sports
      • Club Sports
      • Inside Athletics
      • Facilities
      • Give to Athletics
  • Campus Life
      • Life at SMCM
      • Housing
      • Dining
      • Getting Involved
      • Campus Hangouts
      • Out and About
      • New Student Information
      • Support Services
      • Public Safety Office
      • Wellness Center
      • Inclusive Diversity, Equity, Access, and Accountability (IDEAA)
      • Title IX Compliance &Training
      • ADA Accommodations & Accessibility
      • Make a Difference
      • Waterfront
      • Commuters
      • Human Resources
      • Explore SMCM
      • Female Student Studying Outside on the Lawn
  • About
    • Key Facts
      • Rankings
      • Location
      • History of the College
      • Directions
      • Nearby Accommodations
    • Mission & Values
      • Inclusive Diversity, Equity, Access, and Accountability (IDEAA)
      • Institutional Research
      • The SMCM Foundation
      • The St. Mary's Way
      • The Honors College Promise
      • Land Acknowledgement and Pledge
    • Board of Trustees Office of the President
      • Meet Dr. Tuajuanda Jordan
      • Executive Council
      • Strategic Plan
      • Arial View of Campus

Office of Public Safety

Committed to providing quality public safety services to the campus community

  • Office of Public Safety
  • Meet the Staff
  • Emergencies
    • Evacuations, Lockdowns, and Taking Shelter
    • Basic Emergency Response
    • Emergency Resource Guide
    • Emergency Procedures Quick Guide (PDF)
    • Run, Hide, Fight – Active Shooter Protocol
    • Hurricanes
    • College Closing Procedures
    • Emergency Response Team
    • Local Emergency Services
  • Emergency Notifications
    • Seahawk Alerts
    • Campus Shield – Mobile Safety App
    • Timely Warnings
  • Campus Safety & Training
    • Fire Safety
    • Crime Prevention and Safety Tips
    • Blue Light Phones
    • R.A.D. Self Defense Training
    • Campus Training Videos
  • Annual Security & Fire Safety Report
  • Drug Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989
  • Parking Information and Transportation
    • Campus Parking Policy
    • Parking Lot Assignments
    • Parking Enforcement and Towing
    • State Vehicles
    • Regulations and Information
  • Policies & Procedures
    • Understanding Policies
    • Title IX
    • Timely Notification Policy
    • Missing Student Policy
    • Stopped by an Officer
  • CARE
  • Distress Guide
  • FAQs
  • Daily Crime and Fire Log
Campus Shield the safety app for St. Mary's College of Maryland
Report an Incident

Contact Us

Office of Public Safety
(240) 895-4911
Campus Emergency: x4911

Stay Connected

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Office of Public Safety / Distress Guide

Distress Guide

Assisting Students in Distress

The information below is designed to give you information that you might find helpful when confronted with a difficult student situation.  You may have concerns about a student’s behavior or see signs of psychological distress that could affect the student’s academic and personal success.  This folder provides information that can assist you in early detection and effective referral. Contact information is provided along with relevant resources.  Please don’t hesitate to contact one of the numerous resources and obtain assistance and support.

Assisting Students in Distress

Resources

Important Campus Phone Numbers:

    • Public Safety (emergencies)/: 4911 or 240-895-4911
    • Academic Services / Office of Student Success (OS3): 4388 or 240-895-4388
    • Counseling & Psychological Services: 4289 or 240-895-4289
    • Health Services: 4289  or 240-895-4289
    • International Education: 4202 or 240-895-4202
    • On-Call Professional (A Student Affairs professional  staff member is on-call after normal work hours): 4911 or  240-895-4911
    • Residence Life: 4207 or 240-895-4207
    • CARE Team / Campus Assessment Response & Evaluation Team
    • VP of Student Affairs: 4208 or 240-895-4208

 

Important Off-Campus Phone Numbers
  • Ambulance/Fire/Police: 911
  • Southern Maryland Center for Family Advocacy (SMCFA): 301-373-4141; smcfa.net; smcfaoffice1979@gmail.com
  • 24 Hour Domestic Violence Hotline: 240-925-0084
  • MySSP: 866-743-7732 or MySSP App
  • Maryland’s Helpline: 211 or text zip code to 898-211 (TXT-211); 211md.org
CHARACTERISTICS OF TROUBLED OR DISTRESSED STUDENTS
    • Where you may see them:

    • In the classroom
    • In advising sessions
    • In living areas
    • During informal interactions
    • In assignments that students submit

What they look like:

  • Extremely poor academic performance or a change from high to low grades.
  • Excessive absences, especially if prior class attendance was good.
  • Unusual or noticeably changed interaction patterns in the classroom or
    living areas.
  • Depressed or apathetic mood, excessive activity or talkativeness, evidence
    of crying.
  • Noticeable change in appearance and hygiene.
  • Alcohol on breath/problem drinking patterns.
  • Inability to stay awake in class.
  • Repeated attempts to obtain deadline extensions or postpone tests.
    Dependency.
  • New or continuous behavior which disrupts your class or student interactions.
  • Inappropriate or exaggerated emotional reactions to situations, including a
    lack of emotional response to stressful events.
  • Seeking help from multiple other parties instead of counseling professionals.
  • Violent or other extremely disruptive behavior.
  • Obvious loss of contact with reality.
  • Disturbed speech or communication content.
  • Suicidal or other self-destructive thoughts or actions.
  • Homicidal threats
HOW TO INTERVENE
    • Whenever any of the signs of distress are present and a student is not functioning at an optimum level, a referral to the Wellness Center could be warranted. Faculty and Staff will hear from students about their personal difficulties. Often an empathic listener or a trusted mentor can provide the support, guidance, or perspective to sufficiently help a student through a difficult situation or time in their life. There are times, however, when the help of professionals trained to deal with psychological issues and problems are warranted and when your involvement with the student should be more delicate.

When to Refer:

    • A student asks for help with a problem outside your realm of expertise.
    • You believe the student has crossed a line in communicating about things that
      are too personal.
    • The student feels uncomfortable talking to you about the problems.
    • What you have done so far has not sufficiently helped reduce the problem.
    • The student’s behavior is disrupting others.
    • Helping the student could represent a conflict of interest or dual relationship
      and compromise your objectivity.
    • You are having a strong emotional reaction to the student’s situation, e.g.
      feeling overwhelmed, overly responsible, afraid, or tired.
    • You are extremely busy or stressed, or unwilling or unable to offer the necessary.

How to Refer:

  • Talk to the student in private.
  • Express concern, while being specific about troubling behaviors.
  • Listen empathically.
  • Remain neutral.
  • Suggest to the student that it would be helpful to talk to someone at the
    Wellness Center who is trained to address the concerns. Have the student call
    to schedule an appointment from your office, if willing to do so.
  • Demystify and de-stigmatize counseling as necessary.
  • Call a counselor yourself to consult about the student.
  • Obtain emergency help through Public Safety if necessary.
  • Follow up with the student to find out if the appointment was kept. Do not
    inquire about the details of the session; rather, show interest in knowing that
    the student is getting needed help and support.
  • Submit a Beacon alert or notify a member of the Care Team
    regarding any students about whom you are concerned.

OTHER REPORTING MANDATES

    • The policy on reporting child abuse and neglect can be found at:

Child Abuse Policy

PRIVACY ISSUES
    • The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects
    • the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that
    • receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education.
    • It is a misperception that faculty and staff cannot communicate with others about
    • students of concern.

Under FERPA, you may disclose records without consent:

    • To school officials with legitimate educational interest, i.e. a need to know.
    • Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies.

Student behaviors that you observe that may be disruptive or concerning, are not
part of an educational records, and therefore are not governed by FERPA. You can
and should communicate with appropriate professionals and enlist the help of
resources regarding the student of concern. Sensitivity for privacy and relevance
of the information shared when doing so is also good practice.

CARE TEAM
  • The CARE Team is a multidisciplinary proactive campus threat assessment and behavioral intervention team dedicated to improving campus safety through a coordinated, objective approach to prevention, identification, assessment, intervention, and management of situations that may pose a threat to the safety and well-being of individuals and the college community.

Faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to use the Beacon system to share
information about a student with the student’s success team.

Acknowledgment: This folder has been adapted from Salisbury University.

TITLE IX INFORMATION
    • Except for individuals who have legally protected confidentially, all
    • “responsible employees” of the College
    • including faculty, coaches, administrators, and Public Safety employees — are required to share with the Title IX Coordinator any report of sexual harassment, sexual violence, stalking, or relationship violence they receive or of which they become aware.

How to file a report:

    • Contact Title IX Coordinator Michael Dunn: mkdunn@smcm.edu, titleix@smcm.edu, 240-895-4105, Lucille Clifton House, www.smcm.edu/campus-rights
    • Contact Public Safety: 240-895-4911, www.smcm.edu/publicsafety

When talking with someone who experienced sexual misconduct, listen to them; don’t be judgmental; let the person make their own decisions; respect their privacy to the extent possible; encourage the person to get help; and be present in the conversation.

When you make a report, please do your best to make sure the person
understands the following:

    • That you are obligated to report the facts of the incident, including the identities of the parties, to the Title IX Coordinator or other appropriate College officials.
    • That the person may request that the College not share their name or other identifiable information or that no formal action be taken. The Title IX Coordinator will evaluate these requests.
    • That there are confidential resources available.
    • That the person has the right to file a Title IX complaint with the College and to report a crime to law enforcement.
    • Even if the person wishes to remain anonymous, you are still required to make a report if any information has been revealed to indicate that the College’s policy against sexual misconduct may have been violated.

For more information go to www.smcm.edu/campus-rights .

WARNING SIGNS FOR SUICIDE
    • Some behaviors may indicate that a person is at immediate risk for suicide.
    • The following three should prompt you to immediately call the Wellness
    • Center (4289 or 240-895-4289), another mental health professional, or the
    • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

    • Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself.
    • Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or obtaining a
      gun or other deadly weapon.
    • Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.

Other behaviors may also indicate a serious risk, especially if the behavior is
new; has increased; and/or seems related to a painful event, loss, or change:

  • Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.
  • Talking about being a burden to others.
  • Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.
  • Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly.
  • Sleeping too little or too much.
  • Withdrawing or feeling isolated.
  • Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.
  • Displaying extreme mood swings.
St. Mary's College of Maryland, the Public Honors College
St. Mary's College of Maryland
47645 College Drive
St. Mary's City, MD, 20686-3001

(240) 895-2000
Give Today

Next Steps

  • Request Information
  • Visit Campus
  • How to Apply
  • Discover Our Value
  • Virtual Tour
  • Explore SMCM

Just For You

  • Prospective Students
  • Current Students
  • New Students
  • Parents & Families
  • Faculty | Staff
  • Employment

Resources

  • InsideSMCM
  • Directory
  • Events | Newsroom
  • Hilda C. Landers Library
  • College Rankings
  • Brand Resources

St. Mary’s College of Maryland reserves the right to provide some or all of the course content through alternative methods of course delivery, including remote methods of delivery, and it reserves the right to change the method of delivery at any time before or during the academic term, in the event of a health or safety emergency or similar situation when it determines, in its sole discretion, that such change is necessary and in the best interests of the College and the campus community.

  • © 2023 St. Mary's College of Maryland
  • Consumer Information
  • Copyright
  • Privacy Policy
  • Title IX Compliance &Training
  • Non-discrimination Policy
  • Reporting Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect
  • OLA Fraud Hotline
  • Help Desk
  • Website Feedback
  • National Human Trafficking Hotline
  • 1-888-373-7888
  • BeFree Textline
  • Text HELP to 233733 (BEFREE)
  • More resources on human trafficking in Maryland
This site uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our cookie policy.