Parents, faculty, staff, and other students all have the possibility of encountering students who are experiencing abnormal levels of stress or experiencing a troubling time in their lives. This situation may present itself in the student's behavior being disruptive in a campus office, a student being chronically absent or late to class, a puzzling interaction in on campus housing, or some sort of concerning communication.

The University serves as a community which holistically supports the University's mission. As such, when a student is observed or seems like he or she is in distress, the Dean of Students Office serves as a hub of communication and planning to best help these students.

The following topics should better help you understand how to work with us to help students, what information is helpful, and how the University intercedes and assists members of its community in connecting with resources and evaluating the student's ability to be successful at the present time, in a particular program, and/or at our Bozeman campus.

Who Do I Contact If I Encounter a Student In Distress?

If you, the student, or members of our campus community are in immediate danger, please call campus (406.994.2121) or city police (911).

If this is a situation in which no one, including the student, appears to be in immediate danger, please contact our office at [email protected] or 406.994.2826. Please ask for one of the available Deans to speak about what observations or concerns that you have.

What Information Does The Deans Office Need When Reporting A Student In Distress?

The Dean of Students Office will hear a concern or report regardless of what information you have. However, any of the following information is helpful in a situation where a student is in crisis or of concern:

  • Student's Name
  • Any Contact Information You Have Available
  • Student's Age, Standing, and/or Major
  • Your Relationship To The Student
  • Student ID and/or Birthdate
  • A Estimation of How Long This Behavior or Change In Behavior Has Been Observed
  • If You Believe Or Know That The Student Is At Risk To Himself/Herself Or Others
  • If The Student Has Been Attending Class
  • If The Student Has Been Progessing Through His/Her Coursework
  • A Discription Of Any Past Interactions With The Student
  • Understanding Of If The Behaviors Or Concerns Have Been Addressed With The Student

How Does The University Respond To A Report Of A Student In Distress Or Of Concern?

Our Dean of Students Staff strive to handle each case with respect for the student, concern for other affected community members, and maintain the confidentiality of the parties involved. Each concern reported to our office is also given high priority and considered serious. As each case is very different, the steps and parties involved may be very different. Just a handful of entities involved in a student concern are shown below.

Entities that report to the Office of the Dean of Students
Entities to which the Office of the Dean of Students reports
Parents and family

Counseling and Psychological Services

First Year Initiative
MSU faculty, staff, and students
University Police
Residence Life/Family and Graduate Housing
Gallatin County community
Instructors and advisors
Health Services
 
Provost's office
Disability, Re-entry, and Veterans Service
 
Office of International Programs
VOiCE Center

General Steps In Assisting Students In Distress

  1. Students, Staff, Faculty, Parents, Family, and/or Other Concerned Community Members contact the Dean of Students (DOS) Office via email or phone to report a student of concern. If it is determined that the student is in immediate danger of harm to himself/herself and/or others, the University or City police are involved.
  2. The Dean of Students assesses the situation, consults any previous records of the student the office may have, and work with other members of the DOS Staff to create the next steps.
  3. The Dean of Students Office staff contacts any applicable offices or people on campus to better understand the student's welfare and progress as an MSU student.
  4. From here, the process may take different directions dependant upon the student situation and those affected:
    1. The Dean of Students or othe designee (example: instructor, resident director) will make direct contact with the student to talk about the issues and refer to resources.
    2. Should the behavior or concerns merit it, the Dean of Students will conviene the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT), a confidential group of individuals closely involved with the case to decide on next steps.
    3. Should the student not be able to be contacted and there are life safety issues, the Dean of Students and/or Vice President for Student Success will contact local authorities to do a safety and welfare check.
  5. Based on the information learned and from whom the case was referred, the Dean of Students Office may choose to share information regarding the student and/or case with the person making the referral. This step is subject to stringent Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) guildlines.

Still have questions? Please contact us at 406-994-2826.