Dean of Students Office
Knight Hall 128
Dept. 3135, 1000 E. University Dr.
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: 307-766-3296
Fax: 307-766-3298
Email: dos@uwyo.edu
Any concerned individual can refer a student who may be experiencing academic, personal or emotional challenges or who may be demonstrating concerning, distressed, or disruptive behavior to the UW CARES Team by submitting a referral form. Submitting a referral simply means you have a concern about a student's well-being. Receipt of this form initiates the outreach process (typically by a Care Coordinator).
Your referral may be the activating event that helps a student get connected to resources, or you may be providing supplemental information about a student that assists in our ability to more appropriately them.
A UW CARES referral should NOT be used for emergency situations. Please contact UWPD at 307-766-5179 for on campus emergencies or dial 911.
Referrals are reviewed during normal business hours by people in the Dean of Students Office trained to assess and act. In many cases, the outcome is to offer support and resources to either the individual who reports the concern, the student of concern, or both. In most cases, the student of concern will be contacted and invited to meet with a Care Coordinator. During the meeting, student and Care Coordinator collaborate to determine what resources, referrals or services might best meet the student's needs and goals. Each situation is different and requires an individualized approach. Our team typically meet with a student several times in person and check-in with a student periodically throughout the academic year.
During the initial meeting Care Coordinators typically:
Assess student well-being in terms of emotional, social, economic, familial, or medical/mental health challenges affecting day-to-day living
Provide consultation and education
Connect students with helpful academic, social and emotional support and resource providers
Cases that require additional assessment are referred to the UW CARES Team during a weekly meeting. The UW CARES Team conducts assessments using the NaBITA Risk Rubric. The UW CARES Team will assess database information to determine patterns of behavior and utilizes tools (like the NaBITA Risk Rubric) to determine risk to the student, the University, and community.
Case information is kept private and in accordance with FERPA and University record keeping guidelines. The information that is shared via the online form is considered part of the educational records for the student.
UW CARES Team
The UWYCARES Team is designed to enable the University of Wyoming to be compliant with The Campus Security Enhancement Act of 2008 (Public Act 095-0881, §110 ILCS 12 - 20) and the implementing regulations (29 Ill. Adm. Code § 305). The team is comprised of:
Dean of Students
Assistant Dean, Care and Outreach
Assistant Dean of Students/Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Associate Director, Residence Life
UW Chief of Police
Director of Counseling Center
Director of Student Health Services
Director of DSS
ACES Representative
Assistant Athletic Director/SWA
Laramie Police Department
The UWYCARES team also consults with internal and external partners, including Veterans Services, Financial Aid, SAFE Project, International Students and Scholars, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Albany County Sheriff, UW Army and Air Force ROTC, and other UW staff and administrators.
Assessing Risk
The assessment process assists in early identification of situations that may pose a threat to others; creates a baseline of information against which to assess future behavior; and provides a means for implementing interventions to increase the likelihood of a positive and safe resolution.
In general, the UW Cares Team will gather preliminary information regarding the concern and then a team member may interview the referred person as part of the initial assessment process. The interview will provide the opportunity for the individual to share their concerns about the situation and ask for needed assistance in solving it. Information gathered in this initial interview will be helpful in determining appropriate intervention strategies.
That process may include any of the following data gathering processes:
Interviews with all available parties with information about the situation
Interviews with the person alleged to have displayed inappropriate/concerning behavior
Assessment by counselor/mental health professional
Interview with any identified potential targets of inappropriate/concerning behavior
Contacting a student’s parents or family members
Review of a student’s academic and disciplinary history
Legal/criminal background check
Based on all data gathered, the UW CARES Team will utilizes the following resources to assess risk:
Dean of Students Office
Knight Hall 128
Dept. 3135, 1000 E. University Dr.
Laramie, WY 82071
Phone: 307-766-3296
Fax: 307-766-3298
Email: dos@uwyo.edu