PSU Takes C.A.R.E. of You

One if the many responsibilities of a university is the safety and well-being of its students, faculty, and staff. Plymouth State University has shown concern of its community by creating an outreach program for members of the community, student body, and faculty. 

The University installed a program called the CARE Team, a university organization designed to reach out to those in need. CARE stands for Concerns, Assessment, Referral, and Education. Plymouth State University Dean of Students, Tim Keefe said, "CARE is not universal [amongst colleges/universities] but it is not specific to PSU. However, our acronym is unique to Plymouth." The reason Plymouth State has this program is to "make sure that the students and the university are both safe," stated Keefe. 

The team itself is made up of various members of the University, including but not limited to: Keefe, Associate Dean of Students, Jeff Furlone; and Emergency Planning Manager/Special Investigator, Jen Frank of the University Police Department. Keefe stated, "We meet once a week or more if needed."

Around the University, the CARE Team is better known as the CARE Form because it's an actual document. The CARE Form is an opportunity for the Plymouth State University community to anonymously reach out to the University if they have concerns about a particular individual, but aren't sure how to help exactly.

What makes the CARE Form unique is that it is not exclusive to PSU students and faculty, but rather anyone involved with the University. Keefe said, "It can be submitted from a teacher who has maybe noticed that one of their students hasn't been to class in a while and have tried to contact the student about it and got no response. In that class I may try to contact them just to see what's going on and if they need anything." 

Keefe discussed how it can be difficult to help someone because you may not know what kind of help they need, and sometimes you have offered help to that person and they didn't listen. He said that hearing from someone from the University such as himself can help a student realize that they may have an issue they want to address, but in the end "it is their choice to take or leave our help. Sometimes they say that they've got it under control." 

However, the CARE Form is much more than that. He explained that they are not just meant for teachers who are concerned about their students. In fact, the concern can, and has gone in the reverse direction. 

"There have been times where we received forms from students who were concerned about their teachers," Keefe said. "We have received forms from parents, faculty, and staff members about other faculty and staff members as well as forms from students about students."

The CARE Form is not just meant for people that have academic concerns for someone they know either. If you are worried about someone, whether they are a student, faculty or staff member, PSU officials are there to help. 

Keefe also stressed that Plymouth State has many services to offer those who are in need, regardless of what kind of help they need. Some of these services include, making an appointment at the Counseling Center, or recieving academic support through the PASS Office, and many  others.

"There have been times when we contacted a student about an issue and they told us that they didn't even think anyone noticed," Keefe said. "It was named right because we care about our university."

The CARE form can be found on the University website. It is located on the Dean of Students page, on the sidebar to the left-hand-side labeled The C.A.R.E. Team. Keefe said, "I wanted to make it easy to get to." Once complete, the form can be submitted online, emailed to the Dean of Students Office, or printed and delivered to Keefe.