Internal - Faculty & Staff

CARE

The Campus Assessment, Response, and Evaluation (CARE) Team seeks to proactively coordinate University support for students in distress, struggling with basic needs, experiencing unexpected crises or whose behavior raises concerns about their well-being or that of others. The CARE Team also addresses behaviors that may be disruptive, harmful or pose a threat to the health and safety of the Simmons community. The CARE team is an interdisciplinary team which meets on a regular basis to ensure that students of concern are receiving timely and consistent support. 

CARE Team Mission

The mission of the CARE Team is to protect the health and wellness of Simmons students and members of the Simmons community by addressing student behaviors of concern while balancing the educational needs of students as well as the academic mission of the University. 

How to make a referral to the CARE Team

Complete the CARE Team Referral Form. A member of the CARE team will review incoming reports Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm,  and will respond within 24 hours. 

Note: This form is not intended for use in emergencies reports are not monitored during the evening or during weekends. If this is an emergency, please call Simmons Public Safety at 617-521-1111 or 9-1-1.

Examples of concerns to report to the CARE Team

  • The student has not been attending class and has not responded to outreach attempts.
  • The student has indicated that they have engaged in self-harm.
  • The student’s behavior seems out of character such as they have become more withdrawn and are not participating in class when they have done so before or are displaying or they are displaying emotional outbursts
  • The student has relayed that they are feeling overwhelmed by their classes and it is affecting their sleep, eating habits or daily routine
  • The student has relayed a family emergency and is unsure where to go for support.
  • The student has relayed that they are or will be going into treatment.
  • Student appears to not be engaged and is having difficulty socially

Examples of concerns not to report to the CARE Team

  • A student is not attending classes regularly
  • A student is in danger of failing a course
  • A student has missing or late assignments
  • A student has never attended a class

Note: While these concerns should not be referred via the CARE referral form, we strongly encourage faculty and staff to report them through the Starfish platform. This will ensure that the student is being monitored and can be referred to the CARE Team if needed.

Meet the CARE Team

Michele Almeida
Student Services Specialist
[email protected] | 617-521-2485

Echelle Avelar
Assistant Dean for Community Standards
[email protected] | 617-521-2195

Sherri Ettinger
Director of Counseling Services
[email protected] | 617-521-2451

Talia Hirsh
Associate Director of Academic Advising
[email protected] | 617-521-2017

Alicia LaPolla
Assistant Dean of First Year Programs
[email protected] | 617-521-3685

Krystin Miller
Assistant Director, Office of Accessibility Services
[email protected]  | 617-521-3947

Amelia McConnell
Assistant Director of Residence Life
[email protected] | 617-521-1102

Sara Squeglia
Associate Director of Academic Advising
[email protected] | 617-521-2169

Mary Struzska-Tyamayev 
Director of the Center for Global Education
[email protected] | 617-521-2554

Corey Zohlman
Assistant Dean of Student Engagement
[email protected] | 617-521-2447

CARE Team FAQs

What is the CARE Team?

The CARE Team is an interdisciplinary team which accepts referrals regarding students in distress, struggling with basic needs, experiencing unexpected crises or whose behavior raises concerns about their well-being or that of others within the Simmons community. The CARE team connects students with the appropriate resources and monitors their progress in an effort to ensure their general well-being and academic success as well as to maintain a healthy and safe University environment.

How often does the CARE Team meet?

The CARE Team meets on a weekly basis throughout the academic year.

What behaviors should I report to the CARE Team?

Behaviors or concerns which should be relayed to the CARE Team include, but are not limited to:

  • Changes in demeanor
  • Drastic changes to grooming or hygiene
  • Appearance of being sad
  • Suicidal remarks
  • Exaggerated or heightened emotional responses
  • Repeated classroom disruptions
  • Assignments or assessments contain disturbing writing
  • References to weapons

How do I make a referral to the CARE Team?

Students should be referred to the CARE team anytime staff, faculty or peer is concerned about their safety or well-being. Referrals are made via the CARE Team Referral form. A member of the CARE Team will review submitted forms Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 4:00pm.

If you feel that a student or community member is in imminent danger, to themselves or others, do not refer them to the CARE Team. Call Public Safety at 617-521-1111 or 911 for immediate assistance. A member of the CARE Team will follow up with the student for support.

Can referrals to the CARE Team be made anonymously?

Referrals made via the CARE referral form cannot be made anonymously. A member of the CARE Team will follow up with community members to confirm that the report has been received and may also need to ask clarifying questions of the reporter.

What is a student discloses a concern to me and asks me not to tell anyone else?

While we understand the importance of maintaining confidentiality, we ask that concerns be reported so that we may reach out to the student and put in place any appropriate interventions as soon as we can. If a student asks for confidentiality, we encourage you to reassure the student that you will only share the information with those who need to know and can be of help.

Who has access to the referrals made to the CARE Team?

Only CARE Team member can access and review reports.

How will I know that my report has been submitted and action taken?

A member of the CARE Team will respond to your referral within 24 hours of its receipt. As a reminder, the CARE Team form should not be used for emergencies. If there is an emergency or imminent care for the safety and well-being of a student, please contact Simmons Public Safety at 617-521-1111.