CARE Office

Connect, Assist, Refer, Empower (CARE) Mission

CARE proactively supports students to stay safe, successful, and enrolled at USU. We work directly with students to understand their individual needs and connect them with appropriate support.

CARE staff offer individualized assistance to students experiencing academic, financial, mental health, or other student concerns that may impact their well-being. We meet one-on-one with students, connect them to relevant resources, and provide follow-up as needed. CARE also works closely with campus and community partners to help ensure students receive comprehensive support. CARE strives to promote retention and overall wellness by empowering students to overcome barriers to their success at USU.

What CARE is Not

The CARE Team provides non-clinical support. This means we do not provide counseling, therapy or medical care. While we can help you navigate academic resources, we do not provide academic advising nor do we influence academic decisions, such as grading. We are not emergency services –if someone is in immediate danger, always contact 911.

Additionally, CARE is not a designated confidential resource. CARE staff are reporting employees who must report sexual misconduct to the Civil Rights & Title IX Office.

Faculty Reach-outs

While professors may occasionally receive communication from the CARE Office, our process is limited to documentable extenuating and emergency circumstances. As such we are unable to provide excused absence requests related to routine illness. You can review the University’s excused absence policy.

If you are being impacted by an ongoing illness or disability, please reach out to the Disability Resource Center (DRC). The DRC works with students to address barriers related to a disability or diagnosis, including coordinating academic accommodations. You can find more information on their website.

In cases of documentable, extenuating emergency circumstances, CARE may assist students by contacting their faculty to request excused absences and flexibility on behalf of the student. For questions regarding faculty reach-outs, please contact our office.

When to Contact the CARE Team

CARE learns about students who need support through the CARE Referral/Student of Concern Report form. Refer a student (including yourself) to CARE when you are concerned for them or believe they may benefit from additional support. If you believe a student presents an immediate danger to themselves or someone else, call 911 before contacting CARE. Referrals are reviewed during the University’s normal hours of operation.

Submit a CARE Referral/Student of Concern Report when:

• The student needs non-academic resources like food, finances, healthcare, or mental health services
• The student would benefit from support after the loss of a loved one
• The student’s academics are being impacted by extenuating circumstances, such as physical or mental health concerns, the loss of a loved one, hospitalization, or other personal challenges
• The student may be suicidal
• The student may be a danger to others
• The student has been behaving in an inappropriate, disruptive, or dangerous manner
• You are aware of circumstances, not related to academic skills, which might impact their ability to remain enrolled (for concerns about academic skills or engagement, you may wish to refer them to ABLE)
• The student has been on leave and would like assistance transitioning back to USU

If you’re not sure whether to contact CARE or another office, please refer to the USU reporting page.

Tell Us How We’re Doing! If you’ve worked with CARE staff in the past, complete our feedback survey. If you have specific concerns you’d like to discuss with a member of our staff, please email us.

Notice of Non-Discrimination