Skip to main content

Cornell University

Student & Campus Life

CARE Team

The CARE (Coordinate, Assessment, Response, and Educate) Team is a University-wide group that meets weekly to discuss students whose behavior or well-being causes elevated concern. The team, which is chaired by the Senior Associate Dean of Students, collaborates, collects information, identifies risks and concerns, and develops a support or intervention plan when necessary.

Mission

The CARE Team promotes the safety and well-being of the Cornell community. The CARE Team is an institution-wide team focused on identifying, assessing, and responding to concerns and/or disruptive behaviors by students or who present a risk to the health or safety of the university or its members.

Goals of the team

  1. Contribute to the facilitation of a safe and supportive physical and emotional environment for members of the university community.

  2. Identify, assess, and intervene with students who are struggling or who demonstrate concerning, disruptive, or threatening behavior. 
  3. Provide support and resources to community members who are concerned for a student. 

How do I refer a student to the CARE Team?

  • If you have a concern about a student, please submit a Student of Concern Referral by completing this form and selecting the Student of Concern Referral in the Report Type drop-down menu. Student Support and Advocacy Services will determine, based on the level of risk and concern, whether the student will be referred to the CARE Team. If you are having trouble with the referral form, or have any questions, please contact our office at 607-254-8598.
  • Additionally, during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm), contact the Office of the Dean of Students by phone at 607-254-8598 or come into the Office of the Dean of Students in the Elizabeth Staley Center, 200 Willard Straight Hall. 

Who can submit a referral?

  • Anyone can submit a Student of Concern Referral Form (faculty, students, staff, family, community members, and a student for themselves). 

When should I submit a Student of Concern Referral?

  • Please review the “When to Refer a Student” section of our website.  
  • As a reminder: If this is an emergency and you need to report an imminent threat or life-endangering situation involving a student, please call the Cornell University Police Department at (607) 255-1111 or 911.

Who serves on Cornell’s CARE Team?

The CARE Team is made up of Cornell employees from the Office of the Dean of Students, Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, Cornell University Police, Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Disability Services, Housing and Residential Life, as well as the West Campus Housing System. Additionally, colleagues from additional departments are brought in on an as needed basis, such as Academic Units, Athletics, the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life, and the Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX.