Mission

The Mercy College CARE Team (Concern, Assessment, Response, Evaluation) is committed to enhancing the college experience through a proactive, collaborative, and thoughtful approach to the identification, assessment, and early intervention of troublesome or concerning behaviors that impact the College community. 

The Team

The CARE Team includes College officials from the following Mercy College departments: 

• Community Standards
• Health and Wellness
• Counseling
• ACCESSibility
• Residential Life
• Student Life
• Safety and Security
• Student Success
• Academic Affairs

Any Mercy College community member is able to submit a referral to the CARE Team if they are concerned about the behavior or well-being of a student.

Tips for Recognizing Students in Distress

Behavioral/Emotional Indicators

• Direct statements indicating distress, family problems, or loss
• Angry or hostile outbursts, yelling, or aggressive comments
• More withdrawn or more animated than usual
• Expressions of hopelessness or worthlessness
• Expressions of extreme anxiety or irritability
• Excessively demanding or dependent behavior
• Lack of response to outreach from College officials 

Physical Indicators

• Deterioration in physical appearance or personal hygiene
• Excessive fatigue, exhaustion; repeatedly falling asleep in public areas of campus
• Visible changes in weight; statements about change in appetite or sleep
• Noticeable cuts, bruises, or burns
• Frequent or chronic illness
• Disorganized speech, rapid or slurred speech, confusion
• Unusual inability to make eye contact
• Under the influence of drugs or alcohol in any location on campus

The purpose of the CARE Team is to serve as a collaborative group focused on prevention and early intervention for students experiencing serious distress or engaging in harmful or disruptive behaviors. Through an online reporting form available to the Mercy College community the CARE Team will be alerted to students of concern and will be able to review, assess, and make recommendations for how to best assist reported students. The Team aims to intervene and assist students in meeting their academic, personal, and professional goals at the College.

The Team does not serve as a crisis response unit, nor does it replace faculty classroom management, and/or the Safety and Security Office’s response to an incident.

If this is an emergency that involves an imminent risk of harm to self or others, please contact campus Safety and Security at 914-674-9999 or by dialing 911.

To submit a report for review, please click here: CARE Referral Form