Ohio University has officially introduced a program designed to provide additional support to students who seem to be a risk to themselves and others.
The Student Review and Consultation Committee, which the university piloted last year, was originally planned as a suicide prevention measure but expanded to include other risk indicators as well.
Faculty, university staff and students can recommend a student to the program if they notice the student struggling emotionally or socially. The student then meets with one of two staff members and often recommends a free four-time assessment with a counselor. The committee can recommend further treatment, but it's up to the student to follow through. -
said Patti McSteen, associate dean of students and one of the two staff members who talks directly with students. If you see something early on you can take care of it.
The university began the SRCC during the 2005-06 school year but spent a long time figuring out how much it could afford to do before piloting it. In the version of the program launched this year, there are no additional costs to the university, although the dean of students' office did buy up half of one faculty member's contract.
Greg Janson, the other staffer who meets with students, now works part time on SRCC. The cost of half his contract was transferred from the College of Health and Human Services to the dean of students.
Although the committee started its work in 2005, it changed course after the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting. McSteen said that event contributed to the committee's decision to cast a wider net.
SRCC has 10 members, representing the dean of students' office, counseling services, the Athens County sheriff, campus safety, legal affairs, judiciaries, residence life, student services and the faculty.
McSteen said the committee meets every week if necessary.
I've been on a lot of committees and this is one that I can come out of the meeting and feel so good that this is something that can help make someone successful she said, adding that although she doesn't have formal data to measure success, We've watched students go through this
and they stay in school and that's. G? feedback for me
she said.
When someone recommends a student to the committee, either McSteen or Janson contacts the student for a meeting.
I don't want a person to come in here feeling like they're being called to the principal's office
said McSteen, who added that before the program started, she expected tense conversations, but they weren't at all.
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Ryan Lombardi echoed McSteen's emphasis on the real goal of the committee.
It's not a punitive thing
it's nothing along those lines. It's designed to be a support network
Lombardi said.
Lombardi and McSteen said part of the reason OU formed the SRCC was to give people on campus a clear place to go if they're concerned about a student. They hope it will alleviate some of the anxiety of not knowing who to go to for help.
It's been nice that students have kind of put their hands up and said we need help
McSteen said.
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