UCARE

How UCARE Works

UCARE (University Committee for Assistance, Response, and Evaluation), housed within the Division of Student Success, is the central point of contact and referral for students who may be experiencing a personal, academic, financial, wellbeing, and/or other concern.  Below is the general process followed when a UCARE Referral is received, but it is important to note that referrals assessed as being more urgent may result in different outreach efforts, such as a welfare check.

  1. A UCARE Referral is submitted for a Missouri S&T student
  2. A Case Manager will evaluate the referral, gather additional information as needed, and reach out to the referred student to offer support.
  3. The student is offered the opportunity to meet with a Case Manager. In this meeting, the Case Manager assesses their current situation, evaluates their needs, and provides intervention recommendations and/or supportive referrals.
  4. The Case Manager will update the referring party as they are able to. Please feel free to email ucare@mst.edu to request an update.

Submit a UCARE Referral

Why You Should Submit a UCARE Referral

  1. Early intervention: Often, a quick response to provide a student experiencing a challenge or distress with timely resources will ensure that the student remains on track academically.  Referrals may involve things like wellbeing concerns, missed classes, changes in behavior or appearance, isolation from friends and family, course withdrawals or leaves, and overall interruption of the student’s experience.

  2. Connecting the Dots: UCARE receives referrals from students, campus partners, family members, and friends. Collecting pieces of the puzzle helps to understand the totality of the student’s circumstance and provide a greater level of support tailored to the needs of the student.

  3. It Might Be Required: Under certain circumstances, faculty, staff, and students are obligated to report acts of violence and other threatening behaviors.  

When Should a Referral be Submitted?

Are you concerned about a friend, classmate, or student on campus? If so, we encourage a referral to UCARE. No concern is too small or too large. Below are some indicators that a student may need support and outreach from a care manager. Please note this is not an extensive list.

A Case Manager will reach out to the student after receiving the UCARE referral to offer support and connection to helpful resources. 

Submit a UCARE Referral
  • Academic Indicators
  • Emotional Indicators
  • Financial Indicators
  • Physical Indicators
  • Triggering Events

Academic Indicators

  • Persistent or unexplained absences
  • Deterioration in quality/quantity of work
  • Extreme disorganization or erratic performance
  • Written or artistic expressions of unusual violence, morbidity, social isolation, despair, or confusion
  • Continual seeking of special permission (extensions, make-up work)
  • Disproportionate response to grades or other evaluations

Emotional Indicators

  • Expressions of feeling hopeless, helpless, guilty, or worthless; direct statements indicating distress
  • Notable change in mood 
  • Appears over-anxious, nervousness, tearfulness, fearfulness
  • Angry or hostile outbursts, yelling, or aggressive comments
  • Withdrawn from others or loss of pleasure in daily activities
  • Erratic behavior, mood swings, or more animated than usual
  • Excessively demanding or dependent behavior
  • Fails to respond to outreach from staff/faculty
  • Mentions thoughts of self-harm, suicide, or harm to others

Financial Indicators

  • Job loss
  • Change in funding status
  • Loss of scholarships
  • Food or housing insecurities

Physical Indicators

  • Deterioration in physical appears or personal hygiene
  • Excessive fatigue or exhaustion
  • Erratic or disjointed thinking – skips around a lot; unable to stay focused on one topic
  • Noticeable cuts, bruises, burns
  • Frequent or chronic illness
  • Disorganized speech, rapid or slurred speech; confusion
  • Suspected substance or alcohol abuse

Triggering Events

  • Perceived failures
  • Academic struggles
  • Relationship concerns or breakups
  • Grief, loss of a loved one, friend, or pet
  • Facing difficult barriers

Additional Resources