Skip over carousel to next section
people on lawn
When to Share a Concern

»Academic Concerns

Chapman promotes the health and welfare of students in many ways. To this end, we strive to create a community of care where students receive the support they need to succeed and achieve their academic and life goals. If you are concerned about a student, please review the list of behaviors and warning signs below that may indicate a student is having trouble and may need additional support and assistance. The below list is not exhaustive. 

Academic Concerns 
  • Frequent or extended absences 
  • Missing assignments or tests 
  • Poor academic performance or sudden decline in performance 
  • Classroom disruption 
  • Erratic performance 
  • Continual seeking of special permission (extensions, make up work, etc.) without follow through 

Physical Concerns 

  • Lack of self-care or personal hygiene
  • Disorganized or rapid/pressured speech* 
  • Obvious cuts, bruises, burns or other injuries 
  • Excessive use or reliance on alcohol or other substances 
  • Extreme fatigue or exhaustion 
  • Frequent or chronic illness 
  • Unfocused, disjointed thinking (skipping around a lot and unable to stay on topic)* 

*These issues may signify a concern of a more pressing nature that need more immediate attention from University staff 


Toggle Section

What happens when a student is referred to the Dean of Students office?

After the Dean of Students has received the referral, a member of our team will reach out to review it. Depending on the circumstances, the referral may also be shared with other appropriate University staff members so we can appropriately respond.  

Based on the information provided in the referral, someone from our office (or a campus partner) may reach out to the student directly. These meetings are generally designed to help the student navigate any challenges they may be facing. Not all referrals result in a face-to-face meeting with the student, but we do our best to provide students with appropriate information and resources. 

Except in rare cases, we do not require students to meet with us and while we may make multiple attempts to contact the students there are times when the student declines our offers of support. If the referral involves potential safety concerns, staff will take additional steps to get in touch with the student, which may involve reaching out to emergency contacts and/or law enforcement. 

When it is possible, we will provide updates to the person who made the referral, but please know that federal privacy laws substantially limit what we are able to share.