The Ithaca College Awareness Response and Education Team (ICare) is a small, private group of campus officials who respond to concerns regarding the well-being of individual students and the safety of the campus community. The ICare process aims to:

  • Provide a centralized place for faculty/staff, students, and family members to communicate concerns.
  • Provide education to the campus community on risk, mental health, concerns, and resources.
  • Proactively address issues students are experiencing to promote their wellness.

Our team is made up of representatives from the following offices:

  • Residential Life
  • The Office of ICare and Student Success
  • Public Safety
  • Student Conduct and Community Standards
  • The Dean of Students
  • Title IX
  • Dean's Office
  • Center for Counseling, Health, and Wellness
  • Residential Life
  • Office of Religious and Spiritual Life
  • Center for Student Equity and Belonging
  • Additionally, hoc representatives, consulting partners, and other Ithaca College Community members may be included in ICare Team processes as needed on a case-by-case basis. 

Please review the "Should I Submit a Referral" page; if you're concerned about a student or notice signs of distress, you are encouraged to make an ICare Referral.

If submitting an ICare referral does not appear to be the appropriate next step, please consider the following options:

  1. Consult with CAPS at (607) 274-3136. Talking to a counselor can help you clarify your thoughts and feelings about a student, assess the seriousness of a situation, and identify an appropriate follow-up plan for the student.
  2. If you are a faculty member, consult with your Associate Dean. The Dean's Office may work with faculty and department chairs to assess concerns and determine what next steps should be taken.
  3. If you are a student, speak to a professional staff member such as an Academic Advisor, Residence Director/Advisor, or Counseling Center staff.
  4. Reach out to the Office of ICare and Student Success to begin communication with the ICare Team regarding your concerns for a student. An ICare team member can give you feedback as to whether an ICare Referral is warranted or another intervention should be considered.

Call the Office of Public Safety at (607) 274-3333 if a student:

  • Requires immediate medical attention or hospitalization
  • Is unmanageable (i.e. aggressive, significantly inappropriate, out of touch with reality, unable to care for him/herself).
  • Is threatening harm to you or someone else.
  • Is contemplating or threatening suicide or self-harm.
  • Is threatening you by email, mail, or phone.

As a referral source, you have the choice to make an anonymous referral or add your name to it. We encourage any referral source to carefully consider this. While ICare referrals can be made anonymously, remaining anonymous may limit the ICare Team's ability to directly address the issue(s) shared. Allowing us to identify you to referred student enables us to address the concerns clearly and with care, which can help ensure the issues are understood and addressed. Even if you wish to remain anonymous to the referred student, we ask that you please provide your name and contact information so the ICare team can follow up with you directly if we have additional questions or concerns. Most students being referred are very open to the idea that someone is submitting a referral out of care and concern. 

Please see ICare Process for more information.

You will get a confirmation email that your ICare Referral was received and you may be contacted by an ICare Team Member for more information. The ICare Team reviews all ICare Referrals and determines appropriate interventions. ICare referrals indicating a pattern of concerning behaviors or consistent decline in a student's functioning may suggest an increased risk level and warrant a higher level of intervention.

Please note that in order to maintain the student's privacy, information may not be shared with a referrer. 

It depends! All students will be offered an ICare meeting. Some students will be required to meet with a Care Manager. Because we care about your well-being and want you to be successful as an Ithaca College student, it is important that you respond to a meeting request made by Ithaca College staff/faculty member.

Failure to respond or agree to a meeting request in a timely fashion is considered a violation of the Student Code of Conduct (see below) and may result in judicial action taken against you.

7.1.2.3.2 COMPLIANCE WITH COLLEGE OFFICIALS*[III.B]

  1. Students are required to...comply with the reasonable requests of any College employee, including, but not limited to, Campus Center staff, Residential Life staff, Dining Services staff, and Student Auxiliary Safety Patrol (SASP) members acting in the performance of their duties. [III.B.1]

A student may be more comfortable and receptive to help if they know that ICare Referral has been made, and they can expect to be contacted by an ICare Team Member. Being transparent with a student about your concerns and the ICare process could help a student feel cared for and relieved that help is on the way.

On the other hand, a student may become anxious and guarded if they receive an unexpected phone call or email from an ICare Team Member requesting to meet with them.

You may not have the opportunity or feel that it is appropriate to share your concerns directly with a student before submitting an ICare Referral. Referring individuals do have the option of remaining anonymous to the student they are reporting. Please be mindful that as a reporter, you may be the only person aware of specific concerns for a student; thus the referral source may be evident to the student.

Occasionally, a student who is the subject of an ICare Referral may exhibit increased symptoms of distress. Do not hesitate to contact Public Safety at (607) 274-3333 if your concerns for a student require immediate assistance. Otherwise, you can make another ICare Referral with any additional concerns you have.

Behavioral change takes time and can be challenging. Referring individuals are encouraged to provide the ICare Team with updates on a student's progress by contacting the Office at ICare and Student Support at ICare@ithaca.edu and (607)274-7731. Please note that the office does not reply to outreach outside of business hours or while the college is closed. 

ICare and Student Support is a private office, not confidential. This means that there are members of the ICare team that have access to the referral information provided. This creates opportunities for more successful interventions and connections to occur while balancing the need to create a college environment that is safe and conducive to student learning and academic success. Our team understands that information shared can be sensitive and personal and value the importance of privacy. When a student agrees to a meeting with an ICare team member, they're agreeing to the following:

Our records are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which means that information may be shared with other IC faculty/staff on a need-to-know basis in order to coordinate care, access specific services, or request assistance for a student as needed.

ICare and Student Support does not share information with parties outside of IC (parents, employers, etc) without permission from the student, unless one of the following is present: 1) There is a concern for health and/or safety including significant suicidal ideation, mental health deterioration, significant substance abuse, or any other situation in which the student's health and safety is in danger, 2) There is a concern for the health and safety of another person because of homicidal ideation or threats to harm others, or any other situation in which another person's health and safety are in danger, 3) A court order requires us to release information contained in our records or requires us to testify in a court hearing, 4) If a student is under 18 years of age and we suspect that a student is the victim of child abuse; NYS law requires that this information is reported to the proper authorities, or 5) An imminent emergency or disaster occurs that requires certain disclosures.

Notes created by the Office of ICare and Student Support are private. Electronic transcription tools may be utilized by staff to allow for a thorough conversation with the student while accurately capturing and documenting a clear plan for support. Please note that transcription tools used are privacy protected and operate as an internal and secure system. 

Disclosures by a student about past, current, or future conduct may be referred to the Office of Public Safety based on the College’s obligations to provide a safe, non-discriminatory environment for all students and employees. Such reportable conduct may include: sale or distribution of drugs on campus (including marijuana); conduct endangering an underage minor, or any other action poses a potential risk to members of the campus community.

Our office also has an obligation under federal guidelines to report to other IC officials information disclosed by students about certain crimes or violations. This obligation typically falls under two federal mandates: 1) The Clery Act: criminal offenses (homicide, sexual offense, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, motor vehicle theft, arson, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking); hate or bias crimes and arrests/ referrals for disciplinary actions for weapons, drug and liquor law violations and 2) Title IX: sexual misconduct offenses, including sexual violence, sexual harassment, stalking, domestic violence, and intimate partner violence.