Campus Assessment Response and Education Team (CARE)
Share Because You Care
The Campus Assessment Response and Education Team (CARE) was established* with the mandate to identify, assess, and monitor OCU students displaying moderate to extreme levels of concerning behavior, including distress, disruption, and/or behavioral dysregulation such as homicidal, suicidal, assaultive or self-injurious threats, and to implement timely interventions that protect the welfare of the student and the safety of the University Community.
Our goal is to intervene before a crisis arises, this is why the CARE process provides the opportunity to help someone in need by referring concerning, alarming or distressing behaviors. This does not replace faculty classroom management, disciplinary processes, and/or public safety or law enforcement responses to incidents.
* Originally established as the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) and renamed "CARE" in 2022.
In the event of an immediate threat, call OCUPD at 405-208-5911
CARE Team Leadership
- Lilly Bermúdez, Associate Dean of Students
- Mindy Windholz, Director of University Counseling
- Dr. Levi Harrel-Hallmark, Dean of Students
CARE Team Partners in Academic and Cocurricular Units
The CARE Team Partners are key staff members on campus that act as bridges between the CARE team and a student's academic or cocurricular needs.
| Petree College of Arts and Sciences | |||
| Denise Binkley | Director of Student Success and Retention | All Majors in School | |
| Wanda Bass School of Music | |||
| Gayle Robertson | Student Services Coordinator | BFA and Acting Majors | |
| Brandon Burton | Student Services Coordinator | Design and Production Majors | |
| Student Services/Student Success Coordinator | Freshmen and Sophomores | ||
| Student Services Coordinator | Upperclassmen/Transfer vocalists | ||
| Student Services/Recruitment Coordinator | Upperclassmen/Transfer instrumentalists | ||
| Meinders School of Business | |||
| Lynette Martin | Dir. Student Success | All undergraduates in School | |
| Cindy Treadway | Assist. Dir. MBA Program, Graduate Advisor | All graduates in School | |
| Ann Lacy School of Dance and Entertainment | |||
| Assoc. Exec. Director and Student Success Coordinator | All Majors in School | ||
| Kramer School of Nursing | |||
| Brandi Stanley | Clinical Instr. of Nursing | All Majors in School | |
| CO-CURRICULAR | |||
| Rev. Aly Shahan | Dir. of Religious Life | Pastoral Care | |
| Allie Longoria | Dir. Student Engagement | Student Clubs and Organizations | |
| Ashley Palmer | Assoc. Dir. Student Engagement | Student Clubs and Organizations | |
| Kara Morrow | Dir. Disability and Access Services | Disability and Access Services | |
Common Behavioral Warning Signs
- Direct statements indicating distress, family problems, or loss
- Expressions of hopelessness or worthlessness, crying or tearfulness
- Lack of response to outreach from staff or course instructors
- Excessive fatigue
- Frequent or chronic illness
- Coming to class or work bleary-eyed or smelling of alcohol
- Angry or hostile outbursts, yelling or aggressive comments
- Expressions of severe anxiety or irritability
- Shakiness, tremors, fidgeting or pacing
- Visible changes in weight, statements about change in appetite or sleep
- Disorganized speech
- Concern about a student by his/her peers
- More withdrawn or animated than usual
- Excessively demanding or dependent behavior
- Deterioration in physical appearance or personal hygiene
- Noticeable bruises, cuts or burns
- Unusual inability to make eye contact
- A hunch or gut-level reaction that something is wrong
CARE Team Objectives
- Increase identification of OCU Students whose behaviors are distressed, disruptive, and/or dysregulated.
- Discuss situations brought to its attention by any member of the campus community seeking guidance on concerning, disruptive and/or problematic behaviors that might lead to aggression, self-harm or direct threat.
- Centralize the process of collecting and assessing “red flags” raised by student behavior and documented by different sources within the University before there is a crisis.
- Develop a coordinated plan to help students in crisis, mitigate risk, facilitate early intervention and protect and maintain campus safety.
- Coordinate follow-up with the student of concern to ensure that recommended services, support and resources are deployed effectively.
- Recommend mandated psychological assessment and/or medical leave/withdrawal, when necessary.
- Balance FERPA, HIPAA and counselor privilege with University need-to-know and emergency communication needs.
- Seek to participate in the protection of the campus community in cases of imminent threats to others or self.