Identifying changes in one of these areas may indicate a student is in need of some support: 

Academic Performance:  

• Decline in course attendance 

• Decline in grades 

• Incomplete, late, or missing assignments 

• Difficulty concentrating or making decisions 

• Chronic fatigue or sleeping in class 

Physical Changes: 

• Poor or declining hygiene  

• Sleeping too much or too little 

• Headaches, unexplained aches or pains 

• Signs of intoxication or apparent hangovers 

• Change in eating patterns 

Behavioral Changes:  

• Withdrawal from others 

• Loss of interest in every day activities 

• Nervousness, tearfulness, or fearfulness 

• Decline in motivation 

• Expressions of worthlessness or hopelessness 

• Talk of suicide or harm to self or others 

Once you've identified a student in need of support, you may wonder what to do next.  

Initiate a conversation. There is no one right way to do it. Here are three tips to consider when talking with a student.  

1. Consider approaching the student in private. Suggest a quiet place to talk if they are willing.  

2. Show kindness, patience and caring. Be specific in your explanation of what signs prompted you to act.  

3. Don't be afraid to ask questions, especially open-ended questions about how things are going in their life.  

Do not promise confidentiality or secrecy; what you talk about is considered private. Let them know there are supportive resources on campus.  

Referral to additional campus partners may be needed. There are several ways to submit an official notification of concern for a student. UNO utilizes two platforms, Navigate and Beacon. Both platform tiles appear in myapps.uno.edu. *Find the Navigate platform under the Privateer Success tile.

Referral using the Navigate (Privateer Success) platform will initiate a response by the Student Care Coordinators of The HUB when alerts involving Food Access, Housing Access and Emotional Wellness are issued. Academic Advisors respond to alerts issued due to excessive absences and high risk of course failure. 

Referral using the Beacon platform will initiate a response by the Student Care Network.  

Contact UNO Counseling Services, The HUB and/or the Office of Student Affairs if you are unsure about how to proceed.