Resources for Faculty and Staff
The resources and information on this page are tools you can use, in your work with students, to help support their wellbeing.
I have concerns about a student. What should I do?
I’m concerned about someone’s immediate safety.
There is physical or verbal aggression, the situation feels dangerous, or someone is in immediate physical danger.
Call MIT Police (617-253-1212).
They are available 24/7/365.
I’m worried about a student and it’s Monday to Friday
between 9am and 5pm.
Call the CARE Team
(617-324-2273) or
Submit a CARE Form online or
Email careteam@mit.edu
I’m worried about a student and it’s after-hours, on the weekend, or when MIT is closed.
Contact the Dean on Call (DOC) by calling MIT Police (617-253-1212) and asking for the DOC.
For undergraduate students
For non-urgent or academic guidance about an undergraduate student, please contact Student Support Services (S3).
For graduate students
For non-urgent or academic guidance about a graduate student, please contact GradSupport.
Featured Resources
Additional Resources to Support Student Wellbeing
- At-Risk for Faculty and Staff Online Training – This interactive training module guides faculty and staff through simulated conversations with virtual students who are experiencing distress. The module is designed to help anyone who works with students build confidence, knowledge, and skills to best support students and become aware of resources.
- Graduate Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Online Training – This training equips graduate students with essential skills and information to navigate the stressors and emotional challenges associated with graduate school. You’ll practice self-care strategies, learn to recognize when you or your peers are in distress, and how to take action to find support. This training is suggested for faculty who work with graduate students.
- MIT Faculty Guide on Recognizing and Responding to Students in Distress – This easy to follow guide provides basic information for faculty and staff to recognize signs that a student is in distress and steps to take to refer students to additional resources.
Students are impacted in a variety of ways when faced with difficult times. They find it valuable when faculty and staff check in, acknowledge these events, and when possible, allow time for them to discuss their feelings and reactions. They also appreciate when faculty adjust expectations and assignments based on what is happening at MIT and around the world.
Here are resources to support students during challenging times, including advice and tips, templated communications, and sample discussion guides.
Feeling a part of a community and a sense of belonging is one of the top predictors of student wellbeing at MIT. When students feel part of a class, department, or lab they are better learners. Faculty and instructors play an important role in helping to create these communities to help students connect with you and one another.
Click here to get resources to help students find and develop community, including tips, communication templates, examples of practices at MIT, and helpful articles.
Browse our Academic Wellbeing Practices for ideas that MIT instructors have used in their classes to promote wellbeing and engagement for graduate and undergraduate students.
Research shows that templated syllabus statements can be helpful to students, but that the overall tone of a syllabus is even more impactful. Here are resources through TLL and Matthew Cheney’s ideas around Cruelty-Free Syllabi. Please consider using the suggested templates below on your syllabus. These are draft statements and can be modified as you see fit. If you have comments, suggestions for changes, or great syllabus statements that you want to share, please email wellbeing@mit.edu.
Personal and medical issues can make it hard to focus on academics. If you find that something is getting in the way of your ability to attend class, complete work, or take an exam, you should contact a dean in Student Support Services (S3). The deans will provide you with support and help you work with us to determine next steps. We ask that you go to S3 so we know you have had a chance to talk through your situation with someone and to connect with any resources you might need. You can reach out to a dean you have worked with in the past, join their virtual help queue (https://s3queue.mit.edu/), or e-mail s3-support@mit.edu.
*If you would like to consult with S3 about any aspects of your syllabus, you can reach out to a dean you know or e-mail s3-support@mit.edu to request a consultation.
Website: https://studentlife.mit.edu/s3
As a graduate student, a variety of issues may impact your academic career including faculty/student relationships, funding, and interpersonal concerns. In the Office of Graduate Education (OGE), GradSupport provides consultation, coaching, and advocacy to graduate students on matters related to academic and life challenges. If you are dealing with an issue that is impacting your ability to attend class, complete work, or take an exam, you may contact GradSupport by email at gradsupport@mit.edu or via phone at (617) 253-4860.
*If you would like to consult with GradSupport about any aspects of your syllabus please email gradsupport@mit.edu to request a consultation.
MIT is committed to the principle of equal access. Students who need disability accommodations are encouraged to speak with Disability and Access Services (DAS), prior to or early in the semester so that accommodation requests can be evaluated and addressed in a timely fashion. If you have a disability and are not planning to use accommodations, it is still recommended that you meet with DAS staff to familiarize yourself with their services and resources. Please visit the DAS website for contact information.
If you have already been approved for accommodations, course staff are ready to assist with implementation. Please inform Professor [fill in faculty name and email] AND [fill in the identified administrator/staff/TA name and email] who will oversee accommodation implementation for this course.
Website: https://studentlife.mit.edu/das
To request training sessions on topics related to a variety of topics related to student wellbeing please use our Training Menu. The filters and search functions allow all MIT community members to find the training session that best suits their needs.