FAQs

Any person who is concerned about a current student’s behavior may make a NinerCare referral by submitting an online report. Reports are accepted from current students, faculty, or staff, as well as others outside the UNC Charlotte community, such as family members, friends, or neighbors. If you are unsure whether a particular situation warrants a report, please contact Student Assistance and Support Services at 704-687-0289 to speak with a staff member. If the student of concern you are referring poses an immediate threat to self or others, please call 911 or UNC Charlotte Police and Public Safety at 704‑687‑2200.

All referrals to NinerCare are reviewed by staff members in Student Assistance and Support Services, a function of the Dean of Students Office, to determine an appropriate action plan. You may or may not be contacted to provide additional information regarding the report. Staff members will communicate directly with the student of concern. Please keep in mind that once you submit a report, you may not receive updates or information regarding the plan of action in order to protect the privacy of the student of concern. Depending on the magnitude of the referral, the case may also be reviewed by members of the Campus Behavioral Intervention Team (CBIT). 

The severity of the behavior exhibited by the student will help to drive the response by the NinerCare team. The student may be asked to meet with NinerCare team members for a Care and Concern meeting. The student may be asked to attend counseling or psychological assessment meetings, or asked to withdraw from the University. The primary goal of every response option is to gather information, make the student aware of available resources, establish a web of support for the student, and to help protect the campus community.

If you are concerned about the health, safety, or well-being of any student, it is time to involve others. Reporting this information to your department head or supervisor may be helpful. The Counseling Center (704-687-0311), the Dean of Students Office (704-687-0345), and Student Assistance and Support Services (704-687-0289) are available for consultation as well.

Due to the potential serious nature of information presented to NinerCare, anonymous reports are not accepted. Staff reviewing the report and creating an action plan may need to follow-up with the person expressing a concern to learn more information and perspective. When submitting a report, you may request anonymity, which means that your identity will not be directly revealed as the referral source to the student of concern, however, the concerning behavior brought forward will be directly discussed. Staff members cannot prevent a student of concern from discerning who may have reported a particular behavior. 

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects the privacy of students’ educational records. FERPA authorizes faculty to disclose education records to other school officials who have a legitimate educational interest in those records. As the personnel involved in the NinerCare process are responsible for identifying, responding to, and supporting students of concern they have a legitimate education interest in any student information that might help them fulfill that responsibility. Additional information about FERPA can be found at FERPA Resources.