Supporting Student Success Through Early Intervention
Faculty are often the first to notice when a student is struggling academically, disengaging from a course, or experiencing personal challenges. Early intervention is one of the most effective ways to support student success, retention, and well-being.
This page provides referral options and faculty resources to help connect students with the support they need. Whether through proactive outreach, academic assistance, or referrals to specialized support services, timely action can make a meaningful difference in a student’s educational experience and persistence toward graduation.
Academic Support Form
Academic Support Form - Academic Issues
For Academic Performance or Engagement Concerns
Use the Academic Support Form when you have concerns related to a student’s academic progress, participation, attendance, or engagement in your course.
Examples include:
- Missing or incomplete assignments
- Poor academic performance
- Lack of participation or attendance
- Difficulty understanding course content or expectations
- Noticeable decline in academic engagement
CARE Form
CARE Form - Non Academic Issue
For Personal, Behavioral, or Well-Being Concerns
Use the CARE Form when personal, emotional, behavioral, or other non-academic concerns may be affecting a student’s ability to succeed.
Examples include:
- Personal or family concerns
- Emotional well-being challenges
- Behavioral concerns
- Other non-academic circumstances requiring additional support
Emergency Situations
Immediate Safety Concerns
If a student appears to be an immediate danger to themselves or others, do not wait to submit a referral form.
Contact University Safety immediately at 352-588-8432.
University Safety is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to urgent situations and safety-related emergencies.
Supporting Student Success Through Outreach and Engagement
Submitting a referral is an important step when a student needs additional assistance, but there are also many proactive strategies faculty can use to support students before concerns become more serious. Personalized outreach, timely feedback, regular communication, and intentional efforts to re-engage students can have a significant impact on student persistence and success.
The Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence provides resources and best practices designed to help faculty create welcoming learning environments and encourage student engagement throughout the term.
Supporting Student Mental Health & Well‑Being
The American Council on Education posted an article on student mental health and well-being in which they stated, “three out of 10 students have struggled with depression in the last two weeks, and over one in four have expressed anxiety issues.” It is clear that many of the students in our classes have more going on in their minds than just learning our content, and these issues present obstacles to their learning and, more importantly, to their well-being. Faculty are uniquely positioned to recognize and support students, beginning with modeling physical, mental, and spiritual self-care. But there’s more….
Simple Practices Faculty Can Use
- Embed mental health resources in your course shell (read on to find out how to do that).
- Include a mental health statement in your syllabus that provides the contact information for the university counseling center. (Sample statement provided on this webpage).
- During the first week of classes, acknowledge the importance of mental health, and let them know you are providing resources in your course shell in case they’d like to access them.
- Acknowledge that college can be hard and struggling is normal when growth is occurring.
- Post an announcement in your course prior to midterm and the end of the semester, reminding students of the resources.
- Encourage students to take responsibility for their own mental health by:
- Maintaining healthy relationships.
- Practicing mindfulness.
- Maintaining spiritual practices, especially if that has been an important part of their history.
- Exercising, eating well, sleeping well.
- Taking breaks and rewarding hard work.
- Seeking help when needed.
- Refer a struggling student to Counseling Services.
Faculty Toolkit: Mental Health Resources
University Counseling and Prevention Services provide free, confidential counseling services and support to any enrolled student from any location
Counseling Services Contact Information
Email: counseling@saintleo.edu
Website:Counseling and Prevention Services | Saint Leo University
Phone for appointments: 352-588-8199
24/7 phone: 352-588-TALK
Mental Health Crisis Line: 988
Campus Safety: 352-588-8333 or 911 if there is a safety concern or emergency
Recommended Resources to Share with Students
Saint Leo Counseling and Prevention Services Website and Resources
Counseling Services Information Card (PDF)
Resources for students (apps, links for meditation, articles for dealing with stress)
Faculty Resources
Radical Hospitality, Re-Engagement and Retention
This resource includes guidance on:
- Building meaningful connections with students
- Creating a sense of belonging in your course
- Re-engaging students who have stopped participating
- Encouraging persistence through supportive communication
- Using proactive outreach strategies to improve retention
Additional Mental Health & Well‑Being Resources
These resources offer additional support for student mental health, stress management, and overall well‑being:
College Student Mental Health and Well‑Being Higher Education Today article https://www.higheredtoday.org/policy-research/student-support-success/college-student-mental-health-well/
What Happens When Students Have More Chances to Master Concepts https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2019/10/02/study-finds-students-learn-more-when-they-can-retake-tests (insidehighered.com in Bing)
4 Simple Ways to Ease Your Students’ Stress Harvard Business Publishing Education https://hbsp.harvard.edu/inspiring-minds/4-simple-ways-to-ease-your-students-stress (hbsp.harvard.edu in Bing)
Counseling and Prevention Services | Saint Leo University https://www.saintleo.edu/student-experience/support/counseling-services
Lions Care – Help Resources | Saint Leo University https://www.saintleo.edu/student-experience/support/lions-care (saintleo.edu in Bing)
CDC: Coping With Stress https://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/stress-coping/cope-with-stress/
Crisis Text Line https://www.crisistextline.org/text-us/
Saint Leo Counseling Services https://www.saintleo.edu/student-experience/support/counseling-services
Relaxing Breathing Exercise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmFUDkj1Aq0 (youtube.com in Bing)
Meditation 101: A Beginner’s Guide https://www.mindful.org/meditation-for-beginners/ (mindful.org in Bing)
The Power of Prayer https://www.guideposts.org/faith-and-prayer/prayer-stories/how-to-pray/the-healing-power-of-prayer (guideposts.org in Bing)
Guided Meditation – Pray https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3xkHmC-KvE (youtube.com in Bing)