STUDENT SUPPORT CONFERENCE TEAM
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the mission of the Student Support Conference Team (SSCT)?
The mission of SSCT is to promote early identification and intervention to support students and a safe/healthy learning and
environment. SSCT addresses student behaviors that are disruptive and include some severe mental health and/or safety issues.
What does SSCT do?
The SSCT consists of a group of qualified and dedicated Cabrillo faculty/staff/community members whose mission is to:
• Balance the individual needs of the student and those of the greater campus community
• Provide a structured positive method for addressing student behaviors that impact the college community and may involve
mental health and/or safety issues
• Manage each case individually
• Initiate appropriate intervention without resorting to punitive measures
• Offer consultation to instructors to support the classroom environment.
• Shares info about cases with instructional programs and support services to combat the “silo effect.”
When should I make a report to SSCT for their follow-up?
If a student is:
• Demonstrating disruptive, obscene, lewd and/or disturbing behavior
• Making disturbing or hostile comments in conversation, email, letters, social media postings and/or papers
• Abusing alcohol and/or drugs
• Acting paranoid and/or suspicious
• Frequently angry and/or easily frustrated
• Bullying another student
• Verbally or physically threatening or abusing a member of the Cabrillo community.
• Knowingly violating the academic integrity policy on multiple occasions.
• Using profanity or vulgar language towards a member of the college community.
• Making false accusations or malicious charges against a member of the community
• Violating sexual harassment, sexual assault, and stalking policy.
See Student Rights and Responsibilities for prohibited conduct at http://www.cabrillo.edu/services/studentaffairs/SSCT.html
How will the SSCT report process help me?
Those who submit a report in the “Retention Alert” reporting system will be able to track reassignment and any followup/update information as well as,
1. Become familiar with relevant campus resources, supports and services that are applicable to specific student needs.
2. Be able to help students overcome and resolve barriers.
Who can submit a report to SSCT?
Any administrator, faculty, or staff member who feels a student is a threat to themselves and/or the community or who is
showing concerning behavior can submit a report to SSCT.
When should I do a direct referral?
Any student who is showing concerning behavior in your class or in your office should be referred to any of the support
services on campus. You can submit an information only report for these issues but the Office of the Dean of Student Services
does not need to conduct any follow-up on these kinds of cases. Some possible scenarios may include:
• A student who is showing signs of depression or confides in you that they are struggling at home, with classes and or with
work.
• A student shows a decline in work and/or academic performance.
• A student is showing dramatic changes in appearance, behavior, and/or weight.
• A student who has been consistently absent from your class who you want to drop.
• A student who is earning a failing grade.
• A conflict between two students in your class that has not escalated to a verbal altercation or threat to safety.
• A student who appears sad, anxious and or experiencing dramatic mood shifts
• A student who appears to be struggling with health problems.
1
•
A student who is complaining or grieving about their grade or another instructor/staff member in Instruction. (See
Grievance Procedures)
Once you have made a direct referral, you are encouraged to submit a “INFORMATION ONLY” report to SSCT that
documents the support you have supplied to the student for whom you are concerned.
How quickly will I get a response from SSCT and/or follow-up on my report?
SSCT meets every Tuesday during fall and spring semesters (No Summer Semester). Submitted reports are reviewed every day
by the team. Members of SSCT reviews reports and provides immediate follow-up. Follow-up can include one of the support
service leads reaching out to the reporter for additional information and directly connecting with the student of concern.
How can I help a student if they have a “DNSS hold” on their registration?
If they have a hold on their registration, it is most likely for one of the following reasons:
• Failure to attend a scheduled disciplinary meeting with the Dean of Student Services.
• Failure to complete the action plan including conduct sanctions assigned to them
• They will have to attend a meeting or complete the sanction(s) before the hold is removed.
You should have them contact Laura Verduzco-Thurman in the Office of the Dean of Student Services in SAC East or by
calling (831) 477-3584 to determine next steps.
Should I tell the student that I submitted a report to SSCT?
You are SSCT’s best resource because you are MOST familiar to the student and the one who has an established rapport. If you
are comfortable doing so, tell the student that you are concerned and ask if the student is okay. In many cases the student will
indicate that they could use some help and you can refer them to Student Health Services, Accessibility Support Services, or any
of the academic support programs at Cabrillo for assistance. Sometimes walking a student over to one of these services really
sends a supportive message that you care about them.
Does the student have to know who reported? Will my program chair or dean know?
If you feel that you have been threatened or feel unsafe around a student, you should include this in the report. If you do not
want the student to know that you submitted the report, you should include that information so that SSCT and the Dean of
Student Services knows that reporter confidentiality is part of the follow-up plan. If the case does go to an expulsion level
and/or court, it is at this point that the reporter’s name will have to be revealed. Your program chair and division dean are a
part of a support and follow-up process for a faculty or staff reporter. Any time you are submitting a SSCT report, you should
notify and consult with your program chair and/or dean to ensure you are taking the appropriate next steps. If you are needing
support, please consider talking with someone by using the Employee Assistant Program at
https://www.cabrillo.edu/services/hr/eap.html or by calling 1-800-999-7222.
What is the role of the faculty member for supporting a student with follow-up response?
To cultivate a student/instructor relationship. Faculty can support students through a challenging phase. Many college students
who have been rejected or put down in their home and peer environments during important developmental phases need
important connections on their academic path in higher education. Instructors who listen, support, and provide a direct referral
for students to seek help using college support resources show compassion and can turn students around.
What is the Division Dean’s role with follow-up response?
Your program chair and division dean are a part of a support and follow-up process for a faculty or staff reporter. Any time
you are submitting a SSCT report, you should notify and consult with your program chair and/or dean to ensure you are taking
the appropriate next steps. They will provide important feedback if you want to drop a failing student or one who has had
consistent absence after the deadline has passed. They will provide important consultation for you when you are experiencing
disturbing student behavior. Additionally, if a student is submitting a grade appeal or wanting to file a grievance, they meet with
a student to hear their appeal or complaint once a student has been with the initial faculty member. The Dean of Student
Services is not involved in the complaint or grievance process.
What is the best way to contact SSCT for consultation?
SSCT meets every Tuesday from 12:30-2:00pm in SAC East 225. Any faculty, staff or administrator is encouraged and invited
to attend and observe the retention and report follow-up process. SSCT is an inter-disciplinary team. You may also contact
anyone of the SSCT members who are within your division/component or whose office is close to yours.
Members:
Katie Dowling, 477-3698
Student Health Services
Nancy Phillips, 479-6573
Reading/HUB
Bill Garrison, 479-5711
Kineisiology/Athletics
Dianne Avelar, 479-6230
Student Health Services
Lori Chavez, 479-6470
Tutoring/HUB
Tootie Tzimbal, 479-5730
Financial Aid
Beth McKinnon, 479-6394
Accessibility Support Center
Debra Spencer, 479-6563
Accessibility Support Center
Michelle Donohue, 477-3584
Dean of Student Services
2
Sgt. Michael MacDonald, 535-2136
Sheriff
Ann Smeltzer, 479-5056
Allied Health
Sally Larter, 477-3281
Counseling
Lalu Simcik, 479-6498
Math Instructor
https://www.cabrillo.edu/services/studentaffairs/SSCT.html
3