Resources List

Penn State-University Park’s Counseling Center for students.

During consultation, individual and group counseling sessions and psychiatric appointments, CAPS staff will assess a student’s feelings, life stresses and psychological issues, consider options and develop a treatment plan. CAPS staff assesses danger to self and others and refers students to inpatient hospitalization in rare situations where this is required to stabilize a life threatening situation. Services are by appointment and crisis appointments are available each day.

In addition to providing mental health consultation and clinical services for students, CAPS staff provides consultation to faculty, staff, parents, and friends of students about how to deal with crises and emotional situations including how to make referrals for services when appropriate.

The Center for Counseling and Psychological Services
501 Student Health Center
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-0395
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8 am – 5pm.
http://www.sa.psu.edu/caps

To locate counseling resources at campuses and colleges other than University Park check with the Director of Student Affairs or check the website at http://www.sa.psu.edu/atcc.shtml

The Affirmative Action Office strives to foster diversity and equal opportunity in employment and ensure an environment free from discrimination and harassment.

Affirmative Action staff will investigate allegations of discrimination and harassing behavior by faculty and staff towards students. (Student to student complaints should be handled by Judicial Affairs.) Affirmative Action staff is available to consult with students, faculty and staff about problems in employment or classroom settings.

Affirmative Action Office
328 Boucke Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-0471
http://www.psu.edu/dept/aaoffice

CWS provides advocacy, information & education services, referrals and coordination with other resources for women students.

Sexual harassment, relationship violence, stalking, and sexual assault are some of the serious issues that CWS staff can provide advice and options about. CWS staff can also consult with faculty and staff who are concerned about these issues for students.

Center for Women Students (CWS)
204 Boucke Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-2027
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8 am – 5 pm
http://www.sa.psu.edu/cws

The Office of Judicial Affairs (JA) may be notified by University personnel, students and/or University Police when it is believed that student misconduct has occurred.

JA will make contact with each student named in the allegation to determine if a violation of the University’s Code of Conduct has occurred and what the appropriate response should be. Administrative sanctions range from disciplinary warning to expulsion. Judicial Affairs staff members also have the option to assign educational sanctions in addition to, or in lieu of, administrative sanctions. In cases where the student’s misconduct may have been motivated by emotional or psychological issues, Judicial Affairs staff will refer to the University’s protocol which can be found at www.sa.psu.edu/ja.

One frequently utilized form of relief for students who feel harassed by other students is an Administrative Directive which prevents contact between the parties.

The Office of Judicial Affairs
135 Boucke Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-0342
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8 am -5 pm.
http://www.sa.psu.edu/ja

To locate Judicial Affairs designees at campus or college locations: http://www.sa.psu.edu/atcc/shtml

At times JA will mandate that a student be seen at the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) for an evaluation. This can be helpful when students have come to the attention of university personnel but have not been willing to seek help voluntarily.

University Police services vary across campuses. For information regarding police support and/or safety contacts by campus location, see http://www.psu.edu/dept/police/

At University Park, the University Police are available every day, all day, to respond to calls on campus. Faculty and staff can call if they or others feel threatened, if they suspect that someone has committed criminal acts, Code of Conduct violations, or if they have been instructed to do so by their supervisors or unit heads. University Police officers will arrive, investigate and carefully assess each situation. Follow up will occur with the Office of Judicial Affairs (for Penn State students) or outside agencies (local and state police, if necessary) to determine resolution.

University Police
Eisenhower Parking Deck
Phone: 814-863-1111 or 911
Office Hours: 24 hours per day, 365 days per year
http://www.psu.edu/dept/police

Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence is a resource for instructional materials and consultation to enhance teaching quality and promote classroom management.

Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence
301 Rider Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-8681
Office Hours: Monday- Friday 8am - 5pm.
http://www.schreyerinstitute.psu.edu

It is important for faculty and instructors to be aware of the resources for consultation within their department to deal with difficult or worrisome situations. Consultation can be very useful for resolving difficulties and helping to minimize risk for students and instructors. Department protocol for addressing student complaints about grades or difficult behavioral situations varies across the university and at the campuses but should always be available.

The Centre County Mental Health/Mental Retardation (MH/MR) Program is a resource comprised of public and private agencies that work together to treat persons with mental disability. The main office operates as an umbrella for services provided directly and contracts with providers for services such as mobile crisis intervention, outpatient therapy and medication management. Eligible students may receive ongoing outpatient services based on their income. In serious situations, the MH/MR delegate system can evaluate students for voluntary and involuntary hospitalization. (You can access a Centre County delegate 24 hours a day through calling the CAN HELP Line 1-800-643-5432 or you can call MH/MR during business hours.)

Willowbank County Office Building
420 Holmes Street
Bellefonte, PA 16823
Phone: 814-355-6786 (Centre County Base Service Unit)
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 am -5 pm.
http://www.co.centre.pa.us

The CAN HELP line is a 24 hour crisis hotline and mobile crisis service available to all Centre County residents including Penn State students.

Counselors who staff the line will help people manage a crisis situation. Staff is also available to consult about the best way to handle emotional and mental health situations.

CAN HELP will come out to campus and community locations.
Phone: 1-800-643-5432
Hours: 24 hours per day, 365 days per year
No Website for this service

Mount Nittany Medical Center Emergency Department provides immediate care for severe crises such as drug and alcohol overdoses or serious suicidal or homicidal thoughts or urgent problems with psychiatric medications.

Students can call 911 for ambulance service to the hospital.

Mount Nittany Medical Center Emergency Department
1800 East Park Avenue
State College, PA 16803
Phone: 814-234-6110
Hours: 24 hours per day, 365 days per year
http://www.mountnittany.org

At campus locations: Go to the local hospital emergency room.

Disability Services Office for Students
116 Boucke Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-1807
http://www.equity.psu.edu/ods/index.html

List of Disability contact liaisons at other Penn State locations: http://www.equity.psu.edu/ods/dcl.asp

International Programs
410 Boucke Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-7681
http://www.international.psu.edu

LGBTA Student Resource Center
101 Boucke Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-1248
http://www.sa.psu.edu/lgbt

Multicultural Resource Center (MRC)
220 Grange Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-1773
http://www.equity.psu.edu/mrc

Residence Life
135 Boucke Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-1710
http://www.sa.psu.edu/rl

Veterans Programs
325 Boucke Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-0465
http://www.equity.psu.edu/veterans

Family Educational Rights And Privacy Act- (FERPA)
Check this website for information about “Balancing Student Privacy and School Safety” http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/brochures/postsec.html

Penn State University Registrar's Confidentiality Site