Frequently Asked Questions

If you have other questions about reporting concerns that are not addressed in this section, please contact Kristin Espinar, assistant director of student inclusion and belonging. Academic questions should be directed to Corey Ciesielczyk, director of OASSA or Ann Hintz, registrar.

What are typical issues that are reported using Early Alert?
Any concern that you are experiencing or that concerns you about someone else can be reported. Typical concerns that are reported are academic concerns, bullying/harassment, sexual misconduct, mental health symptoms that are negatively impacting the person experiencing them or others, alcohol/substance use, and illegal behavior.

Behaviors or threats of harm to self or others should be reported to Campus Safety (403-3260), call 911 or 988 (Suicide Hotline) 

When I report an issue using Early Alert where does this information go and who reviews my issue?
Depending on the nature of the concern, it will be reviewed by either the Early Alert Program (EAP), the Title IX Committee, or the Bias Incident Response Group (BIRG). 

If my concern continues even after I have reported the issue using Early Alert, can I report it again?
Yes. It is often helpful for the review teams to know that the concern is continuing and that further intervention may be necessary.

Can I use the Early Alert portal to share a concern about myself, or is this portal to be used for sharing concerns about others?
Early Alert can and has been used to share a concern about one’s self.

Can I be assured that I will remain anonymous if I share a concern via the Early Alert portal?
Yes. However, you should be aware that this limits our ability to take action in certain instances.

Once I share my concern, how do I know that the proper party has received the information and intends to follow up on it?
If you select to be updated, a member of the appropriate response team will contact you to let you know that the information was received. That member may not be able to tell you what is being done, due to privacy laws, but you will know that we are doing something in response to your submission. 

How long does it take for someone to review my concern?
Early Alerts are checked daily. Responses are made as efficiently as possible with informed data. All emergencies should be reported to Campus Safety directly since that department is staffed 24/7/365.

If I am being kept up at night because of noise in my residence hall, is this a valid concern to register through the Early Alert portal?
Contacting Campus Safety or appropriate residence hall staff (RA) would be a better, more immediate option for this type of issue.

What happens to the information once it is reported? Does it become part of a disciplinary record?
The report is kept for matter of record but is not a part of a disciplinary record. Keeping a record of past concerns helps the EAP members address any future concerns.

Privacy laws are mentioned on the form, but what is meant by “privacy laws”?
Privacy (FERPA, HIPAA) prohibits us from sharing some information. Where “for privacy reasons we may not be able to share more information with you.” is referenced, applies to instances where either the student wishes to have the situation kept private, or HIPAA or FERPA laws require us to keep details of the situation private. If the involved student wishes to share information, they can sign a release (for either HIPAA or FERPA) allowing information to be shared with certain people within parameters also specified by the student. 

What would constitute a bias/hate incident?
The college strives to create an atmosphere of learning that allows everyone to feel welcome and safe. When an incident is motivated by a bias or hate of a particular class, we are obligated to rectify the situation in an appropriate manner. The classifications of a bias include but are not limited to: race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation or ethnicity/national origin.

How are academic concerns handled?
All Academic concerns begin with an engagement check and appropriate interventions are designed based on faculty feedback.