Resources for Faculty to Support Students

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If you have general concerns about a student

  • Student Intervention Services
    • Student Intervention Services (SIS) is the crisis prevention and intervention department that works closely with faculty and staff in Penn’s 12 schools, Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Health Service, College Houses and Academic Services, the Department of Public Safety, the Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Program Initiatives, the Office of the Chaplain, and other University centers. SIS staff assist faculty, staff, and families concerned about students’ well-being. SIS can help faculty and navigate Penn resources, including academic assistance via the Weingarten Center. 
  • Division of Public Safety’s HELP Line
    • 215-898-HELP 215-898-4357
    • The Division of Public Safety’s “HELP” Line is a 24/7 service that connects students, staff, faculty, and families by phone with live Penn staff members trained to discuss emergent concerns and connect callers with appropriate resources.  

If your student expresses a desire to talk to someone

  • Counseling and Psychological Services
    • 215-898-7021 (24/7)
    • Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides extensive individual and group mental health services to all Penn students, free of charge. CAPS clinicians and staff work with faculty concerned about a student’s wellbeing. Anyone – including faculty – may speak to a trained clinician by phone, day or night, 24/7 by calling 215-898-7021. CAPS is committed to caring for a diverse student body with multicultural, multi-disciplinary, and inclusive practices. Students may access CAPS services in person and virtually. CAPS can also help faculty and students explore referrals, should the student’s needs be best addressed by an outside provider. 
  • Student Health Service
    • 215-746-3535
    • Student Health Service (SHS) is a full-service primary care center providing accessible, cost-effective, and customer-focused health care designed to meet student needs.  This includes sick and well visits, care for acute and chronic health problems, preventive health services, and health and wellness education. SHS also provides travel medicine, immunizations, and programs to help students eat well, sleep well, and reduce stress. SHS providers and staff work closely with faculty and colleagues in the University of Pennsylvania Health System. 
  • University Chaplain’s Office
    • 215-898-8456
    • The University Chaplain can help faculty members navigate Penn’s diverse religious and spiritual communities. The Chaplain’s staff provide pastoral support, informal advising, and counseling to students in need of care and comfort. Staff can also refer to specific religious community supports such as:  
      Penn Hillel 215-898-7391 | The center of Penn’s Jewish community. 
      Penn Newman Center 215-898-8611 | Catholic community support.
  • Penn Violence Prevention
    •  215-746-2642
    • Penn Violence Prevention (PVP) engages the Penn community in the prevention of sexual violence, relationship violence, stalking, and sexual harassment on campus. PVP works closely with a team of colleagues across campus to provide education and outreach. The staff also serve as confidential resources for students affected by sexual violence, relationship violence, and stalking. If a student discloses an incident of sexual violence, relationship violence, stalking, or sexual harassment the University has an obligation to offer the student support and to inform them of resources and reporting options. Many staff members on campus are considered Responsible Employees under Title IX, and CSA’s under the Clery Act, which means they have an obligation to inform certain offices if they know about an incident. The Penn Violence Prevention program, in partnership with various offices around campus, can offer trainings and workshops to inform staff and faculty of these obligations and to prepare them to best support students. PVP team members and colleagues also can provide faculty with informative trainings and workshops on topics including institutional obligations in responding to sexual violence on campus, to how to be an active bystander. 
  • International Student & Scholar Services
    • 215-898-4661
    • International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) offers faculty, staff, and students assistance with a wide range of support resources and information. ISSS provides immigration and intercultural expertise. International students are assigned an ISSS advisor, who can also help faculty assisting students with specific needs. 

If you have a concern about student/group behavior 

  • Bias Incident Reporting Form
    Central form to report – by name or anonymously – incidents of bias involving Penn students, faculty, or staff. 

  • Office of the AVP for Equity and Title IX Officer
    The Associate Vice President for Equity and Title IX Officer (AVP) is responsible for providing strategic leadership of the University’s efforts to comply with Title IX and foster gender equity. The AVP also oversees the investigation of complaints against Penn faculty, staff, and enrolled students alleging violations of the Sexual Misconduct Policy. 

  • Office of the Ombuds
    The Office of the Ombuds assists Penn faculty, staff, and students experiencing difficulty, conflict, or confusion at work, within their studies, or throughout their life at the University more broadly. The office provides confidential, off-the-record resources to help resolve disputes, explore matters of concern, improve communication, and generate and evaluate options. 

  • Restorative Practices at Penn
    Restorative Practices at Penn (RP@Penn)  helps faculty, staff, and students build strong communities and address interpersonal and group conflict. Restorative practices offer the Penn community a proactive approach to managing inevitable conflict in healthy, productive ways. Restorative practices provide safe, confidential opportunities for members of the Penn community to discuss strategies for resolving conflict on their own and/or working with a neutral facilitator to resolve conflict among participants. RP@Penn is housed within the Office of Student Conduct as an umbrella for the University’s Restorative Practices, which includes the Conflict Resolution and Mediation Program. Specific services include Restorative Circles, Conflict Coaching, Mediation, Restorative Conferences, Workshops on Communication and Conflict Resolution Skills, and Workshops on Restorative Circles.  

To refer a student for academic assistance and/or school resources 

To refer a student to cultural resource and/or identity centers:

To refer a student to civic engagement opportunities: