Information for Faculty

You may want to first try contacting the student yourself or asking other instructors if they have interacted with the student recently.

If there is a concern for the student’s well-being, submit the referral. In the referral, provide descriptions of the behaviours or circumstances that lead you to believe that the student’s well-being is at risk.

The case manager will try calling and texting the student and if necessary, they will reach out to the student’s emergency contact.

Students are introduced to Early Assist as part of Kick Start. However, repetition is important, and transparency is crucial.

• Talk about Early Assist early on in the term, and again before midterms and final exams.
• Invite one of our case managers to talk about student health and well-being to your class.
• Include information about Early Assist on course outlines.
• If there is a specific student you are concerned about, speak to the student directly using the 4R Framework guidance. You may want to show them the referral form, or even fill it out together.

We will not generally reach out to students who are unaware of an Early Assist referral. It is always best if the student is prepared for our initial contact. You can:

• Use the 4R Framework guidance to approach the student with your concerns.
• Submit the Early Assist referral and then let the student know via email that you’ve done so. Here is suggested wording:
  • I am concerned about your well-being/academic progress, and want you to know that support is available. I’ve asked the Student Life Office through Early Assist to get in touch with you to offer support. Early Assist is a safe, confidential referral system that faculty, staff, and students can use to identify students who could benefit from academic, personal, and social supports. Through Early Assist, students are connected with a student case manager who can help the student navigate BCIT services and processes. Participation in Early Assist is voluntary, and is not recorded anywhere on a student’s academic record. Students can also self-refer. If students need help and are not sure where to start, Early Assist is a good option. Someone from the Student Life Office will be reaching out to you soon, and I encourage you to respond.
• You can contact us at early_assist@bcit.ca to ask for guidance/coaching on how to approach a situation with a student.

Within two business days, you will receive an email or phone call from someone in the Student Life Office confirming that your referral was received. The Student Life Office will also follow up to let you know whether or not they were successful in connecting with the student, and will inform you when they are closing the file. Beyond that, information will be shared on a need-to-know basis in accordance with BCIT policy 6700 Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy.

Students have autonomy with regard to whether and to what extent they engage with support services, including Early Assist. There is no penalty for not responding to an Early Assist referral, and students can still access supports at any time.