ҹɫ¸£Àû

CARE is an interactive process used to support students who may be struggling due to unforeseen barriers or circumstances. A CARE Coordinator will reach out to the student to talk through their situation and relevant resources and/or processes.

Almost anything. We use this process to support students who are not thriving on campus, dealing with basic need concerns, experiencing hardships due to mental or physical health concerns, needing support following a Title-IX inquiry or investigation, and much more! If we cannot support the student, we are happy to make referrals to more appropriate resources.

No, but it is highly recommended. Students who engage in the CARE process are generally more aware of resources and their options, which improves their overall outcome.

If we do not hear back from you after three outreach attempts, and we are not aware of an immediate concern for your safety, we will stop reaching out. You are always welcome to reach out to us if you change your mind or need assistance.

We’re flexible depending on what works for you! Our staff can communicate over email, phone calls, Zoom meetings, or scheduled in-person meetings. We try to work with you and your academic schedule during our working hours (M-F, 8 am-5 pm). If you have a preferred method of communication, let us know.

Absolutely! You can let us know about your situation by submitting a report through our reporting portal, by phone or email, or in person. These really should not be done anonymously. If your information is not provided, we won't be able to follow up.

Your faculty member is most likely asking for an Extenuating Circumstances Letter (ECL). This is a letter that verifies you have a legitimate reason to not attend class or submit late coursework for a short period of time. You can request these by contacting ORCA or submitting a self-report.

Please note that we require documentation/verification of circumstances to send ECLs, and it is ideal if you reach out as soon as you are able to regarding your circumstances. Documentation should not be a barrier to you reaching out - if you aren’t sure what may qualify, we are happy to talk through it! If we are unable to send an ECL, we can try to coordinate informally with your faculty to see what your options are.

 Generally, ECLs are restricted to a maximum of 14 days in a semester, and may be less depending on the circumstances and documentation. We can help discuss other options that may be appropriate if you are impacted for longer than two weeks or don’t have documentation for your situation.

Except in imminent circumstances, we cannot send ECLs during the last two weeks of classes, or retroactively, and this requires us to check with faculty first.

Generally speaking, you do not need to bring anything unless directed otherwise. It can be helpful, though, if you bring any supporting documentation relevant to your situation.

Yes! ORCA has the Basic Need Bank, an emergency food bank for students in need. It offers shelf-stable food items and basic hygiene supplies. Students can access it by coming to the ORCA office, 3rd floor of Constitution Hall,  Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. 

We can also help students connect with local resources.

ORCA does not offer tutoring or academic coaching, but we are happy to make referrals to campus resources that do!

No, ORCA does not offer legal resources, but we are happy to make referrals to campus resources that do!

No, ORCA does not offer counseling services, but we are happy to connect you with the Student Health and Counseling Center or off-campus resources that do!

If you need immediate or after-hours assistance, you can call UAF Dispatch (907-474-7721), 911, or a resource such as the Alaska Careline (877-266-4357) or the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988).

It depends on the situation. We do offer assistance when handling conflicts with other students, UAF-affiliated roommates, staff members, and faculty. We do not represent students when addressing legal issues outside of UAF.

 ORCA can assist students with complaints about a course or talk through options. We also help with several University appeals and processes, including grade appeals, late withdrawals, and more.

We value your privacy and offer judgment-free care; however, there are situations that we are required to report based on state and federal law. These situations involve: harm of a minor, threats of violence to self or others, sexual assault or harassment, misuse of alcohol or other drugs, and similar situations. In these cases, we may be required to report to local authorities, Title IX, Office of Child Services, and/or your parents, depending on the situation.

If we have an immediate concern for the safety or wellbeing of anyone, we will reach out to appropriate resources depending on the location and urgency.

We may reach out to your emergency contact if 1) you have requested that we speak to them to coordinate support, or 2) if we have an immediate and significant concern for your safety or the safety of others. If this concern is significant enough, we are authorized to speak to them even if you do not have a FERPA on file.

If you have concerns related to us reaching out to your parents (such as a safety concern), please let us know.

ORCA works closely with the University Police Department as the need arises. We will generally request their assistance if we have an immediate and significant concern for your safety or the safety of others. University Police may also inform us of incidents on campus or involving students.

If you are receiving counseling services on campus and you have submitted a Release of Information (ROI), your CARE Coordinator can speak with your counselor if the need arises. Generally, we do this when we need supporting documentation or want to coordinate support.

Yes, if needed. We can reach out to your faculty and/or advisor to talk about support in the classroom and/or gain better insight on how to support you. We do our best to protect your privacy during these conversations and will not share details of your situation unless you request us to do so.