Enrichment · Wellbeing

Ask early.
Ask the right office.

In college nobody checks on you unless you ask, and the students who do best ask early. Write down what is going on and how much it gets in the way, list the offices that handle it, track who you have contacted, and use plain words to ask. Save the numbers you would want at 2 am now, while things are fine.

Add a needWhat you get

What you need help with

The worked example is made up: a first-year falling behind in chemistry and sleeping badly, with tutoring booked and a 16-day counseling wait, and a meal plan that ran out early. Records save on this device only.

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What you get

Enrichment · WellbeingFree

What you finish with
A record per need with what it is about, what is going on, how much it gets in the way and the date; each campus office with how to reach it, where it stands and the wait for an appointment; the words you will use to ask; five campus numbers worth knowing now; flags for a problem that gets in the way most days, nobody contacted yet, a long wait and 988 for mood or safety.
Who it is for
College students, especially in their first year, and the families who want them to know where help is.
Format
Browser guide with a saved record per need. Prints a record, every need as a table or a blank guide; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Wellbeing space in Caveat Enrichment.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Name what is going on in a few sentences.
  2. Find the offices that handle it on your college’s website.
  3. Send one message today, using the words you wrote.
  4. If the wait is long, ask about same-day or drop-in times.
  5. Save the counseling after-hours line and 988 before you need them.

Add a need

The right door

Where to start, by problemA classProfessor’s office hours, then tutoringStress or moodCounseling center; most offer free short-termcounselingMoneyFinancial aid officeFood or housingBasic needs office, food pantry or dean of studentsDisabilityDisability or accessibility servicesHarassmentTitle IX coordinator or campus policeEverything at onceDean of students officeWhere to start, by problemA classProfessor’s office hours, then tutoringStress or moodCounseling center; most offer freeshort-term counselingMoneyFinancial aid officeFood or housingBasic needs office, food pantry or deanof studentsDisabilityDisability or accessibility servicesHarassmentTitle IX coordinator or campus policeEverything at onceDean of students office
Office names differ by college. If you pick the wrong door, the people there usually know the right one.

Asking is the skill

Students often wait until a problem is large before asking, and by then options have narrowed: drop deadlines pass and grades are set. Office hours, tutoring and counseling are built for ordinary problems, not only emergencies. Using them early is what they are for.

Your rights on campus

Colleges that receive federal funds must provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities under Section 504 and the ADA, through a disability services office, and must respond to sex-based harassment under Title IX through a coordinator. These offices can also tell you what stays confidential.

Sources

  1. The Jed Foundation. Help-seeking resources for college students (jedfoundation.org).
  2. U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights. Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education and Title IX resources (ed.gov/ocr).
  3. Center for Collegiate Mental Health. Annual reports on college counseling center use (ccmh.psu.edu).
  4. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call, text or chat 988 (988lifeline.org).

The worked example is made up. This guide helps you find and ask for help; it is not a diagnosis, treatment or a crisis service. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.