Preventing Campus Violence and Providing Mental Health Services at Rural Institutions

This report investigates the mental health services that administrators at rural community colleges offer faculty, staff, and students on a day-to-day basis, and during challenging times on campus.

Summary This report investigates the mental health services that administrators at rural community colleges offer faculty, staff, and students on a day-to-day basis, and during challenging times on campus. Download the report Key observations from our research 1. Install surveillance technology, hire a campus police force, and implement campus safety sessions during new student orientation to prevent violence. 2. Train faculty to identify, address, and manage aggressive students or students of concern. 3. File complaints against aggressive students, and give aggressive students the necessary support to change their behavior. 4. Hire at least one FTE counselor to serve faculty, staff, and students' mental health needs. 5. Track the number of students who use counseling services and any increases in the number of students faculty refer to the counseling unit. 6. Ensure that all strategies to prevent campus violence involve collaboration among counselors, campus police, the dean of students, and faculty members.