What is UVI StART?
UVI StART is an acronym for the University of the Virgin Islands Student Assistance Response Team.

UVI StART is a team of UVI administrators, staff, and faculty who are available to respond to a variety of needs and concerns for students.  Those selected to meet consist only of members who demonstrate that they have a relationship in assisting with the current concern.  Representatives are drawn from many university departments and can include:

•   Academic Affairs
•   Student Affairs
•   Campus Security
•   Health Services
•   Counseling Services
•   Student Housing
•   Admissions Office

Other members of  UVI may be called upon as the need arises.

UVI StART was created to respond proactively to issues and concerns with students who may be experiencing some form of distress.  This distress may be affecting any area of a student’s life.  The goal of the team is to intervene, defuse, and resolve before concerns escalate.

Why Would I Use UVI StART?
Faculty and staff may be the first to notice that a student is having difficulties and UVI StART is a resource that is available if you have concerns about a student or suspect that a student may be in need of help.  Reasons for referring to UVI StART may include:

•   Depressed behavior
•   Unusual patterns of behavior or speech
•   Disruptive behavior
•   Drug or alcohol abuse
•   Excessive absences from class
•   Risk of academic suspension

*this list in not all inclusive; when in doubt, refer to UVI StART

How Does UVI StART Work?
The purpose of UVI StART is to understand a student’s situation and develop appropriate and timely responses to meet the student’s need.  When a referral is made, appropriate members of the team meet and bring together those parties with relevant information and expertise.  The team then determines the best response to the concern and develops a plan of action.

CONFIDENTIALITY
Student privacy is maintained and actions of the team are confidential.  Referral sources can remain anonymous.  However, ethical codes of practice allow the student to be informed of the existence of the team, its composition, information being shared and the purposes of sharing such information.  The team responds to the student with respect and concern; but does not confront with accusations.

How Do I Contact UVI StART?
If you have a concern about a student’s behavior or well being, you may contact any of the following department and express your concerns: Counseling Services, Campus Safety, Health Services or any other identified member of UVI StART.  That individual will then activate and convene a meeting of UVI StART.

UVI StART Members-St. Thomas Campus

• Campus Security      x1530
• Counseling Services      x1134
• Doris Battiste, Associate Campus Administrator    x1121
• Sean Georges, Student Housing      x1112
• Ronda Herbert, Health Services      x1124
• Andrea Hamm, Counselor Supervisor      x1136
• Angela McGhee, Center for Academic Advising and Tutorial   x1226
• Academic Affairs*
• Admissions*

*these individuals to be identified

For more information about UVI StART, contact:

St. Thomas Campus:

UVI StART program is adopted and modeled after the StART program at Lake Superior State University.

Additional student support services contact numbers are provided for your  convenience.

St. Thomas Campus:

Associate Campus Administrator for Student Affairs:              (340)693-1120
Admissions:                                                                                      (340)693-1150
Campus Security:                                                                             (340)693-1530
Career Services:                                                                               (340)693-1134
Counseling Services:                                                                      (340)693-1134
Financial Aid:                                                                                  (340)693-1090
Health Services:                                                                              (340)693-1124
Student Housing                                                                            (340)693-1110
Student Activities:                                                                         (340)693-1110
Registrar:                                                                                         (340)693-1160