Emergency Information

College involves hard work but it's supposed to be fun and rewarding and not impossibly hard. If this isn't true for you, seek help. Don't be shy. Do not try to tough it out. Problems, even serious ones, are much more common than you think. That is why the campus has so many sources of help. Your problem can be solved. Keep trying different sources of help until you've found an adequate solution.

Many problems can be solved by consulting your friends, the instructor, the course staff, other faculty you happen to know, and/or your departmental advising office. However, big problems often require external help. Sometimes you might need help from more than one place (e.g. mental and physical problems are often interconnected). Some useful contacts are below.

Please also keep your instructor informed about what's going on, if we can help or the problem is impacting your work in this course.

But first ...

If it is a health or safety emergency, call 911. Do not hesitate because you may have violated conduct rules (e.g. alcohol use). There are amnesty policies to protect you if you call for help.

If the sirens go off, that means there is a suspected tornado nearby. Go into the basement. If there is no basement, got to an interior room on a lower level.

If your problem relates to sexual misconduct, be aware that almost everyone working for the university is a "mandated reporter". Please consult this statement before deciding who to contact.

Make sure you are getting enough sleep, exercise, food. Even if something else is also wrong, skimping on these basics will make your problem harder to address.

Useful Resources

• The CS academic office: undergraduate and graduate. If you aren't in CS, your department should have similar resources.
• The office of the Dean of Students. They handle some problems directly and will help connect you with resources for other problems. They manage accommodations when life problems affect your academics, e.g. approve incompletes, contact instructors on your behalf.
  • Emergencies outside business hours: the Emergency Dean
  • It can wait until morning: the Student Assistance Center.
• McKinley Health Center, 217-333-2700. Can help with both physical and mental health issues.
• DRES, our disabilities services office. They help folks with both major and minor disabilities, including getting them diagnosed and authorizing accommodations such as extra time on exams.
• The Counseling Center, 217-333-3704. Helps with a broad range of mental health issues and runs screenings for problems such as test anxiety.
• Departmental statement on mental health
• We Care, the campus resource for victims of sexual assault and related bad stuff.
• The Police non-emergency numbers. (For emergencies, use 911.)
  • On campus, contact the Campus Police, 217-333-1216.
  • West of Wright St, call the Champaign police (217)-333-8911.
  • East of Wright St, call the Urbana police (217)-384-2320.
• University SafeWalks and SafeRides program
• University Motorist Assistance e.g. for jumpstarting a car.
• Off-Campus Community Living for landlord problems.
• Student legal Services
• Miscellaneous useful services, including food banks

Please tell me if I'm missing any important contacts.