CARE Team

CARE Team Members

  • Lexy Clark, Dean of Students, , 785-442-6021
  • Sarah Wood, Associate Dean of Recruitment & Retention, 785-442-6039
  • Scott Young, Coordinator of Safety & Security, 785-442-6669
  • John McMahan, Student Conduct Officer, 785-442-6093,
  • Charles Howell, Director of Campus Engagement, 785-442-6071

If you are concerned about an HCC student, please tell us! The HCC Care Team can reach out to HCC students who seem to be having difficulty and intervene before things reach a crisis level. If this is an on-campus emergency that requires immediate action, please contact the police at 911 or Campus Security at 785-741-2206.

What is the CARE Team?

The Care Team is Highland Community College's Behavioral Intervention Team. CARE stands for:
Campus 
Assessment 
Recommendation and 
Evaluation Team. 

Highland Community College has established the CARE Team to assist in addressing situations where students, faculty, or staff are displaying behaviors that are disruptive, threatening, or concerning in nature that potentially impede their own or others’ ability to function successfully or safely. These policies and procedures are designed to help identify persons whose behavior potentially endanger their own or others’ health and safety or is disruptive to the educational or administrative processes of the college.

It is the responsibility of faculty, staff, and students to immediately report any situations that could possibly result in harm to anyone at the college. Any member of the campus community may become aware of a troubling person or situation that is causing serious anxiety, stress, or fear. However, behavioral assessment should not be confused with crisis management. A crisis may be defined where a person may pose an active or immediate risk of violence to self or others. In these cases, campus security (785-741-2206) or the Highland police should be contacted at 911.

The mission of the CARE Team at Highland Community College is to systematically identify, assess, and respond to concerns that may pose a threat to the safety or well-being of students, faculty, staff, or the broader campus community. Grounded in a collaborative, evidence-based approach, the team works to ensure a timely, consistent, and confidential process for addressing concerns within the educational setting.

The CARE Team at Highland Community College envisions a safe, compassionate, and connected campus where every individual feels seen, supported, and empowered to thrive. By fostering a culture of early intervention, collaboration, and holistic care, we aim to strengthen the well-being of our rural college community and ensure that students, faculty, and staff can succeed in an environment grounded in trust, respect, and shared responsibility.

  • Provide a safe physical environment for members of the college community,
  • Provide a safe emotional environment for the college community, and
  • Promote peace of mind for friends and family of the college community.

Report an incident:

HCC General Incident Report

  • Used to report Concerns, Policy Violations or General Misconduct that is not sexual in nature

Discrimination, Harassment, or Gender-Based Misconduct Form

  • Used to report cases of sexual harassment, discrimination, or anything related to gender based misconduct.


Who refers students to the CARE Team?

The CARE Team will meet regularly and on an emergency basis to review referrals brought forward by faculty, staff, and students concerning disruptive, inappropriate, and/or threatening behavior. For the safety of the campus community any threat, explicit or implied, will be considered a statement of intent.

How can referrals be made?

Contact any member of the CARE Team or complete an online Incident Report form. Information will not be disclosed to anyone who does not have a need to know.