Student Assessment, Referral, and Support (STARS)

In order to promote the health and safety of UMass Lowell students and the community, Student Assessment, Referral, and Support (STARS) addresses behaviors that may be unhealthy, disruptive, or adverse to academic progress.

The UMass Lowell (UML) behavioral intervention team, called Student Assessment, Referral, and Support (STARS), is a collaborative team made up of representatives from Student Affairs and Experiential Learning, Student Rights and Responsibilities, Prevention Education, the UML STRIVE Pantry, Student Health Services, Counseling Services, Disability Services, Academic Services, Residence Life, International Student Support, Athletics, Enrollment Management, , Student Life and Well-being, and the UMass Lowell Police Department.

This team meets weekly during the academic year, and biweekly over the summer as needed, to discuss students whose behavior has been noticed as concerning by someone at the University; and places them at risk for retention issues unrelated to academic success. By collecting referrals from any community member, the STARS team is able to holistically evaluate the support needs to support our students long term.

Purpose of The Behavioral Intervention Team

In order to promote the health, safety, and academic success of our students and community, STARS addresses what appear to be concerning student behaviors; in addition we attempt to locate students reported missing from classes per the university's missing student protocol. Our primary goal is to retain students first as thriving individuals, and then as a part of our academic community. If you note any of the following behaviors or concerns (not an exhaustive list) please submit a STARS report, even if you believe this has been reported by others or in the past. We would rather you report concerns to STARS and not wait.

• Changes or deterioration in class attendance, quality of interaction in class, quality of coursework, and/or manner of dress/grooming.
• Missing from classes for more than a session or two.
• Writing essays that may suggest they are a danger to themselves or others.
• Unusual behavior like talking to oneself, hurting self, saying strange things that don’t make sense.
• Talking about hunger, homelessness, or other basic needs insecurity.
• Coming to class with injuries (black eyes, cuts, etc.).
• Revealing details of sexual harassment or violence to you or others in class.
• Coming to class intoxicated or high, bragging about alcohol or drug abuse.

The Behavioral Intervention Team consists of a group of qualified and dedicated UMass Lowell professionals whose mission is to:

• Balance the individual needs of the student and those of the greater campus community, faculty and staff.
• Provide a structured positive method for addressing student behaviors that impact the university community and may involve mental health and/or safety issues
• Manage each case individually
• Initiate appropriate intervention.
• Eliminate "fragmented care."
• Maintain communication with reporting individual.