In order to promote the safety & health of its students, STARs addresses student behaviors that are disruptive and may include mental health and/or safety issues.

The UMass Lowell behavioral intervention team, called Students at Risk (STARs), is a collaborative team made up of representatives from the Dean of Students’ Office, Student Health Services, the Counseling Center, Disability Services, Campus Conduct, EMS, and the UMass Lowell Police Department.

This team meets weekly during the academic year to discuss students whose behavior has alarmed someone at the University; this information may come from one of the team, from faculty, staff, or students, or from an outside agency.

Reasons for STARs Referral

Purpose of The Behavioral Intervention Team

As a result of growing national trends on college campuses of mental health issues, the concerns of disruptive behavior in the classroom, and the increase in hospitalizations due to alcohol consumption, UMass Lowell created the STARs Team. In order to promote the safety and health of its students, STARs addresses student behaviors that are disruptive and may include mental health and/or safety issues. Students who qualify for a STARs referral demonstrate one or more of the following behaviors; this is a comprehensive but not exhaustive list of behaviors that should alert faculty something else may be going on with a student:

  • Unusual or bizarre behavior - talking to oneself, hurting self, saying strange things that don’t make sense
  • Coming to class with injuries (black eyes, cuts, etc.)
  • Coming to class intoxicated or high, bragging about alcohol or drug abuse.
  • Changes or deterioration in class attendance, quality of interaction in class, quality of coursework and/or manner of dress/grooming.

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 & 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.