Resources List
Campus Resources
The Health & Wellness Center - Counseling Services
Penn State-Altoona counseling services for students.
During consultation, individual and group counseling sessions and psychiatric appointments, CAPS staff will assess a student's presenting issues, life stresses and psychological issues, consider options and develop a treatment plan. CAPS staff assesses danger to self and others and refers students to inpatient hospitalization in rare situations where this is required to stabilize a life threatening situation. Services are by appointment and crisis services are provided on an as needed basis based on clinician availability. The Community Crisis Center and the 24-hour hotline are available each day. The Crisis Center hotline number is 800-540-4690 or 814-889-2141.
In addition to providing mental health consultation and clinical services for students, CAPS staff provides consultation to faculty, staff, parents, and friends of students about how to deal with crises and emotional situations including how to make referrals for services when appropriate.
Health and Wellness Center - Penn State Altoona
3000 Ivyside Park,
Altoona, Pa. 16601
Phone: 814-889-2141
Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 8am-8pm; Friday 8am-5pm.
http://www.altoona.psu.edu/healthwellness/
Working with Students in Distress:
http://www.altoona.psu.edu/healthwellness/docs/StudentDistress.pdf
Affirmative Action Office
The Affirmative Action Office strives to foster diversity and equal opportunity in employment and ensure an environment free from discrimination and harassment.
Affirmative Action staff will investigate allegations of discrimination and harassing behavior by faculty and staff towards students. (Student to student complaints should be handled by Student Conduct.) Affirmative Action staff is available to consult with students, faculty and staff about problems in employment or classroom settings.
Affirmative Action Office
328 Boucke Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-0471
http://www.psu.edu/dept/aaoffice
Penn State Altoona Early Alert Program
The Early-Alert System is a service at Penn State Altoona that provides employees an opportunity to share a concern about a student's academic progress, wellness or safety. The main purpose of the program is to be proactive in assisting students by identifying students of concern and intervening early with students who appear to be having academic or health/safety issues. The Early-Alert System may also work to improve retention and help the college avoid liability issues
The Office of Student Conduct (JA)
The Office of Student Conduct may be notified by University personnel, students and/or University Police when it is believed that student misconduct has occurred.
JA will make contact with each student named in the allegation to determine if a violation of the University’s Code of Conduct has occurred and what the appropriate response should be. Administrative sanctions range from disciplinary warning to expulsion. Student Conduct staff members also have the option to assign educational sanctions in addition to, or in lieu of, administrative sanctions. In cases where the student’s misconduct may have been motivated by emotional or psychological issues, Student Conduct staff will refer to the University’s protocol which can be found be found at http://www.altoona.psu.edu/judicial/.
One frequently utilized form of relief for students who feel harassed by other students is an Administrative Directive which prevents contact between the parties.
Penn State Altoona Student Conduct
3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, Pa. 16601-3760
Phone: 814-949-5065
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm
Email: LRR5@psu.edu
Altoona: http://www.altoona.psu.edu/judicial/
University Park: http://www.sa.psu.edu/ja
University Police
University Police services vary across campuses. For information regarding police support and/or safety contacts by campus location, see http://www.psu.edu/dept/police/
The University Police are available every day, all day, to respond to calls on campus. Faculty and staff can call if they or others feel threatened, if they suspect that someone has committed criminal acts, Code of Conduct violations, or if they have been instructed to do so by their supervisors or unit heads. University Police officers will arrive, investigate and carefully assess each situation. Follow up will occur with the Office of Student Conduct (for Penn State students) or outside agencies (local and state police, if necessary) to determine resolution.
University Police
3000 Ivyside Park
Phone: 814-949-5222 or 911
Office Hours: 24 hours per day, 365 days per year
http://www.altoona.psu.edu/Police
Department Head/Division Head
It is important for faculty and instructors to be aware of the resources for consultation within their department to deal with difficult or worrisome situations. Consultation can be very useful for resolving difficulties and helping to minimize risk for students and instructors. Department protocol for addressing student complaints about grades or difficult behavioral situations varies across the university and at the campuses but should always be available.
Community Resources
Altoona Community Crisis Center and 24-hour hotline
Altoona Regional Health System
620 Howard Avenue
Altoona, Pa. 16601-3760
Phone: 814-889-2141 or 800-540-4690
Emergency Medicine: 814-889-2153
Family Services Incorporated of Blair County
24-HOUR HOTLINE - Help is only a phone call away. Hotline workers provide information about your choices and are able to provide information on emergency housing, medical care and legal choices. If you simply need to talk, they will listen. Provides support, information and referral to other community services. Call 814-944-3585 or 1-800-500-2849.
SHELTER - A safe place for battered women and their children if you feel you have to leave your home. Counseling for you and your children is available in the shelter
COUNSELING - Individual options and safety counseling and support groups for survivors and support persons.
ADVOCACY/ACCOMPANIMENT - Family Services' staff are available to assist persons who are seeking protection from abuse orders or support during court hearings. Other program workers provide assistance for welfare and medical matters. Legal advocacy staff are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice or referrals to specific attorneys. Services may be accessed during the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Please call 814-693-0130.
COMMUNITY AND STUDENT AWARENESS PROGRAM - Educational presentations about domestic violence and teen dating violence.
Family Services
2022 Broad Avenue
Altoona, Pa. 16601
Phone: 814-944-3583 any weekday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m
Fax: 814-944-8701
24-hour hotline: 814-944-3585 or 1-800-500-2849
Email: info@familyservicesinc.net
Other Resources
Resources for Specific Populations
Disability Services Office for Students
Penn State Altoona Health & Wellness Center
Phone: 815-949-5540
http://www.altoona.psu.edu/healthwellness/
Working with Students with disabilities: www.altoona.psu.edu/healthwellness/faculty/
Institutional Equity and Diversity
http://www.altoona.psu.edu/oied
International and Exchange Student Services
http://www.altoona.psu.edu/international/
LGBTA Student Resource Center at University Park
101 Boucke Building
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-863-1248
http://www.sa.psu.edu/lgbt
Residence Life
Phone: 814-949-5710
http://www.altoona.psu.edu/reslife/
Veterans Programs
http://www.altoona.psu.edu/mgib
at University Park: http://www.equity.psu.edu/veterans
Additional Web Resource
Family Educational Rights And Privacy Act- (FERPA)
Check this website for information about “Balancing Student Privacy and School Safety” http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/brochures/postsec.html