Crisis Information

There are times when challenges, emergencies and other significant life situations arise for students. These crisis situations may include, but are not limited to: car accidents, the death of a loved one, unexpected hospitalization, suicidal ideation, self harm, and alcohol or other drug use. When the staff in Student Assistance becomes aware of these critical concerns, we contact students to ensure they are aware of the resources available to them. Student Assistance staff can also send an Emergency Notification when a student will be absent from class and is unable to inform the faculty directly.

In the event of a crisis requiring emergency response, please call 911 or contact the Iowa State Police Department at 515-294-4428. When an emergency occurs, the Dean of Students Office will typically be notified. If a critical campus-wide situation occurs, the ISU Alert emergency notification system may also be activated. For further information on understanding students in distress, please consult the Faculty and Staff Resource folder or contact our office for additional support and consultation. 

General Guidelines

Your first priority in an emergency situation should be your own safety and security. If your health or safety is at risk, call 911. When a crisis or other significant event occurs in your life, the amount of support you need will also increase. Identifying resources and your support system is an important part of effectively responding to any crisis situation. Having supportive people in your life and accessing the resources available will help you create an action plan to respond. If you or a student you know may need resources or support, please contact Student Assistance. We are here to help! The Student Assistance staff are here to help students identify campus and community resources and assist in responding to any crisis or emergency situation.

The Student Assistance staff is available to help from 8am-5pm Monday through Friday during the academic year. For non-emergencies, call the Dean of Students office at 515-294-1020, email studentassistance@iastate.edu or fill out our on-line referral form.