Student Support

Azusa Pacific University is committed to supporting each student’s holistic well-being. University students experience unique challenges, whether personal, academic, or otherwise, which can at times impede student success. Through a range of resources and services, we ensure that every student has what he or she needs to thrive personally and academically, as we cultivate an environment where students feel a genuine sense of belonging, are empowered to take ownership of their self-care, and contribute to a thriving community.

We believe that experiencing a culture of care equips students to extend that same compassion, empathy, and inclusion to others. We help students develop lifelong habits that support their overall well-being and equip them to contribute to thriving communities beyond their time at APU. Our commitment is to walk alongside students as they pursue their calling—supporting them in staying well, growing in resilience, and gaining the tools needed for a flourishing future.

APU CARES

APU CARES (Cougar Alert, Refer, and Engage System) is a team of cross-departmental staff who support students facing academic concerns, emotional distress, and/or other significant wellness challenges. Although many students seek and access campus support services on their own, others may not be aware of the help APU offers or know how to get connected. The CARES referral system allows faculty, staff, and students to refer others, or themselves, for additional support from the CARES team.

If you’re concerned about a student, complete and submit the CARES referral form. If you’re a student, you may submit a form for yourself. If you’re referring multiple students, complete one form per student.

Self-Harm Prevention and Response

Several APU offices support students’ medical and mental health needs. Sometimes, however, a student’s medical or mental health condition may require a type or level of ongoing professional care that either exceeds the university’s resources or is incompatible with the individual’s responsibilities as an APU student (e.g., required inpatient care or rehabilitation for an extended period). Examples of such conditions include, but are not limited to, eating disorders, substance abuse, life-threatening behaviors, harm to self, suicidal intent or attempt, and severe or chronic psychotic episodes.

We want to work with all students, so each student will be assessed individually. If, based on the judgment of a qualified health professional, such conditions are present and the student refuses to follow the advice of the qualified health professional to pursue appropriate treatment recommendations, and the student presents a substantial risk of self-harm or potential harm to the community, the situation will be reviewed by APU CARES, the Threat Assessment Team, and the dean of students to determine any additional avenues of support or potential university response.

Expectation for Student Self-Care and Return to Campus Policy

Student well-being is our top priority. In the event of a mental health crisis or hospitalization, we understand that returning to campus can be challenging, and we’re here to support students in that transition. A member of the APU CARES team will reach out to have a supportive conversation with the student, and we’ll partner with the student to create a personalized Return to Campus Care Plan. This plan is a roadmap for their success, connecting them with helpful resources such as the University Counseling Center, Academic Success Center, and others tailored to the student’s unique needs. Our goal is to create a clear, manageable path for students to resume their studies in a healthy way.

Because this care plan is a partnership, the student’s active participation is key to a successful and healthy return. Our APU CARES team will continue to walk alongside the student, checking in periodically to offer encouragement and ensure that they have what they need in order to thrive. Because student safety and the well-being of our community are paramount, continued enrollment and campus residency are linked to this supportive plan. In the rare instance that a student is unable to engage in their care plan, the university may need to assess whether further administrative action is needed, including, but not limited to, a temporary leave, mandated distance learning, or other potential supportive accommodations. This is always done with care and with the goal of ensuring the safety of the student and others, as detailed in our University Response to Threat to Self policy.

Self-Reporting 

Each situation is case-specific, and a self-report may—but not necessarily—result in sanctions different from those that would have been issued had the violation been found through the investigation process.

Conditional Immunity

The university understands that reporting parties (and at times, witnesses) sometimes are hesitant to report a situation because they fear that they may be charged with other university policy violations, such as personal consumption of alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident. To encourage reporting, in appropriate cases APU pursues a policy of offering students who are accessing help for themselves or others an exemption from being held accountable to policy violations related to the particular incident. While there may be no formal sanctions for these individuals, the university may provide elements of help, support, and education in response to the violations.