On Toms River
Campus
This procedure should be used at all times, day and
evenings, weekdays and weekends.
On the main campus, call ext. 2200 or use
a Red Phone for:
• Medical Emergencies
• Psychiatric Emergencies – when
the individual is violent, homicidal, suicidal, and
presents an imminent life-endangering situation
• Psychological Emergencies – for
example, when the individual is uncontrollably upset
or crying, verbalizing thoughts to harm self or others,
and other behaviors or thoughts requiring immediate
attention.
Certain situations may require Security to utilize
different protocols. The Security Officer will decide
how to proceed.
After receiving the call (ext. 2200 or Red Phone),
Security may contact a member of the Counseling Response
Team for assistance. The Counseling Response Team
members who will be called by Security to help in
an emergency situation are:
Carol Crawford
Director of College Health Services, ext. 364
Nancy Polonitza, Counselor ext.
2495;
ext. 632 at the Southern Education Center
Kate Pandolpho, Director
Career, Employment and Counseling Services
Direct line: ext. 2941; front desk: ext.
2945
Bernadette Amato, Coordinator
Career Services
Direct line: ext. 581; Front Desk: ext.
2945
Carey Trevisan, Dean of Special
Services,ext. 2011 ext. 2030 for Jodi
Heitmann
Don Doran, Vice President of
Student Affairs, ext. 348
Elaine Schardien, Enrollment Services Specialist,
ext. 2000; front desk ext. 300
Cathie Dixon, EOF/OMS Learning
Resources Specialist, ext. 2027
Laura Rickards, Director, OMS/EOF,
ext. 2400
front desk ext. 2026
Each situation or crisis is different, and may require
different handling after the call to Security (ext.
2200 or Red Phone) is made. Security and the College
Nurse may arrive at the scene after the call, and
may decide that another member of the Counseling Response
Team is needed. At times, it may become necessary
to escort the individual to a Counselor Response Team
member or to an agreeable campus location until the
Team member arrives. However, the individual should
never be left unattended until Security or another
designated person arrives on the scene.
We want to follow-up with students who are in crisis.
Please call Nancy Polonitza (ext. 2495 or ext. 680
in SEC), leave your name, a phone number at which
you can be reached during day time hours and a brief
summary of the crisis situation that occurred. If
the student is comfortable with including his or her
contact information, please include it in the message.
Southern Education Center
only
This procedure should be used at all
times, day and evenings, weekdays and weekends.
• Medical Emergencies - Immediately
designate someone to go to the Administrative Office
to inform the Administrator on Duty of the emergency.
The Administrator on duty will call 911. Do not
leave the person in need unattended. Stay with the
individual until help arrives.
• Psychiatric Emergencies (e.g., individual
is violent, homicidal, suicidal, and presents an imminently
life threatening situation) - Immediately
designate someone to go to the Administrative Office
to inform the Administrator on Duty of the emergency.
The Administrator on duty will call 911. Do not
leave the person in need unattended. Stay with the
individual until help arrives.
• Psychological Emergencies (e.g., uncontrollably
upset or crying, verbalizing thoughts to harm self
or others, and other behaviors or thoughts requiring
immediate attention)
If possible, escort the individual to Nancy Polonitza
(ext. 680 or ext. 632 for voice mail) in the Counseling
Office, Room 109 or, in Nancy’s absence, to
Aileen Cartlidge (ext. 677) in Room 130. If it seems
that the individual cannot be easily moved to another
location, send someone to bring the counselor to your
location. Stay with the individual until help arrives.
During the times when a counselor is unavailable,
please call CONTACT of Ocean County. CONTACT
can readily assist the student in crisis. CONTACT
of Ocean County is a 24-hour Crisis intervention
Listening Hotline. Trained volunteers answer calls
and when appropriate they provide referrals to additional
community services.
Contact of Ocean County: 732.240.6100
We want to follow-up with students who are in crisis.
To help us accomplish this, please call Nancy Polonitza
at ext. 680 or ext. 633 (SEC) or ext. 348 (or ext.
2495 – direct line) on the Main Campus. Leave
your name, a phone number at which you can be reached
during daytime hours and a brief summary of the crisis
situation that occurred. If the student is comfortable
with including his or her contact information, please
include it in the message.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of these procedures,
please contact Nancy Polonitza at the SEC in Room
109, ext. 632 or ext. 680.
Referral Information
These counselors are available to provide
consultation services to faculty and counseling services
to students.
Nancy Polonitza
College Center, Student Life Office
ext. 2495 (direct line); Main Campus: 732.255.0348
Southern Education Center: 609.978.2077
Kate Pandolpho
Career, Employment and Counseling Services
Administration Building, Ground Floor
732.255.0400 ext. 2945 (Front desk and for appointments)
ext. 2941 (direct line)
Consultation Regarding a
Student
Counselors are available if faculty
or staff members have questions about helping a distressed
student or addressing a disruptive student’s
behavior. We can help you to assess the situation,
explore your referral options, determine the appropriateness
of an intervention and how you can be effective in
the supportive role. There will be times when we suggest
that you speak to your Academic Dean to determine
how your Department handles student situations.
Confidentiality
Federal law and professional ethical guidelines protect
a student’s right to privacy. All counseling
sessions, referrals, and consultations are kept strictly
confidential, except where disclosure is legally required.
NO confidential information will be released to anyone
without the student’s written authorization.
What Happens When A Referral Is Made?
Because of privacy issues, there are
times when the Counselor will not initiate an intervention
with a student, but will wait for the student to make
contact. Generally speaking, we will not leave a phone
message with a family member or even on an answering
machine. We may use e-mail to contact a student, but
we use professional judgment to determine if this
is appropriate. E-mail does not maintain confidentiality
and privacy.
Counseling Services provides developmental, problem
solving counseling that is designed to help the student
be successful and productive. We do not provide therapy
for students; we will recommend that a student seek
outside services when the situation is severe, requires
long term or intensive therapy, or is beyond the scope
of brief, problem-solving counseling.
Follow-up
If you refer a student, a Counselor will inform you
if the student attended an initial session but
only if the student provides written permission.
If you would like a follow-up, please call a Counselor
and we will attempt to obtain written permission from
the identified student. At such time, we are only
able to tell you if the student did attend the initial
session. We will not be permitted to discuss any specific
issues addressed. When appropriate, you are encouraged
to directly speak with the student.
