Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line (BCCAL)

Are you worried about a student in your class, bothered that your roommate has been acting differently, or concerned about the behavior of a co-worker? Do you have concerns but are not sure what to do? Do you have questions about COVID-19 and need support? If so, contact the Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line at 512-232-5050 or submit your behavior concerns or COVID-19 questions online.

Cases that present an immediate threat to self, others, or property should be considered an emergency and should be directed to The University of Texas Police Department (UTPD) by calling 911.

Share behavior concerns or COVID-19 questions by phone or online

Share Behavior Concerns Online or Submit COVID-19 Questions Online

FAQs

• What is the Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line?
• Why should I call the Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line?
• What are behavior concerns?
• What types of COVID-19 questions and concerns can the Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line address?
• How do I contact the Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line?
• Is it possible to remain anonymous?
• Will my conversation be confidential?

What is the Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line?

The Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line is a service that provides The University of Texas at Austin’s faculty, students and staff an opportunity to discuss their concerns about another individual’s behavior. Starting in August 2020, BCAL is now BCCAL to answer your questions about COVID-19. This service is a partnership among the Office of the Dean of Students, the Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC), the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and The University of Texas Police Department (UTPD). An individual can either call the line at 512-232-5050 or share their concerns using either the behavior concerns or COVID-19 questions online submission form.

Trained staff will help callers explore available options and strategies. They will also provide appropriate guidance and resource referrals to address the particular situation. Depending on the situation, individuals may be referred to resources including but not limited to Student Emergency Services in the Office of the Dean of Students, the Counseling and Mental Health Center, and the Employee Assistance Program.

Why should I call the Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line?

An important way for the university community to feel connected is to create opportunities for caring and concern. The Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line provides a central resource to anyone who is concerned about an individual and may not be sure about how best to help them. Additionally, the advice line provides support in answering questions regarding COVID-19 beginning August 2020. By calling the advice line, or submitting information online, campus and community support networks may be accessed; optimizing the chance that individuals will receive needed assistance. Contact the Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line if you are concerned about someone and want to help.

What are behavior concerns?

Examples of situations in which faculty, students or staff may need advice include, but are not limited to:

• A faculty member may come across an essay containing comments that suggest a student is experiencing serious emotional issues.
• A student may be concerned that she has not seen or heard from her roommate in over a week during a busy time in the semester.
• A staff member may be unsure of the appropriate protocol after hearing rumors about potentially volatile comments made by another employee.
• Students may notice that their teaching assistant’s behavior is unpredictable — sometimes the TA does not show up for class, is perhaps not making much sense during lectures, or the TA seems to have stopped caring about his appearance. Students in the class are concerned about the TA and they don’t want him to lose his job.
• A student may appear to be distressed in class and her behavior is somewhat out of the ordinary.
• A student in a study group may not be acting like himself.
• A staff member notices that a co-worker has been yelling at people and seems angry all the time.

What types of COVID-19 questions and concerns can the Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line address?

Examples of COVID-19 topics the Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line can address in English and Spanish for students, faculty and staff include, but are not limited to:

• Protect Texas Together app malfunctions or questions
• Reporting positive tests
• International travel
• Assistance with self-isolation and self-quarantine
• Contact tracing
• Financial support
• Instructor notifications for students
• COVID-19 questions and concerns

How do I contact the Behavior Concerns and COVID-19 Advice Line?

You can contact BCCAL by dialing 512-232-5050, which will connect you to trained staff 24 hours a day, 7 days week, 365 days a year, for behavior concerns. Trained staff are available to answer COVID-19 questions and connect students, faculty or staff with appropriate resources during business hours, Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Any faculty, staff or student can share their behavior concerns or submit COVID-19 questions using the appropriate online submission forms. Forms are processed during normal business hours, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. If the form is submitted after hours, it will not be addressed until the following business day. .

Is it possible to remain anonymous?

An individual can choose to remain anonymous when calling or submitting an online form. The university will, to the extent possible, respect the wishes of callers concerning their anonymity, but there may be situations where the identity of the caller will need to be disclosed or will become apparent because of the actions taken to address the situation.

Will my conversation be confidential?

The university will, to the extent permitted by law, maintain the confidentiality of the conversation except as needed to make referrals or follow up on the subject discussed. In some instances however, the university may be required to release information in response to a court order, subpoena, or open records request.