C.A.R.E. Program

The Whittier Community, Affirmation, Resilience, Empowerment (CARE) Program, formerly known as the Poet Early Alert Program (PEAP), is a collaborative team approach with faculty and staff that enhances community safety and student well-being.

The Whittier CARES program provides prevention, assessment, and intervention for and with students as they navigate the challenges that stand in their way of academic and personal success.

Whittier’s CARE team meets weekly to review reports and develop individualized outreach plans to help students. Team members adhere to legal, ethical, and professional standards and guidelines.

CARE Form (for faculty, staff, and students)

Faculty, staff, students and other members of the Whittier College community are encouraged to alert the CARE Team concerning behaviors or incidents by submitting a CARE Form. Although submissions are not reviewed outside regular business hours, all submissions are promptly reviewed and addressed by a member of the CARE team. If you have questions or would like to consult, please contact Director of CARE and Case Management, Marysol Mendoza mmendoz2@whittier.edu, 562.907.5118.

Concerns can include but are not limited to

  • Family concerns or challenges
  • Patterns of significant interpersonal conflict
  • Traumatic experience/s
  • Unresolved financial challenges 
  • Stressful work/life balance 
  • Social skills/ campus community integration
  • Unmet basic needs 
  • Illness
  • Classroom disruption

Academic Support Referral (for faculty and staff)

The CARE Academic Support Referral is specifically for academic-related concerns and can be submitted by a faculty or staff member. Faculty and staff must first attempt to contact the student directly via email, in-person, or phone call, before submitting this form. If you have questions or would like to consult, please contact Associate Director of Center for Academic Support, Jessica Hernandez, jherna14@whittier.edu.

Concerns can include but are not limited to

  • Attendance
  • Writing
  • Participation/engagement
  • Late/missing assignments
  • Exam/quiz scores
  • Quantitative skills
  • Class preparation
  • Time management