--- title: "Reporting Students" description: "What to do if you need to report a student who is extremely offensive or whose safety is at risk" url: https://help.upchieve.org/en/articles/79-reporting-students collection: "Volunteer FAQs" updated: 2026-10-20 language: en --- # Reporting Students What to do if you need to report a student who is extremely offensive or whose safety is at risk ## **Reporting Students: A Guide for Coaches** There are two different reasons you might report a student on UPchieve, and they work very differently. Read both sections so you know what to do in each situation. * * * ## **Part 1: Reporting a Student Who Is Offensive or Inappropriate** Reporting a student helps keep UPchieve safe and supportive for everyone. You should never feel uncomfortable or disrespected during a session — if you do, we want to know about it. **How to report:** During a session or through Session History, click "Report" and select _"\[Immediate ban\] Student extremely rude/inappropriate."_ A confirmed report will temporarily suspend the student's account while we investigate; in severe cases, we may permanently ban them. ### **Report a student if they:** - Use or share offensive, inappropriate, or explicit language or content - Harass or threaten you in any way - Continue asking personal questions after you've reminded them it's against UPchieve's guidelines - Ask to meet in person or communicate through outside platforms (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet, Instagram) After reporting the student please end the session. ### **When NOT to report — use the post-session survey instead** Not every difficult session calls for a report. Students are often nervous, distracted, or dealing with circumstances you can't see. When in doubt, give them the benefit of the doubt and ask yourself: _could this behavior have an innocent explanation?_ For example, a student who suddenly drops off may have lost their internet connection — that's not a reportable offense. Use the **post-session survey** (which appears automatically after a session ends) to flag these situations instead: - The student was slow to respond, unresponsive, or left abruptly - The student seemed disengaged or low-effort - The student asked you to do the work for them or appeared to be cheating - The student used slang or informal language * * * ## **Part 2: Reporting a Student You're Worried About** In rare cases, a student may share something that makes you concerned for their safety or the safety of someone around them. UPchieve is only equipped to provide academic support — we're not trained crisis counselors — but you can still make a real difference by following these steps calmly and compassionately. ### **You do NOT need to report a student if:** - They mention feeling stressed, anxious, or overwhelmed about school or homework - They seem upset or frustrated during the session - They stop responding or abruptly leave These are normal parts of working with students under pressure. You can acknowledge what they've shared — _"That sounds really stressful, I hope things get easier"_ — and either continue the session or note it in the post-session survey which appears automatically after a session ends. A safety report is for situations where you believe a student (or someone around them) may be in **immediate danger** — things like disclosures of abuse, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or an unsafe living situation. **How to report:** During a session or through Session History, click "Report" and select _"I am worried for the immediate safety of this student."_ > ⚠ **Important:** This works differently than reporting bad behavior. It will **not** suspend or restrict the student's account. Instead, it immediately alerts UPchieve staff to follow up — and triggers an automated email to the student with mental health resources. ### **What to do if the student is in immediate danger** You don't need to say everything perfectly — what matters most is that the student feels heard. 1. **File the report first** Report through the session or Session History so UPchieve staff are alerted while you continue talking. 2. **Validate their experience** Let them know you hear them without minimizing what they've shared. 1. _"I hear you — it sounds like you're going through a really hard time."_ 3. **Gently explain your role** Be honest about what UPchieve is and isn't, without making them feel dismissed. 1. _"I care about what you're going through, and I want to make sure you get the right support. As a tutor, I'm only trained to help with academics — but there are people whose whole job is helping with exactly what you're describing."_ 4. **Share a resource** Point them to the most relevant resource from the list below. You can paste the link directly into the chat. 1. _"There are really supportive people you can reach right now at \[resource\]. They know how to help with this, and they're there for you."_ 5. **Close with encouragement** End warmly, whether you continue the session or wrap up there. 1. _"I'm really glad you felt comfortable sharing that with me. I hope you'll reach out to them — I'll be rooting for you."_ ## **Resources to Share with Students**

Mental health crisis

crisistextline.org

Emotional support (not a crisis)

need2text.com

Child abuse

childhelphotline.org

Homelessness

1800runaway.org/youth-teens/get-help

LGBTQ support

thetrevorproject.org

Sexual assault

hotline.rainn.org/online

Unhealthy romantic relationship

loveisrespect.org