Caltech Debuts “Orange Folder” to Aid Student Support
On March 31, Caltech Student Affairs introduced the Orange Folder, a centralized online resource designed to help faculty and staff recognize and respond to students in distress.
Announced in a campus-wide letter from Joseph Greenwell, Associate Vice President of Student Life and Chief Student Affairs Officer, the initiative aims to consolidate existing support resources into a single, accessible guide. The tool provides practical steps for identifying warning signs, responding to students in the moment, and connecting them with appropriate campus services.
“Because of your regular interaction with students, you are often among the first to notice when a student may be struggling,” the letter reads. “The Orange Folder provides practical guidance to help you recognize signs of distress, respond supportively in the moment, and connect students with appropriate campus resources.”
The resource directs faculty to options including CARE referrals, the Undergraduate Deans’ Office, the Graduate Studies Office, and Student Wellness Services. In cases of immediate danger, it instructs contacting Campus Security.
From “Best Practice” to Caltech Adaptation
In an interview with the Tech, Greenwell emphasized that the Orange Folder is not a novel invention, but an adaptation of a model used across other universities, including the University of California system.
“I found it to be very helpful in educating the campus about various resources and how to support students in distress,” Greenwell said, referencing his prior work at institutions such as UC Berkeley and Columbia University. “It’s not just a copy and paste. We worked hard to match Caltech’s unique needs.”
That process involved broad consultation across campus. Greenwell collaborated with Student Affairs leadership, the CARE team, faculty leadership, and student representatives, including Ashlyn Royce and the Graduate Student Council.
Feedback shaped both structure and content. Royce, for instance, pushed for clearer explanations of the CARE referral process: an area she said had previously caused confusion among students and administrators alike.
Addressing Gaps in Awareness
The Orange Folder responds in part to a perceived gap — not a lack of resources, but a lack of clarity about how and when to use them.
“There had been many discussions … about the lack of staff knowledge on how to identify students who were struggling emotionally,” Royce said. “Additionally, there was a lot of confusion on the CARE process and what it entailed.”
Rather than introducing new services, the Folder organizes existing ones into a streamlined, user-friendly format. Faculty can access it online or download a PDF, though administrators recommend bookmarking the website for quick reference.
A central feature is guidance on recognizing distress. The Folder outlines behavioral and academic signals: subtle shifts that might otherwise go unnoticed in a busy term.
“We get very busy,” Greenwell noted. “A student missing an assignment doesn’t necessarily mean they’re in distress. But the Folder helps faculty recognize patterns and have the appropriate conversation or seek support.”
One Tool in a Larger Well-Being Strategy
Administrators stress that the Orange Folder is not a standalone solution, but part of a broader effort to prioritize student well-being.
“This is just one tool,” Greenwell said. “There’s ongoing training, faculty-specific outreach, and student programming. But not everyone attends trainings — so this provides basic, accessible information in the moment it’s needed.”
Looking ahead, both administrators and student leaders see room for expansion. Royce noted that future iterations could incorporate clearer guidance on CASS (Caltech Accessibility Services for Students) accommodations, another area frequently misunderstood.
More broadly, the initiative reflects a shift toward embedding well-being across institutional practices.
“Student well-being is part of everything that we do,” Greenwell said. “This is one example — but there will be more to come.”
Click here to access the Orange Folder on the Caltech Student Affairs website: studentaffairs.caltech.edu/orangefolder.