Behavioral Intervention Teams

Report an Incident

During their time in college, students experience many stressors ranging from academic difficulty, to overwhelming life and personal circumstances, to unmanaged physical or mental illness. At times these stressors impede their ability to function effectively in the college environment. The responsibility to try to identify, refer and report (when needed) students who are struggling or who may pose a risk to themselves or the community is one in which we must all share. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with student support services (e.g., Counseling and Psychological Services, Student Health Services, Disability Services for Students, etc.) with which you may consult and to which you may refer students directly. However, the information below outlines information and procedures for bringing distressed and distressing behaviors which are persistent, complex, disruptive or threatening, to the attention of key campus personnel so that they may work to develop an appropriate response and intervention plan.

Report a Student in Distress

What to Report

*Behavior that poses or is perceived to pose an imminent threat or risk of harm to anyone must be reported immediately to the TWU Department of Public Safety at 940-898-2911. This number should be used for the Denton, Dallas and Houston campuses. The police dispatcher will contact the appropriate agencies to deal with the incident. The TWU police dispatcher is available seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Persistent reference to grievance against TWU or specific department or person(s) affiliated with TWU
Acts and threats of violence towards a specific person(s), unspecified persons, and or campus as a whole
Significant or persistent violent ideations or expression of violent ideas or intent to harm self and/or others
The expression of thoughts, ideas, beliefs, or engaging in behaviors which indicate an obsessive, excessive or inappropriate focus on violence or the committal of violent acts toward others
Pattern of physical or emotional bullying or intimidation
Persistent, unwelcome pursuit of a relationship, or other verbal or physical conduct that is perceived as intimidating, aggressive, threatening, or as an abuse of power
Conduct which assumes a stance of being substantially in charge or attempting to control processes, outcomes or decisions that are inappropriate given the person’s standing or position
Persistently or aggressively pursuing options that don’t reasonably exist and continuing to do so after being instructed to cease
Persistent behavior which disrupts the functioning of a course or program or which interrupts the ability of other individuals to function normally at the University
Persistently disjointed communications, delusional statements
Persistent and inappropriate personal disclosures in class or otherwise seeking an inordinate amount of professor/peers support
Signs of deteriorating health, mental health or academic functioning that do not appear to be related to academic/intellectual ability

About the Behavioral Assessment Team

Objectives

Decrease silos of information regarding students who may pose a risk or threat to campus
Identify and coordinate intervention strategies to deal with violence, threats and disruptive behavior
Address behavioral issues that interfere with the normal functioning of the University or put the safety of any member(s) of the campus community at risk
Coordinate interventions at lowest and least intrusive level possible with goal of getting student on course to function effectively in the University environment

Team Members

Associate Vice President of Student, Enrichment Health and Support-Chair
Student Retention and Support Specialist, Student Life
Director of Civility & Community Standards
Designee from Academic Affairs
Director of the Counseling and Psychological Services
Director of the Student Health Services
Director of University Housing
Department of Public Safety Special Services Lieutenant
Human Resources Representative
Director of Disability Services for Students
Other units as needed, i.e. Technology Services, etc.

BAT Interventions

Gather information (members of team meet with reporter, student, friends, and roommates)
Assess the imminence of the threat
Referral to support resources
Encourage and help facilitate withdrawal/medical withdrawal
Case management, facilitation of coordinated support, and monitoring
Police intervention
Mental health assessment
Parental notification
Recommendation for interim separation/involuntary withdrawal

About Student of Concern Team

Objectives

Early intervention with students exhibiting signs of personal, social or academic difficulty that they seem unable to address or resolve
Coordinate and facilitate wrap-around support for the student
Prevent escalation of negative or destructive behaviors
Coordinate interventions at the lowest and least intrusive level possible with the goal of getting students on course to function effectively in the University environment

SOC Team Members:

Assistant Dean of Students/Title IX Coordinator/Director for Civility & Community Standards, Chair
Student Retention and Support Specialist, Student Life
Director of the Counseling and Psychological Services
Director of Disability Support Services
Captain, TWU Police Department
Associate Director, Housing
Assistant Director, Financial Aid
Case Manager, CARE
Academic Advisors

SOC Interventions

Outreach to Student
Referral to campus resources
Case management, facilitation of coordinated support, and monitoring
Mental health assessment
Parental notification

*The Behavioral Intervention Teams will manage and respond to reports in a manner that preserves the privacy of the student to the extent that is appropriate and possible. Information will be shared on a need-to-know basis.

For questions or consultation about a distressed or distressing student, contact:

Heather Snow
Dean of Students
Student Life
hsnow@twu.edu

Kendal Lou Dickson
Student Retention & Support Specialist
kdickson2@twu.edu
940-898-3601

Page last updated 9:31 AM, October 22, 2024