Behavior Intervention Team

We provide a timely intervention resource for students, faculty and staff in order to address student behavioral issues and promote student academic success and safety through appropriate and timely response.

Important Information

Purpose

The BIT Team will serve as a central network focused on preventive and timely intervention before a crisis arises. The BIT Team is a resource for East Texas A&M faculty, staff and students by which they can report student behaviors of concern. Examples of such instances include; but are not limited to: behavior that appears to be dangerous or threatening to oneself or others; troubling behavior; angry, hostile, or abusive behavior; or other behavior that is inappropriate or disruptive. In some cases, there may be no violation of the East Texas A&M Code of Student Conduct, but the behavior may evoke alarm or concern among involved persons.

Responsibilities

BIT will:

• Receive and gather information about behavior which appears to be dangerous or threatening to oneself or others; troubling behavior; angry, hostile, or abusive behavior; or other behavior that is inappropriate or disruptive involving students.
• Develop specific strategies to manage potentially harmful or disruptive behavior with regard to safety and rights of others and in order to minimize the disruption to the college community.
• Make recommendations to college officials on appropriate action(s) consistent with college policies and procedures.
• Coordinate the college response to potentially harmful/disruptive situations.
• Develop and disseminate informational materials focused on identification and prevention of disruptive behavior.

BIT is not a crisis response team but acts in a proactive manner to assist students once identified and acts to prevent violence on campus.

Right to Privacy

East Texas A&M recognizes the importance of maintaining certain records for each student which contributes to and confirms the student's educational progress. To protect the rights of students regarding these records, the College has established policies and guidelines which describe the records maintained and provisions for releasing information. These rules conform to State and Federal laws (the U.S. Department of Education guidelines for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended, known as the Buckley Amendment or FERPA.)

If the student referred to BIT is already receiving care at the University Counseling Center or an outside mental health provider, information about that student's relationship may not be obtained by the team from those agencies without written authorization from the student in question, in accordance with federal and state law.

Official meeting records containing identifying data will be maintained on a private web database with controlled access.

Exceptions

Members of the team may provide each other or faculty/staff involved in a particular case, or outside parties in connection with the situation (such as parents/guardians), information in situations that concern protecting the health and safety of that student or others in the community. The University has the duty to warn members of the community when potentially harmful or dangerous situations have been reported and after a review by campus officials warrant such notification. In these situations, BIT may breach confidentiality in order to warn identified victims.

ReferalPRocess

Members of the East Texas A&M community may refer students of concern to BIT through a CARE Report. If you believe the student or community is in immediate danger, please contact the University Police Department at 903.886.5111.

Possible Resolutions/Outcomes

• No action. Further observations
• Assist in developing an action plan for assistance
• Referral to existing on-campus support resource
• Referral to appropriate community resources

• Referral for Code of Conduct violation
• Recommendation of Parental Notification
• Recommendation of Interim Suspension
• Other options

Helpful Information

Tips for Recognizing Persons in Distress

At one time or another everyone feels upset or distressed. However, there are three levels of
concern which, when present over a period of time, suggest that the problems are more than the
“normal” ones. It is important to consider each type of behavior in context for the individual in
question. Some examples for each level of concern follow:

Troubling: causes us to feel alarmed, upset, or worried for a persons well being.

• Changes in academic performance in the classroom
• Disjointed speech or writings
• Persistent sadness or unexplained crying
• Change in patterns of social interaction
• Changes in physical appearance or personal hygiene
• Problems concentrating & remembering things or making decisions

Disruptive: interferes with or disrupts the educational process of other students or the normal
functions of the University.

• Vague threats to self or others
• Demanding, verbally abusive, or intimidating behavior
• High levels of irritability or inappropriate excitement
• Loss of contact with reality (seeing hearing things that are not there, beliefs or actions at
  odds with reality)

Threatening: typically leaves us feeling frightened and in fear for our safety or the safety of
others.

• Physical confrontations or attacks
• Direct threats of harming self or others
• Displays a weapon
• Sends threatening correspondence

What Can You Do To Help

Responses to Troubling Behavior:

• Initiate a private, nonconfrontive conversation with the person about your concerns
• Identify options available to the individual and make referrals to campus resources for
  help
• Assist the individual with accessing the departments to which you have referred them to
• Make sure the person understands what action is necessary and make plans to follow up
  with them
  

Responses to Disruptive Behavior:

• Verbally ask that the disruptive behavior stop
• If behavior does not stop, ask the person to leave the area or leave yourself if necessary
• Inform person of the expected behavior changes, timeline for changes, and the
  consequences should behavior not change by that time
• If possible, discuss the reasons for the disruptive behavior and refer to a department with
  expertise in that area
• Document the interactions

Responses to Threatening Behavior:

• Immediately contact University Police at 911 or 903-886-5868
• If it involves a student, also inform the University Counseling Center
• If it involves a staff member of the University, also inform the department chair/director
  or Human Resources
• Consult with the University Counseling Center and University Police to debrief and assist
  you once the initial crisis is resolved

Meet our BIT Team

Other college officials may be asked to serve on the team in specific situations as needed. The team will consult with the Dean of Students or University Counsel as needed. The team will meet weekly or as needed.