The Behavior Intervention Team is dedicated to a proactive, coordinated and planned
identification, prevention, assessment, management, and reduction of interpersonal
and behavioral threats to the safety and well-being of students, faculty, staff and
visitors of Roxbury Community College.
Threat assessment is designed to be a preventative process used to identify warning
signs and intervene before something preventable happens. Cases are NOT managed on
a first-come, first served basis. Rather, all cases are triaged and the most serious
cases are managed first. All cases, regardless of the immediacy, will be reviewed
and managed in the manner most appropriate for the situation.
In the event of an imminent or significant threat posed, the matter should be immediately
referred to the College’s Office of Public Safety and/or the Boston Police Department.
This document outlines the process the team will follow upon receiving a referral
for threatening, problematic, or concerning student behavior.
The College has a commitment to ensure that no retaliatory actions are taken against
any person or persons who submit a referral form to the team.
Submit a Concern
Members:
- Dean of Students
- Associate Deans of Students
- Project Access
- Campus Health Services Coordinator
- Student Accessibility Services
- Director of Public Safety
Identifying and Responding to Student of Concern:
Signs and Symptoms for Students of Concern:
- Erratic behavior, including infrequent class attendance or failure to follow through
with responsibilities.
- Increasing dependence on a faculty or staff member, parent, or other person (by demanding
excessive amounts of time and attention).
- Social isolation, withdrawal, lethargy.
- Inability to focus on a specific topic in a conversation or activity.
- Disorganized thinking and speech, feelings that are inappropriate to the situation,
or other evidence that a student is “out of touch with reality”.
- Expression of feelings of persecution, paranoia, or strong mistrust of others.
- Disruptive, explosive, or disrespectful behavior.
- Signs of excessive alcohol or drug use.
- Abrupt change in manner, style, or personal hygiene.
- Overtly suicidal thoughts and/or statements expressed verbally or in writing.
- Statements about harming someone else.
- Expressed uncertainty and anxiety about emotional stability, family situation, and/or
relationship problems.
Guidelines for Responding to a Student of Concern:
- Share your interest and concern openly and directly.
- Set clear limits about your role with the student.
- Maintain a student’s privacy, but do not promise confidentiality.
- Help a student tell his or her story. Offer the opportunity to listen to what is on
his or her mind.
- Demonstrate an understanding of what the student discloses.
- Statements made by the student regarding an intention or plan to harm self or others
must be reported.
- Inquire as to how the student is attempting to respond to the problem. Help develop
response options together.
- Consult with peers, colleagues, supervisors, deans, Dean of Students Office or others
if you need additional perspectives before or after talking to the student.
- Suggest a referral to the Student Health Center, Dean of Students Office, or other
community resources.
- Follow up as appropriate.