PREVENTING AND RESPONDING TO

DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIORS

W. Scott Lewis, JDPartner, The National Center for Higher Education Risk Management

WWW.NCHERM.ORGAssoc. General Counsel, Saint Mary’s College

©2010: This presentation is the intellectual property of the presenter and may not be used without express written permission.

WHERE WE ARE…

Staff & Faculty are frequently in the best position to notice and

report student behavior.

You find yourself on the “front lines.”

The events at Virginia Tech, NIU, etc. impress upon us all the necessity of being vigilant.

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES

The 2009 National Survey of Counseling

Center Directors found that:48.4% of clients have severe psychological

problems; 7.4% of these have impairment so serious that they cannot remain in school

260 college counseling centers hospitalized an average of 8.5 students per school for psychological reasons during the past year

Directors reported 103 suicides in the past year

New Generation of Students: Mental Health

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

%

Year

Percentage of all clients prescribed medication

MENTAL HEALTH

Overlays on to this graph:Students Prescribed MedicationStudents Engaged in Therapy Prior to College

AOD HospitalizationsSuicidal IdeationSelf Injurious Behaviors

Why AREN’T we reporting or confronting

these behaviors?It will go away on its ownNothing will happen if I tell anyone anyway

I will get in trouble if I report this or it will make me look bad

I am afraid of retaliationI don’t want to be viewed as a “rat” or “Intolerant” or “unkind”

I don’t want to be responsible for pushing someone “over the edge.”

Negligence 101DutyBreachCausationInjury

WHAT SHOULD I REPORT?

DisruptiveDistressedDisturbed

DysregulatedMedically Disabled

“DISTRESSED” STUDENTS

Emotionally troubled Individuals impacted by situational stressors and traumatic events

May be moving toward crisis

Some Psychiatric Symptoms

“DISTURBED” STUDENTSBehaviorally disruptive, unusual, and/or bizarrely acting

Showing indications of a lack of touch with reality

Destructive, apparently harmful to others

Possibly substance abusing Showing a complete lack of social norms in their behavior

“DYSREGULATED” STUDENTS

Suicidal Parasuicidal (self-injurious, eating disordered)

Individuals engaging in risk-taking behaviors (e.g., substance abusing)

Hostile, aggressive, relationally abusive

Individuals deficient in skills that regulate emotion, cognition, self, behavior, and relationships

“DISRUPTIVE” STUDENTS

Anything that causes you concern.

Anything that prevents you from being able to effectively perform your duties.

When in doubt, err on the side of caution and let the appropriate officials make the determination on the level and type of intervention.

EXAMPLES OF DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIORS

Preventing Disruptive Behavior

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

Set the tone

Their rights and responsibilities.

Establish YOUR expectations

Preventing Disruptive Behavior

How to be recognized

How to debate

“Negotiate” negotiable items,

How to address you

On your syllabus – and in your office

Attendance and punctuality

Behavioral Standards

Academic Integrity

Consequences

Campus resources (e.g., Counseling Center)

In Class

“It’s better to be respected than liked!”

Role Modeling

Classroom techniques

Outside of Class

Talk to each other

Know your resources

Professional Development

Confronting DISRUPTIVE students

ID the behaviorRemain calmListenAcknowledge feelings not behavior

Allow some expressionIdentify concern/issue. Offer a resolution

THE “DON’T” LIST

Confronting DISRUPTIVE Students

DO NOT:Raise your voiceArgue with the studentChallenge or threaten the studentGet too close to the student (personal space)

Allow the student to get too close to you

Touch the student (EVER!)Point or use gestures that are challenging or threatening

Use any abusive or derisive language

Humiliate the student

IF the incident de-escalates

Document, Document, Document

Including:WhatWhenWhereWho

Follow-UpThe “Don’t Include” List

NOTE!

Be cautious when meeting with these students. Have

someone else present, leave the door open with someone within easy hearing/seeing

distance, etc.

But what if it does NOT de-

escalate?

REMEMBER: NEVER PUT YOURSELF IN DANGER OR

JEOPARDY – REMOVE YOURSELF AND ANY OTHERS FROM THE

SITUATION AND NOTIFY THE POLICE!

QUESTIONS AND

COMMENTS?For more information on training and/or CUBIT or policy development,

contact W. Scott Lewis, JDat Scott@NCHERM.ORGor www.NCHERM.org

610-993-0229

This presentation is the intellectual property of the presenter and may not be used without express written permission.