w. scott lewis, jd partner, the national center for higher education risk management assoc. general...
TRANSCRIPT
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.”
“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.
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)
Confronting DISRUPTIVE students
ID the behaviorRemain calmListenAcknowledge feelings not behavior
Allow some expressionIdentify concern/issue. Offer a resolution
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.
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 [email protected] www.NCHERM.org
610-993-0229
This presentation is the intellectual property of the presenter and may not be used without express written permission.