Drama and Trauma : Managing Disruptive Student Behavior

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Drama and Trauma Managing Disruptive Student
Behavior

• Dan Beck, Interim Chief of Police
• Dr. Anna Escamilla, Director of Disability
  Services
• Dr. Willard Pannabecker, Director of Counseling
  and Health Services
• Nicole Guerrero Trevino, Associate Dean of
  Students

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Behavioral Concerns

• Disturbing
  Disruptive
• Students behaviors can range from things that
  disturb you to things that disrupt your ability
  to conduct class.

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What Is Disturbing Behavior?

• Creates annoyance, concern and frustration
• May not have a negative impact on other students,
  the professors ability to teach or conduct tasks
• May indicate the student is having difficulty
  with his/her academic performance

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Examples of Disturbing Behavior

• Student alludes to, or refers to, harm to self or
  others
• Student is extremely thin and has unhealthy skin
  pallor
• Student discloses overly personal or
  inappropriate comments in class discussions
• Student uses combat-related words out of context
• Student may pace in the back or leave classroom
  if upset

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Examples of Disturbing Behavior

• Students writing/comments reflect extreme level
  of hopelessness or pessimism
• Student often becomes agitated or overly
  emotional in class
• Student displays a spaced out look, appearing to
  be under the influence of a chemical substance

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Possible Action Steps

• In class discussion, intervenereframe, redirect
  or switch the topic.
• Trust your intuition take the situation
  seriously meet with the student.
• Focus on the behavior.
• Voice your concern to the student in a caring,
  but direct and specific manner.
• Refer the student to appropriate support
  services.
• Document the concern and the referral in your
  records.

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Disruptive Student Behavior

• Disruptive student behavior interferes with the
  educational process of other students or prevents
  faculty or staff from performing their
  professional responsibilities.

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Examples of Disruptive Student Behavior

• Confrontational student
• Verbally abusive student
• Destructive, vandalizing student
• Student who interrupts the classroom process
• Strong reaction to certain topics

• Out of turn remarks
• Takes over the lecture
• Uses cell phone in class
• Is consistently late
• Is a noise maker

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Immediate Intervention in the Classroom

• Verbal request to stop the behavior
• Verbal request to exit classroom
• Phone call to SEU Police if behavior doesnt stop

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Possible Action Steps

• 1. Talk to the student about the behavior in a
  timely manner.
• 2. Respect and maintain the students privacy.
• If necessary, ask your dean/director to be
  present when you meet with the student.
• 4. Leave your office door open and alert
  another staff member to stand-by.
• 5. Provide written summation of meeting as
  part of follow-up process.

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Action Steps Continued

• 6. Provide a deadline for behavior change.
• 7. Provide written description of the
  consequences that will occur if the behavior
  continues.
• 8. Provide a copy to your dean/director and
  the student and the Dean of Students.
• 9. Follow through on consequences.

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Possible Consequences if Behavior Does not Change

• Complete judicial referral form and return to the
  Dean of Students Office
• Charge student with a violation of the Code of
  Conduct
• Drop student from course

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Resources

• Counseling and Consultation Center
• Dean of Students Office
• Disability Services
• Health Center
• Residence Life
• School Deans
• Student Concerns Committee
• University Police Dept

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