Responding to Disruptive or Threatening Student Behavior:

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Responding to Disruptive or Threatening Student
Behavior 

• A Guide for Faculty
•  

Georgia Southern University Office of Judicial
Affairs
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Introduction

• This manual is intended to offer guidance and
  support should you need to respond to disruptive
  or threatening student behavior.
• If you need immediate assistance in responding to
  a threat to your safety, or the safety of others,
  contact Georgia Southern University Public Safety
  at [phone].
• Off campus and satellite locations should dial
  911.

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Establishing Expectations for Classroom Conduct

• Behavioral concerns can be addressed in course
  syllabus.
• Common to include a warning about cheating and
  plagiarism.
• Examples of other behaviors that may be
  addressed
• intimidation or harassing behavior
• inappropriate, disrespectful, or uncivil
  responses to others
• biased based behaviors
• excessive talking
• late arrival or early departure from class
  without permission
• use of personal electronic devices
• refusal to comply with faculty direction

BACK
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On-line Class Conduct and Electronic
Communication

• The number of students taking online classes has
  increased, as has the use of electronic
  communication tools.
• Faculty members must establish expectations for
  students during on-line classes and through
  electronic communications.
• Recommended expectations for electronic
  communication should be included on the syllabus.

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Give a Warning

• Address recurrent acts of disruptive behavior
  directly.
• Remind the entire class of the need to follow
  standards.
• Speak individually with a student who exhibits
  disruptive behavior or commits a serious incident
  of misconduct.
• A confidential meeting with an individual student
  is the best way to discuss concerns.
• Do not meet alone with any student believed to be
  a threat.
• If a meeting cannot be arranged, communicate by
  phone, email, letter, fax, or any method that
  allows you to reach the student.
• Make a written record of the meeting.

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Involve Others as Appropriate

• You may find it helpful to involve your
  department chair, supervisor, or dean when
  meeting with a student.
• The Office of Judicial Affairs is also available
  for consultation.

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Student Removal from Class

• Students cannot be involuntarily withdrawn except
  by University policy or student discipline
  procedures.
• Conversations with students to seek their
  voluntary withdrawal should be thoughtfully
  considered.
• Withdrawals are appropriate when personal
  conflict cannot be resolved.
• If necessary, remove the student from a single
  class.
• If a student refuses to leave call the Georgia
  Southern University Public Safety at (912)
  478-5234 for assistance.
• Immediately report any removal to your department
  chair.
• The Office of Judicial Affairs should also be
  notified as quickly as possible by calling (912)
  478-0059.

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Identifying and Referring the Distressed Student

• Guidelines for identifying students in distress
  are available at http//students.georgiasouthern.e
  du/counseling/faculty/students.htm
• It is imperative that you report any distressing
  behavior to the University Behavior Assessment
  Team at http//students.georgiasouthern.edu/judici
  al/student_wbir.htm

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Meeting with a Potentially Threatening Student
For a complete list, read the Classroom
Disruption manual.
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Filing a Student Misconduct Complaint

• For your convenience, the Judicial Referral form
  is available at http//students.georgiasouthern.ed
  u/judicial/student_wbir.htm.
• A written complaint may be submitted in any form
  as long as it includes the following information
  
• Full name, identification number, phone number
  and email address of student.
• A description of the misconduct, including date,
  time and place of occurrence.
• Names of witnesses, what they observed, and how
  to reach them.
• Supporting documentation/evidence of misconduct.
• Information of similar previous incidents.
• Your name and how you may be reached.

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Initiation of Student Discipline

• The Director of Judicial Affairs initiates formal
  disciplinary action against a student.
• If student is in violation of the Student Code of
  Conduct, the following steps are taken
• The student is notified in writing of the alleged
  violation.
• The student may accept responsibility for the
  charge or request a formal hearing.
• If a hearing is requested, a hearing is conducted
  by a University Administrator or the University
  Judicial Board.
• At the conclusion of the hearing, the student
  will be notified of his/her right to appeal any
  sanction.

For more information about the judicial process,
go to http//students.georgiasouthern.edu/judicial
/judicial_process_faculty.htm.
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References
This document was adapted for Georgia Southern
University from Responding to Disruptive or
Threatening Student Behavior A Guide for
Faculty (Virginia Tech University)
  http//www.hr.vt.edu/employeescorner/files/file
_hr_Dis_Stdnt_Manl.pdf