Drama and Trauma : Managing Disruptive Student Behavior

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Drama and Trauma Managing Disruptive Student
Behavior

• St. Edwards University
• Student Affairs
• Lisa K. Martinez
• Dean of Students
• Psychological Services
• Selia Servín-López, Psy.D.
• Staff Psychologist
• University Police
• Larry Garrison, Chief
• Dan Beck, Lieutenant
• April 23, 2003

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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?

• Disturbing behavior creates concern, alarm, fear,
  and frustration.
• May not have a negative impact on other students,
  the professors ability to teach or conduct
  tasks.

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• May indicate the student is having difficulties
  affecting his/her academic performance.

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Disturbing Behavior

• Student joking in class about killing himself /
  herself.
• Student joking about mutilating himself /
  herself.
• A student who appears to be loosing significant
  weight and speaks lightly about it
• A student who discloses personal information
  readily.

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• A student who appears to work harder than others
  and still performs poorly on exams.
• A student who lacks concentration and / or
  motivation.
• A student whose writing appears disjointed and
  fragmented, demonstrating an inability to
  maintain logical sequence in his/her thought
  processes.

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• A student whose writing reflects hopelessness and
  extreme pessimism or is very sad.
• A student who demonstrates nervousness, profuse
  perspiration, or complains of feeling nauseous.
• A student who reports that someone is following
  him / her around campus.

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Action

• Identify with the student the problem areas be
  specific.
• Refer the student to the appropriate support
  services.
• Document the concern, the referral and provide a
  copy to the student.
• Voice your concern to the student.

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• Respond with firm concern.
• Focus on the Here and Now.
• Switch topics and divert focus from the
  irrational to the rational.
• Take the student seriously.

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List of Specific Problem Areas

• Talks about self harm /harm to others.
• Exhibits behavior that appears bizarre.
• Appears to be cheating.
• Frequently misses class or comes in late.

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List of Specific Problem Areas

• Speech is slurred, falls asleep in class.
• Appears to have a distorted body image.
• Cries silently in class.
• Displays a spaced out look, appearing to be under
  the influence of a chemical substance.

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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

• Confrontational student.
• Verbally abusive student.
• Destructive, vandalizing student.

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• Student who interrupts the classroom process.
• Out of turn remarks.
• Takes over the lecture.
• Uses cell phones 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 leave.
• Call SEU Police

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Action Steps

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

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Action Steps Continued

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

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Possible Consequences if Behavior Does not Change

• Charge the student with a violation of the
  Student Code of Conduct.
• Dropping student from the course.
• Referral to the Dean of Students Office.

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• ST. EDWARD'S UNIVERSITY JUDICIAL REFERRAL FORM
• USE THIS FORM TO REPORT VIOLATIONS OF THE STUDENT
  CODE OF CONDUCT AND/OR REQUEST DISCIPLINARY
  ACTION
• STUDENT'S NAME (INVOLVED IN INCIDENT)_____________
  ____________________________________ STUDENT ID
  ___________________________
• COURSE OR INCIDENT LOCATION_______________________
  _______ DAY/TIME OF INCIDENT _____________________
  _______________
• PERSON FILING REPORT/NAME_________________________
  ________
• PHONE __________________________________________
  ______
• PERSON FILING REPORT SIGNATURE ___________________
  ________
• DATE REPORT FILED ________________________
  ______________
• SCHOOL DEAN/DEPARTMENT HAS REVIEWED REPORT __
  YES__ NO
• SCHOOL DEAN/DEPARTMENT SIGNATURE/DATE_____________
  ___

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• THE ABOVE-NAMED STUDENT HAS EXHIBITED THE
  FOLLOWING BEHAVIORS OR ACTIONS (CHECK AS MANY AS
  APPLY)
• o SCREAMING, INAPPROPRIATE VOLUME AND/OR
• LANGUAGE (PROFANITY).
• o WILLFUL DISOBEDIENCE OR DEFIANCE TOWARD
• UNIVERSITY PERSONNEL.
• o UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY AND/OR USE OF
• UNIVERSITY FACILITIES.
• o WILL NOT LEAVE ROOM/OFFICE WHEN
• REQUESTED.
• o POSSESSION OR USE OF ALCOHOL OR ILLEGAL
• DRUGS ON UNIVERSITY PROPERTY.
• o VERBALLY THREATENING STUDENTS OR
• UNIVERSITY PERSONNEL.
• o SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF ANOTHER STUDENT.

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• o PHYSICALLY THREATENING STUDENTS OR
• UNIVERSITY PERSONNEL.
• o SUSPECTED THIEVERY.
• o WILLFUL DAMAGE TO UNIVERSITY PROPERTY.
• o DISORDERLY, LEWD, INDECENT OR OBSCENE
• CONDUCT.
• o POSSESSION OR USE OF FIREARMS,
• EXPLOSIVES, DANGEROUS CHEMICALS OR
• OTHER WEAPONS ON UNIVERSITY PROPERTY.
• o FIGHTING WITH ANOTHER STUDENT (VERBAL
• AND/OR PHYSICAL).

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• o OTHER - DESCRIBE BELOW.
• o UNAUTHORIZED USE OF THE STUDENT
• IDENTIFCATION CARD.
• OTHER (DESCRIBE SPECIFIC BEHAVIOR)
• __________________________________________________
  ____________________
• DESCRIBE THE BEHAVIOR OR INCIDENT (USE ADDITIONAL
  SHEETS IF NECESSARY)
• __________________________________________________
  ____________________
• FOLLOW-UP ACTION REQUESTED (CHECK AS MANY AS ARE
  RELEVANT)
• o FOR YOUR INFORMATION ONLY. NO FOLLOW-UP
  REQUESTED.
• o PLEASE CALL WITH SUGGESTED INTERVENTIONS.
• o PLEASE SEE STUDENT FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTION.
• o EMERGENCY IF HELP IS NEEDED IMMEDIATELY, CALL
  THE UNIVERSITY POLICE DEPARTMENT AT 448-8444.
• DATE/TIME RECEIVED BY DEAN OF STUDENTS
• ___________________________________________
• RETURN FORM TO DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE MB 108
• RETAIN COPY FOR YOUR INFORMATION

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Emergency Card

• Campus Ministry448-8499
• Dean of Students448-8408
• Health Center.448-8686
• Psychological Services......448-8538
• Residence Life.......448-8419
• University Police Dept......448-8538

After business hours, please call UPD at
448-8444 and they will assist you in reaching the
appropriate staff member on duty.
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Harmony Through Collaboration