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 professor’s 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 • Student’s 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

1.

In class discussion, intervene—reframe, redirect or switch the topic.

2.

Trust your intuition; take the situation seriously; meet with the student.

3.

Focus on the behavior.

4.

Voice your concern to the student in a caring, but direct and specific manner.

5.

Refer the student to appropriate support services.

6.

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 • Out of turn remarks • Verbally abusive student • Takes over the lecture • Destructive, vandalizing student • Uses cell phone in class • Is consistently late • Student who interrupts the classroom process • Strong reaction to certain topics

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• Is a noise maker

Immediate Intervention in the Classroom

• Verbal request to stop the behavior • Verbal request to exit classroom • Phone call to SEU Police if behavior doesn’t 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 student’s privacy.

3.

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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