How to Report to BIT
- Contact a BIT member directly via email, phone, or visit their office (LINK to BIT members page)
- Each BIT member can receive a report of concern that can be communicated back to the full BIT team at any time. BIT members meet weekly but keep in contact about concerns reported throughout the week.
- Reporting directly to a BIT member is the quickest way to get information to the full BIT.
- Submit a Beacon Alert (https://shepherd.campuslabs.com/beaconV2)
- Beacon is an early alert system that connects students with focused support from their success network of staff and faculty. Log in to Beacon using your Shepherd Credentials. For more info about Beacon please visit https://www.shepherd.edu/studentsuccess/beacon-resources
- Submit a report to Guardian
- Guardian is an Incident Report System that sends reports directly to the Dean of Students Office, Title IX, or Residence Life. Guardian has a specific Incident report page for BIT Incidents which can be accessed here (https://shepherd.guardianconduct.com/incident-reporting) Log in is not required to submit a report.
What to include in your report
- Name of Student of Concern (if available)
- Other individuals who may have been involved
- Date of incident of concern/date of first awareness of a concern
- Context of concern, behaviors observed, or history of known/documented behaviors
- Information of individual reporting (If you are a Campus Security Authority-CSA, you are a mandatory reporter and information about certain student crisis must be reported to the appropriate university staff. All employees are mandatory reporters. Students who are not CSAs may choose not to share their information.)
Types of Concerns reported to BIT
The following examples are types of concerns that should be reported to BIT; this is not a comprehensive list, so if you know of, become aware of, or witness concerning behaviors of a member of the campus community not on this list, please do not hesitate to report that information to a member of BIT. Please note that these concerns are not all indicators of an imminent threat. However, these concerns may indicate an individual is in distress, needs access to resources, and/or could signify a potential threat to themselves or others.
Social
- Individual appears to be isolated,
- Individual has difficulties making connections to others, may be considered a “loner”, or has no campus connections
- Individual refuses to communicate or is unresponsive to contacts
- Individual rarely comes out of their residence hall room
- Individual has online classes only and is not participating in events or other opportunities on campus
- Individual blames others in their community for behaviors, or consistently denies accountability for events
- Individual has difficulties getting along with others, working in groups, or others feel afraid of the individual
Emotional, Mental Health, or Physical Health
- Individual focuses on an event in which they perceive to be unfairly treated or persecuted by others
- Individual appears to lack appropriate emotional or social response-this may include emotional outbursts, exaggerated personality traits, or unstable moods
- Individual is observed with signs of agitation (pacing, clinched fists, talking to self, red in the face, destroying property, etc.)
- Individual discloses feelings of depression, hopelessness, despair, anxiety, grief
- Individual discloses, exhibits behaviors, makes comments, or provides evidence about suicidal feelings or a plan to attempt suicide, or has the means to attempt suicide
- Individual discloses, exhibits behaviors, makes comments, or provided evidence about causing harm to others or committing acts of violence, or may have a fascination with acts of violence, weapons, or explosives
- Individual has identified contingencies that may provoke an act of self-harm or harm to others
- Individual has diminished self-care or poor hygiene or is not eating consistently/at all, or over-eating (excessive weight gain or loss)
- Individual has visible self-harm cuts, bruises, or burns
- Individual has health issues or a medical emergency that may cause them to miss class for a prolonged period, or may significantly interfere with their day-to-day tasks.
- Individual has been seen using/misusing alcohol or drugs, is exhibiting signs of being intoxicated during classes or academic settings, is misusing or suspected of misusing drugs or alcohol (signs may include slurred speech, being off balance, inattentive, red eyes, etc.)
Academic/Financial
- Individual is consistently not attending class, not submitting assignments, or not participating in classes at their normal level
- Individual is experiencing issues with a certain class, or may be falling behind significantly in a class
- Individual has a hold on their account
- Individual needs assistance with time management, communication, advising, or tutoring resources
- Individual has financial barriers to paying remaining balance
- Individual has food or housing insecurity
History factors that may be relevant to include in a report
- Known or documented history of being bullied or harassed
- Known or documented history of drug or alcohol misuse
- Known or documented history of suicide attempts
- Known or documented access to weapons
- Known or documented traumatic event (recent or past) such as a death in the family, medical event, mental health event, has been a part of an incident of sexual or domestic violence
- Known or documented history of violence, threats to others, or damaging property