Behavioral Intervention Team
About and Purpose
The Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) is composed of several campus areas that have direct responsibility for student wellness, mental and physical health, academic success, emergency intervention and response, and policy education and enforcement, addressing a variety of incidents from access to basic needs to mild distress to high-level threats of violence. BIT meets weekly to identify situations or students of concern, threats, or disruptions to the campus community.
The mission of the BIT is to identify students who demonstrate behaviors that may be warning signs of threats to themselves or others, exhibit disruptive behaviors, or have barriers to success. BIT’s goal is to successfully engage, support, and provide resources to students who exhibit concerns through a coordinated effort involving campus services and programs. Overall, BIT’s goal is to foster a safer campus community and contribute to increasing student wellbeing, retention, and success.
Other Useful Resources
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Confidentiality
Information discussed in the BIT meetings is to be considered private and will not be shared outside the BIT unless there is an imminent threat/need to know or without a signed release of information. Some exceptions exist due to state and federal law:
- Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (Link FERPA)
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) (Link HIPAA)
- Counselor Confidentiality (Link to Counseling Services)
What does BIT do?
BIT provides:
- Direct outreach and offers of support and resources to students in varying levels of crisis
- Consultation and support resources to all members of the campus community in assisting individuals who display concerning behaviors
- Recommendations and appropriate intervention
- Connections to campus and community resources for mental and physical health, identity development, accessibility, students with disabilities, support, housing, and financial resources, and more.
- Response to reports of disruption to the campus community by gathering information in order to evaluate, address, and help to prevent further disruptions or threats to individuals or the campus community.
Common Resources provided by BIT:
- Connection to Counseling Services
- Individual, solution-based services
- Referrals to community mental health services (Community therapists, psychiatrists, in-patient or out-patient services)
- Counseling Services also hosts several group sessions for students including grief, all-recovery, anxiety and depression.
- Safety Planning, Self-Harm and Suicide Prevention through Counseling Services
- Counseling Services can work with students to identify risk factors for self-harm and suicidal ideation
- “Handle with Care” Request
- “Handle with Care” requests are sent typically to faculty when a student is experiencing a significant event which may impact their class performance. The request does not excuse attendance or class work; however, it does ask professors for any appropriate flexibility for arrangements at their ability and discretion. Arrangements may include additional time/extensions on assignments, alternative methods for attendance, assistance with notes, or other arrangements determined appropriate by the professor. “Arrangements” are not guaranteed such as “accommodations” provided by Accessibility Services. It is the student’s responsibility to be in contact with professors to discuss arrangements as each professor may be able to offer different arrangements.
- “Handle with Care” requests also inform professors that a student is connected with at least one Student Affairs office for support. The request also asks professors to report any concerns with students’ academic performance, attendance, or behavior to the Dean of Students, who will refer these concerns to the appropriate support resource.
- Absentee Notice
- Absentee Notices are sent to professors to excuse students’ class attendance for legitimate reasons determined by the Student Handbook. Reasons include a death in the family, incapacitating illness or injury, or inclement weather (commuters only). Appropriate documentation is required for an absentee notice.
- Connection to Accessibility Services for accommodations
- Accessibility Services works with students to gather documentation and provide support for ADA accommodations in and outside the classroom.
- Connection to the Shepherd University Health Center
- The Health Center provides basic level medical care for minor acute illness or injury as well as referrals for additional care options.
- Connection with law enforcement, including Shepherd University Police Department, Shepherdstown Police, Jefferson County Sheriffs Department, or West Virginia State Police
- Connection to Title IX
- Title IX reviews all complaints/reports of gender-based violence, harassment, and/or discrimination to provide supportive measures and resolutions
- Shepherd University maintains a connection with Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center (Off-Campus resource), which provides an array of prevention and support services for sexual and domestic violence, stalking, human trafficking, and discrimination.
- Alcohol or Drug Assessment through the Dean of Students Office or Counseling Services
- BASICS and CASICS individual screening programs for Alcohol and Cannabis are available through the Dean of Students office
- Individual counseling and referrals based on alcohol or drug use are available through Counseling Services
- Connection to the Student Success Center
- Student Success offers individual coaching to create academic plans and develop tools for success in and outside the classroom
- Targeted reach outs from staff or faculty
- In some cases, connecting students to a person outside the BIT is appropriate due to their involvement in a particular academic program, service, group, or organization. Asking these individuals to reach out and offer support or a connection in their areas can be a benefit to address a risk or be a mitigating factor.
- Connection to the Advising Assistance Center
- The AAC can help navigate degree requirements, understand academic policies and procedures, and identify correct forms needed for these processes.
- Connection to Financial Aid
- Financial Aid can assist in finding additional financial resources, Satisfactory Academic Progress Processes, Loan Counseling, and more.
- Connection to International Affairs
- International Affairs can help to navigate documentation needed for international students, navigate financial issues/international monetary transfers, and address transportation and travel.
- Connection with appropriate off-campus services and resources such as advocacy services, community members, legal advisors, or Veterans Affairs
- Connection to the Ram Pantry and Ram Closet (Free On-Campus resource which provides food and clothing to members of the campus community)
- Connection with Student Activities (Clubs, Organizations, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Program Board)
- Connection with Residence Life (housing concerns, relocation)