Behavior Intervention Team

Behavior Intervention Team (BIT) is a cross-functional assessment group that will respond to students in apparent/potential distress.

“See something, hear something? Say something!”

Purpose

The Behavior Intervention Team (BIT) is committed to the mission of the college, and our mission is to assist students in completing their educational goals while fostering a college environment that is caring, inclusive, and as free from disruption to the educational process as possible. It is important that all members of the campus community assist in working toward this endeavor.
Anyone who feels a student’s behavior is concerning can make a referral to BIT. Likewise, students may also need to be directed to the counseling office (IMC 124, 423-697-4483) if you believe them to be in immediate emotional distress.

Students who are acting in a manner not in keeping with campus policies or the student code of conduct should be referred to

Sandy Rutter, Assistant Vice President of Student Engagement & Support Services (423-697-4475)
Stephen Wyatt, Director of Student Conduct (423-697-3276)

Always call 911 or Campus Police (423-697-4467) in case of an immediate threat or emergency.

Behavior Intervention Team (BIT) Team Goals

Chattanooga State Community College is concerned about the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff. ChSCC is committed to providing an environment where individuals are free to work, learn and teach, unencumbered and uninhibited by threats of intimidation or harm. To this end, the college has established the Behavior Intervention Team (BIT) Team. This team is responsible for upholding college policies and procedures regarding student behavior. 

Mission Statement:

BIT Team provides proactive assistance to students who are exhibiting concerning behaviors, both to support students and assist faculty/staff.

Ethics of BIT Team:

The ethics of the BIT Team are to provide confidential, respectful, proactive support, while offering resources and balancing the educational needs of students with the mission of ChSCC.

Goals of BIT Team: 

  • Review information from faculty, staff, students and/or community members; conduct investigation to determine appropriate response. Intervene early.
  • Provide support and response to students displaying varying levels of disruptive, disturbed or distressed behaviors.
  • Centralize collection and assessment of concerning student behaviors.
  • Connect the dots’ of disparate problematic actions involving one student that may be known to various faculty, staff and administrators.
  • Coordinate follow-up.
  • Ensure that services, support and resources are deployed effectively.
  • Utilize a formalized protocol of instructions for communication, coordination and intervention.
  • Balance FERPA, HIPAA and counselor privilege with college need-to-know and emergency communication needs.
  • Coordinate actions: psychological assessment, conduct actions, disability services, hospitalization and/or medical leave/withdrawal, as needed. 

As a result of growing national trends concerning mental health issues on college campuses, ChSCC created the Behavior Intervention Team. BIT Team has been charged with upholding policies and maintaining a healthy and safe environment for the college community.

BIT Team is not meant to take the place of standard classroom management techniques utilized by faculty. Implementation of this team does not alter any existing discipline policies. Rather, BIT Team centralizes the reporting of concerning student behavior, publicizes current policy and encourages early intervention.

BIT Team will utilize a database where real-time incident information will be submitted by college employees, students or other concerned individuals. Incident reports will be reviewed daily (Monday-Friday). The team will follow up promptly with the individual initiating the report to gather additional information. In most cases, an interview will be arranged with the student of concern to determine appropriate actions. Incident reports should be completed when someone observes incidents of concerning, aberrant, dangerous or threatening behavior. Incident reports should be completed within 24 hours of the demonstrated behavior and can be found on the main BIT Team home page.

   

Behavior Intervention Team (BIT) Guidelines

This document is a resource for recognizing behaviors that indicate a student might need assistance or an invention.

Identifying At-Risk Behaviors

Level 1: Distress

A student exhibiting these behaviors may need some level of assistance or support.

  •  Change from good to poor academic performance or persistent and serious grade problems.
  •  Change from frequent attendance to excessive absences.
  •  Change in pattern of interaction in the classroom or among peers.
  •  Change in mood, motor activity, speech, or physical appearance.

Level 2: Disturbance

A student exhibiting these behaviors may be experiencing emotional difficulties that impede his/her judgment. This student may be reluctant to or even completely unaware that he/she should seek professional help.

  • Repeated requests for special consideration in the classroom.
  • New and/or continuous interruptions that disrupt and fracture the classroom environment.
  • Unusual, inappropriate, and/or exaggerated emotional responses that do not relate to the situation or the experience.

Level 3: Crisis

A student exhibiting these behaviors is experiencing severe distress and possibly needs immediate, professional care.

  • Demonstrates hostile, aggressive, and/or violent behavior.
  • Communicates in a confusing, garbled, slurred, or disjointed manner.
  • Fails to connect with reality as represented by seeing/hearing things that are not there and/or discussing beliefs or exhibiting actions that are counter to reality.
  • Communicates suicidal thoughts as represented by discussing suicide is a current option.
  • Displays a deficiency to regulate emotional, cognitive, self-controlling behaviors in relationships.

Taking Action

Responses to Level 1 and Level 2 Behaviors

  • Calmly talk to the student in private when you both have time.
  • Express your concern in non-judgmental terms.
  • Listen to the student and repeat what the student says.
  • Clarify the pros and cons of each option for handling the problem from the student’s point of view.
  • Respect the student’s value system.
  • Ask if the student is considering suicide.
  • Make appropriate referrals if necessary.
  • Make sure the student understands what action is necessary.

Responses to Level 3 Behavior

  • Remain calm.
  • Contact emergency referrals. 

Talking to Students about Your Concerns

Be cognizant about the limits of your ability to help. You can help an individual access support by informing him/her of the college’s counseling services. Explain that students seek counseling for a variety of reasons. If a student is receptive to seeing a counselor, provide him/her with the Career Services and Counseling Department’s telephone number (423) 697-4421. Below are statements that you begin a conversation.

  • “Sounds like you are really struggling with _________. Many people find it helpful to have a confidential discussion with someone who is objective and outside of the situation.”
  • “I want to help you get the help you need and deserve.”
  • “Meeting with a Chattanooga State counselor is confidential and will not go on your academic record.”
  • “These are services free; so take advantage of them.”

Do's and Don’ts for Responding to Suicidal Gestures

  • Do show that you take the student’s feelings seriously.
  • Do let the student know that you want to help.
  • Do listen attentively and empathize.
  • Do reassure that, with help and motivation, he/she can develop a more positive outlook.
  • Do stay close until help is available or risk has passed.
  • Don't try to shock or challenge the student.
  • Don't assume the student is only seeking attention.
  • Don't become argumentative.
  • Don't react with shock or disdain at the student’s thoughts and feelings.
  • Don't discount the student’s distress.

More Tips for Faculty

In the Classroom

  • Create opportunities for connections in your classroom and work to engage the withdrawn or socially isolated student.
  • Phrase feedback positively whenever possible.
  • During critiques, emphasize the purpose, process and benefit of them. Seek to normalize the experience by using examples, such as an invited upperclassman’s work. Understand that some students lack basic life skills and could be deficient in many areas.

Outside the Classroom

  • Identify career counseling as a tool for personal growth.
    • Contact Career Services and Counseling at (423) 697-4421 for more information.
  • Encourage student involvement in events, campus clubs, and/or community activities.
    • Contact student activities director, at (423) 697-2482.
  • Inform students with disabilities about the self-identification process to utilize accommodations.
    • Contact Disabilities Support Services, (423) 697-4452 for more information.
  • Engage with students at activities and on campus. Help them feel valued.
  • Consult with the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) as needed. They are available for feedback, assistance and support.

Office of Judicial Affairs

Sandy Rutter, Dean of Student Life & Judicial Affairs, (423) 697-4475
Stephen Wyatt, Director of Student Conduct (423-697-3276)

Behavior Intervention Team (BIT) Frequently Asked Questions

Who can make a BIT Team referral?

Anyone who feels a student’s behavior is concerning can make a BIT (Behavior Intervention Team) referral, including students, parents, faculty, staff and community members

What is the process for making a referral to the BIT Team?

If you feel there is an immediate threat, call ChSCC Department of Public Safety (DPS) at 423-697-4467. To make a referral, use the “Submit a Report” link on the Judicial Affairs home page. You will be asked for basic information about the student, how to contact you (in case the BIT Team has follow-up questions) and for a description of the incident or behaviors that prompted the referral. You are the BIT Teams best resource because you may be familiar to the student. If you are comfortable doing so, tell the student that you are concerned and ask if he/she is ok. In many cases, students will indicate that he/she could use some help and you can refer them to a ChSCC counselor at 423/697-4421. 

What happens after I make the referral?

BIT Team members evaluate the information and make a decision about whether the student should be assessed /interviewed. Reporting, however, is the most critical step.

What happens to the student in the BIT Team process?

BIT Team provides students with confidential, respectful, proactive support, while offering resources and balancing the educational needs of students with the mission of ChSCC.

How do I know if a concerning behavior is a BIT issue, or is more appropriately handled by other campus resources?

You do not have to make this determination. The most critical step is that you report the concerning behavior by filing a BIT Team report. If another campus resource is more appropriate, BIT Team will refer the student and handle the transfer of information.

NOTE: Never promise confidentiality to student(s) during initial referral.