Behavioral Intervention Team

“See something? Say something.”

 

The Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) will respond to students in apparent or potential distress. A student in immediate emotional distress may need to be directed to Counseling Services (Student Center - room 261, or call 423-697-5583). Always call 911 or Campus Police (423-697-4467) in case of an immediate threat or emergency.

Report Concerning Student Behavior.
 

Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide confidential, respectful, and proactive support resources to students exhibiting concerning behaviors, and to assist them in completing their educational goals. We seek to foster a college environment that is welcoming, supportive, caring, and as free from disruption to the educational process as possible.
 

Team Goals 

Chattanooga State Community College is concerned about the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff. ChattState 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 Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT). This team is responsible for upholding college policies and procedures regarding student behavior.

  • Review information from faculty, staff, students, and/or community members; conduct investigations to determine an 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 any 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 need-to-know and emergency communication needs.
  • Coordinate actions: threat assessment, Student Conduct, Disability Services, hospitalization, and/or medical leave/withdrawal, as needed. 

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

The BIT 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, the BIT centralizes the reporting of concerning student behavior, publicizes current policy, and encourages early intervention. 

The BIT 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 some 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 here.
 

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 their judgment. This student may be reluctant to or even completely unaware that they 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.

 

Responses to Level 1 & 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 them 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 them with the Student Support Services phone number (423-697-5583).

The following are statements that you may use to begin a conversation: 

  • "Sounds like you are really struggling. 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 services are free, so take advantage of them.”

 

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, they 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. 

 

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. 
  • When providing, emphasize the purpose, process, and benefit of the feedback. Seek to normalize the experience by using examples, such as a volunteer upperclassman’s work. Understand that some students may lack basic life skills and could be deficient in many areas.
     

Outside the Classroom 

  • Identify career counseling as a tool for personal growth.
  • Encourage student involvement in events, campus clubs, and/or community activities.
  • Inform students with disabilities about the self-identification process to utilize accommodations.

 

Contact

Office of Student Conduct & Resolution

  • Director - Wesley Bolton (423-697-2482)
  • Student Conduct Officer - Chad Goral (423-697-3390)
     

Office of Organizational Culture & Engagement 

  • Executive Director - Stephen Wyatt (423-697-3276)
  • Assistant Director - Becca Mendez (423-697-3218)

Other

  • Career Services: 423-697-4421
  • Student Experience: 423-697-4423
  • Center for Access & Disability Services: 423-697-4452

 

FAQ's

Who can make a BIT Team referral?

Anyone who feels a student’s behavior is concerning can make a BIT referral including students, parents, faculty, staff, and community members.

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

To make a BIT referral, use the “Submit a Report” link on the Student Conduct & Resolution home page. You will be asked for basic information about the student, how to contact you (in case the BIT has follow-up questions), and for a description of the incident or behaviors that prompted the referral. You are the BIT’s 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 they are okay. In many cases, students will indicate that they could use some help, and you can refer them to a Chatt State counselor at 423-697-5583.  

In addition to the above link, you may also use the “How do I Report” link at the bottom of every chattanoogastate.edu webpage. 

If you feel there is an immediate threat, call the Chattanooga State Police Department at 423-697-4467. 

What happens after I make the referral?

The BIT’s Case Manager or designee will reach out to you confirming that the report has been received. They may ask for additional information, questions, and/or updates. BIT members evaluate all information and make a decision about whether the student should be assessed or interviewed while choosing the best intervention for the student. Reporting, however, is the most critical step. 

The BIT will keep you updated within the extent of FERPA guidelines and need-to-know communications. However, once a case is in the BIT’s hands, it is important for the team to maintain confidentiality.

What happens to the student in the BIT process?

The BIT provides students with confidential, respectful, and proactive support while offering resources and balancing the educational needs of students within the mission of the College. Every student’s needs are unique, so each intervention will focus on what is best for the student. Most commonly, a resource on campus or the community can resolve a student’s need or push them closer in the right direction.

How do I know if a student’s behavior is a BIT issue or something 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 report. If another campus resource is more appropriate, the BIT will refer the student and handle the transfer of information. 

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