If You Encounter a Community Member with a Problem

Emergency / Illness / Emotional Behavior
If you see or are dealing withaggressive behavior, contactthe Campus Safety Department. After the incident, contact the Dean of Students, the Behavioral Intervention Team Chair, at x2116 or
Campus Safety Department
Mr. Mike Finegan
x6242

orcall 911 / If you see or are dealing with a person who is injured, or whose behavior seems erratic, contact:
Student Health Services
Mrs. Linda McDade
x6249

Loughran Hall, Terrace / If you see or are dealing with a student who needs to talk to someone about personal concerns or is experiencing a psychological or emotional crisis, contact:
Counseling/Student Development Center
Dr. Robert Shaw
x6245

1010 McGowan Center
Faculty & Staff Behavior / Disruptive/Worrisome Behavior / Behaviors Affecting Academics
If you witness a faculty/staff member who is disruptive but not necessarily dangerous in nature, contact Human Resources or the Academic Dean’s Office. Disruptive /worrisome behavior includes behavior that interferes with the Marywood community members’ ability to live, learn and work.
Human Resources:
Dr. Patricia Dunleavy
570-348-6220 or
86 Liberal Arts Center
Academic Deans
College of Health & Human Services: x6295
Reap College of Education & Human Development: x6230
School of Architecture: x4536
Insalaco College of Creative & Performing Arts: x6000
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences: x6233 / See information inside this folder for warning signs and action steps involving distressed and disruptive behavior. If you see a student who is disruptive, but not necessarily dangerous in nature, contact the MU
Behavioral Intervention Team.
Behavioral InterventionTeam
Mrs. Meghan Cruciani, AVP Student Success
Mr. Mike Finegan, Campus Safety
Mrs. Linda McDade, Health Services
Dr. Amy Paciej-Woodruff, AVP Student Life, Chair
Mr. Tyler Ward, Housing and Residence Life
Dr. Robert Shaw, Counseling/Student Development
Mrs. Diane Webber, Student Support Services
X2116 or
202 Nazareth Student Center / If you identify a student who is experiencing academic or learning concerns, talk to the student. If the problem persists, contact:
Academic Progress Office
Meghan Cruciani
AVP Student Success
x6043

227 Liberal Arts Center
Q: How do I recognize a student in distress?
Common “red flags:”
  • Obvious changes in mood or behavior
  • Tearfulness, depressed mood
  • Restlessness, agitation, acting out
  • Change in grades, class attendance, work habits
  • Anxiety, panic, or avoidant behavior
  • Coming to class drunk, high, hung over
  • Expressions of hopelessness or suicidal behavior
  • Disturbing material submitted in class work, papers, exams
  • Evidence of self-inflicted harm: scars, cuts, burns, etc.
  • Deteriorating hygiene
  • Bizarre behavior/unusual speech
  • Significant weight changes
  • Irritability, outbursts or disruptive behavior
/ Q: How do I help a distressed student?Don’t ignore the situation. Take Action!
Checklist:
  • Talk with the student privately: be specific about the troubling behaviors you have observed. Express your concern and offer assistance, typically a referral to Counseling/Student Development Center, Health Services or other campus resources.
  • Know your campus resourcesso you can speak knowledgeably. Have contact information ready to give the student.
  • Reassure the student and strive to de-stigmatize help-seeking. Remind the student that counseling and health services are free and confidential. Visits will not become a part of their college record.
  • Offer to help the student make an appointment: You may wish to walk with the student to an office to serve as a bridge to a campus resource.
  • Document: follow up and check-in with the student.
  • Call Counseling, Health Services or the Dean of Students.
  • Please report your concerns to the Dean of Students x6016.

Q: Will I be liable for defamation If I call Campus Safety or refer a student for misconduct and it’s later determine I made an honest mistake?
There is little risk of liability for making such a report. There are strong policies to support and protect those who make good faith reports to the appropriate officials even if those reports later prove to be inaccuarate. Common law (or statutes in some states) gives people who report misconduct to proper authorities a “qualified privilege.” That means they cannot be held liable for defamation unless their report was made in bad faith and/or knowledgeably gave false information. Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) takes a “good faith” approach in weighing the actions of university officials to protect students relative to mandated privacy protections of student education records. All cases referred to BIT are treated with care and fairness. All students are provided the opportunity to speak on their own behalf. / Q: If I share my concerns about a student could I get in trouble because of FERPA?
What is often misunderstood about FERPA is that some information is not considered a protected educational record. Personal observations and knowledge not maintained in records or shared with others are not considered educational records. In addition, FERPA allows for information to be shared in the case of an emergency and to help an employee do their job. Therefore, if you have observed behavior or have personal knowledge that suggests a student is in trouble, particularly when you believe the health and safety of the student or others may be in jeopardy, you are encouraged to solicit support and/or advice to diffuse the situation. This may be an action as simple as calling the Dean of Students for advice on handling a disruptive student or calling Campus Safety to report an emergency. / Q: What if a student has a disability?
A documented disability, including a psychiatric disability, does not excuse disruptive behavior nor preclude student compliance with classroom conduct standards. If a student’s disruptive behavior relates to a psychological or physical disability, learn more about how to foster acceptable behavior within the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by contacting the Office of Student Support Services at x6045, 223B Liberal Arts Center.
Q: How should I respond to a disruptive student in the classroom?
Disruptive behavior often is interpreted as falling along a continuum. It amounts to more than strong emotions or opinions expressed during the course of academic debate. It is also more than the expression of controversial and/or extreme points of view. Individual instructors vary in the range of behavior they tolerate in their classrooms. However, “disruptive behavior” generally is that which interferes with teaching and learning. Some examples include:
Verbal badgering, frequent interruptions Physical aggression to people or property
Cursing or use of derogatory & demeaning language Refusal to heed written or oral directions
Verbal or physical threats Erratic, odd or unusual behavior
Intoxication/drug use
Action Checklist
  • Plan ahead.Try to prevent problems before they occur. Determine the standards you wish to enforce in your classroom or office. Include specific behavioral guidelines in your syllabus and discuss your behavioral expectations in class at the beginning of each semester.
  • Inform the student.Communicate (best if done in private) that his/her behavior has violated the rules for acceptable behavior in your classroom. Be specific and concrete about what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Set clear expectations for future behavior.
  • Document your interventions. If you counsel a student about his/her behavior, make a record including the date, names of those present , what was said and describe the student behavior that was objectionable. Follow up with a written summary to the student. Keep you department chair informed of all interventions with disruptive students. Also, provide a copy to the Dean of Students or Campus Safety.
  • In extreme situations. Ask the student to leave the class immediately. Whether the student leaves or not,contact Campus Safety at x6242 to alert them to the situation.
Q: What if the disruption occurs outside the classroom?
If a disruption occurs in an office or public area, remember that safety is key. If a student is behaving in a verbally aggressive manner, remain calm, do not raise your voice or confront the student. Don’t touch the student or move closer.
Politely request that the person respect your physical space and speak in a conversational tone if s/he wishes to continue talking with you. It is always OK to set limits on student behavior, if done appropriately. For example, you may respectfully end the conversation or leave the area if you feel your safety is threatened. Strive to defuse rather than escalate threatening situations.
If you identify someone who is disruptive, but not necessarily dangerous, contact the Dean of Student at x6016. If a student makes a threat or becomes physically aggressive, contact Campus Safety immediately at x6242.
URGENT CONTACT GUIDE
Campus Safety
570-348-6242 or 911
Faculty Issues:
Contact the College Dean or the Vice President for Academic Affairs: x6232
Staff Issues:
Human Resources: x6220
Campus Support Services:
Counseling/Student Development: x6245
Health Services: x6249
Housing & Residence Life: x6236
AVP Student Life: x2116
If unsure, call Campus Safety at x6242
RESPONSE 101
  • REACT: If the student is a threat, contact Campus Safety at x6242 immediately. If the student is causing disruption, but is not a threat to others, discuss your concerns individually. A disruptive student may be asked to leave a classroom or office.
  • REFER: Get the student connected to the right resource.
  • REPORT: Report all incidents involving student behavior or concern to the Dean of Students at x6016.

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