The recent shooting in Tucson has colleges and universities across the country examining policies addressing early warning signs of individuals who may exhibit suspicious or troubling behavior.
UCA officials adopted a plan in September 2009 to assist faculty, staff, and administration in responding to situations in which a student may be disruptive or displays behavior that may be intimidating or threatening to others, said Dr. Ernie Ness, director of UCA Counseling Center.
The Behavioral Intervention Plan articulates and formalizes the usual practices the university has followed for years, prior to the Virginia Tech shootings, Ness said. The impetus for fully developing the plan came in the summer of 2009 in response to the Campus Security Enhancement Act enacted by the State of Arkansas.
The plan seeks to formalize the university’s processes for greater communication, collaboration, and coordination of concerns regarding student behavior, he said.
A Behavioral Intervention Team works together to address any concerns. The team is composed of the director of the counseling center, UCA chief of police, dean of students, legal counsel, and representatives from other areas of the campus community. The five major functions of the team are:
- Provide consultation and support to faculty, staff, and administration in assisting students who display concerning or disruptive behaviors;
- Gather information to assess situations involving students who display concerning or disruptive behaviors;
- Recommend appropriate intervention strategies or disciplinary sanctions;
- Connect students with needed campus and community resources;
- Monitor ongoing behavior of students who have displayed disruptive or concerning behavior.
“The plan can benefit UCA by promoting a safe environment–where the focus is maintained on learning and student development– through timely, coordinated, and effective responses to students whose behaviors raise concerns within the UCA community,” Ness said. “Such students may ultimately receive the assistance they need through the involvement of appropriate campus and community resources.”
The plan can be accessed at several web pages — Counseling Center, UCA Police Department, Provost’s Office, and Dean of Students.