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The Behavioral Assessment Team (BAT) at The College of Saint Rose was established in 2006 with the mandate to identify, assess, and monitor students displaying moderate to extreme levels of distress, disruption, and/or behavioral dysregulation, including homicidal, suicidal, assaultive or self-injurious threats, and to implement timely interventions that protect the welfare of the student and the safety of the college community. Its primary goal is to provide threat assessments and early intervention before a crisis arises.

The Behavioral Assessment Team Policy & Procedure Manual outlines procedures for the referral, evaluation, and appropriate disposition of students displaying disruptive behavior in all college settings including online behavior. Referrals relating to disruptive or threatening behavior can be made to any member of BAT for presentation to the group.

Key Objectives:

  • Increase identification of students whose behaviors are distressed, disruptive, and/or dysregulated.
  • Discuss situations brought to its attention by any member of the campus community seeking guidance on disruptive and/or problematic behaviors that might lead to aggression or self-harm.
  • Centralize the process of collecting and assessing “red flags” raised by student behavior and documented by different sources within the College before there is a crisis.
  • Develop a coordinated plan to help students in crisis, mitigate risk, facilitate early intervention and protect and maintain campus safety.
  • Coordinate follow-up with the student to ensure that recommended services, support and resources are deployed effectively.
  • Recommend mandated psychological assessment and/or medical leave/withdrawal, when necessary, pursuant to The College of Saint Rose Medical Withdrawal and Re-Entry Policy and Procedures.
  • Balance FERPA, HIPAA and client privilege with College need-to-know and emergency communication needs.
  • Protect the campus community in cases of imminent threats by students, staff, and faculty to self and others.

Resources

The College has multiple reporting mechanisms in place for identifying and reporting threatening and/or at risk behavior and concerns.

Examples of acts/threats of violence or threatening behaviors that should be referred to BAT, as appropriate:

  • Brandishing guns, firearms, or other weapons
  • Suicide threats (verbal or written) or attempts
  • Acts of physical aggression/violence toward another person
  • Threats (verbal or written) to physically harm or kill someone
  • Psychotic, delusional and/or paranoid behavior that is perceived as threatening to others
  • Stalking behaviors
  • Bullying or Harassment (in person or on-line)
  • Social media postings of a threatening or violent nature
  • Threatening or provocative writings produced in a classroom setting

Examples of at-risk behaviors to be reported to BAT, but which may not require immediate intervention:

  • Severe depression and/or other minor self-injurious acts (such as superficial cutting)
  • Significant AOD abuse
  • Severe Eating Disorders
  • Disruptive classroom behaviors

Faculty, students and staff who are concerned about a student displaying at risk behaviors should submit a written behavioral report to the Chair of BAT. The report will be reviewed by the Chair and reviewed by BAT as appropriate based on the nature of the behavior, the severity of the safety risk and the needs of the student.

Referrals to BAT may come from any member of the campus community, including the members of BAT.

Faculty and staff members should report a potential threat or concern by filling out a written Students At-Risk Reporting Form.

The Students At-Risk Reporting Form will be reviewed by the Chairperson of BAT.

Reports can also be taken by phone by the Chairperson of BAT or any member of BAT, who should take notes outlining the potential threat or concern;

The faculty or staff member who submits the information will receive an acknowledgement from the Chairperson of BAT confirming that appropriate responses have been or are being made.

Faculty or staff submitting a report should not expect detailed information about the disposition of their submission because the issue may involve confidentiality rights of the student. Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed to reporters.

Before submitting a written Students At-Risk Reporting Form, faculty and staff may consult with any member of BAT. However, filing a formal written Students At-Risk Reporting Form may still be required following the consultation.

Once the report is submitted, the Chairperson of BAT or designee will determine what steps need to be followed. These could include: speaking with the student; gathering additional evidence or information by interviewing members of the campus community; compiling additional documentation; reviewing evidence sources (e.g., Google, public information, security records, and/or academic records).

Faculty and staff should submit additional reports as new concerns arise or as behavior is repeated, even if they have done so before. A single incident may be insufficient to take action, but a pattern of incidents may require an institutional response.