The Tools to Use: Distinguishing and Addressing Uncomfortable vs. Threatening Behavior Student Success Conference October 16, 2014

Presenters Craig Enyeart Assistant Dean of Students And Director Kourtney Barrett Associate Director

Consider the Student Population Demographics First Generation students Millennials Only child Home-schooled Transitioning Have to work to attend college Have a pre-existing psychological condition Be “creepy” “odd” “awkward” Challenge authority/opinion of others Experience culture shock

Students are Encouraged to: Engage and excel academically Role model the Sycamore Standard Make positive choices Develop holistically Appropriately challenge each other Learn from their mistakes Explore their beliefs and identities as well as those of others

Students Should Not: Be disrespectful or uncivil Participate in academic misconduct Prevent others from being able to learn Fail to comply with college officials acting within the scope of their authority Pressure peers or feel pressured from peers Create unnecessary harm Violate the Code of Student Conduct

Lets Start at the Very Beginning… Learn about your students Engage with your students Role model Set expectations early and consequences – Avoid changing expectations “as needed” What is in the news? Will your content and audience collide? Know your own limits and authority Recognize your biases, triggers, or miscalls

Triggers/Miscalls The student behavior is not disrupting the learning of the rest of the class Even though, the learning of that individual student may be disrupted Behavior is not disrupting the role responsibilities of the teacher (though it may be personally disruptive to the teacher) Howard Seeman; Preventing Disruptive Behavior in Colleges

Triggers/Miscalls Behaviors can be: – Side-stepped – Handled later – Not made into a big deal – Not focused on – Ignored Professor/Instructor can continue with class Howard Seeman; Preventing Disruptive Behavior in Colleges

BEHAVIORS… Uncomfortable, “Creepy” Vs. Disruptive, Threatening

Discomfort, “Creepy,” Annoying Staring Not picking up on social cues Interrupting Talking loudly Asking a lot of questions Challenging the topic/discussion Talking about unrelated to class Standing within personal space Wanting to speak to your supervisor/chair Disrespectful/rude behavior Threatening to sue you Monopolizing your time Crying Not listening Not doing homework Not engaging in class Answering phone, talking, texting, on computer in class ing incessantly

Disruptive Behavior and Cues Yelling or excessively loud Excessive hygiene concerns Under the influence Refusing to leave or cooperate Destroying Property Not complying with instructions Escalating low-level behaviors

Assess the Situation Ambiguity and Conformity Is there imminent danger or is violence a likely outcome? – Problem or an Emergency Am I able to resolve this? – Can I manage it until support arrives? – Do I need to follow-up? Who, how, what needs reported? Be prepared to feel uncomfortable Is this a “teachable moment?”

Responding and Reacting

What Would You Do? Florida Atlantic University Classroom Situation Disclaimers: Strong, Potentially Offensive Language

You are Not Alone Colleagues/Department Chairs Student Conduct and Integrity Behavior Intervention Team (BIT) Student Counseling Center Student Advocacy/ Student Ombudsperson University Police Center for Student Success

Difficult Conversations Focus on the behavior Build a rapport, explain why you are talking to him/her Check your pulse Determine best/safest environment Provide an opportunity for the student to feel heard No judgment and avoid becoming defensive Realize the student may not understand their behavior was of concern/inappropriate

Time for Growth… Discuss alternative methods of communicating or displaying behavior…what does appropriate classroom behavior “look like” Move towards Success: – Connect to services – Offer suggestions and positive outcomes

Referrals Document timeline and interactions – Remain objective, unbiased, keep to the details, describe behavior, use exact phrases Notify supervisors – Avoid “break-room chatter” Student Conduct & Integrity – Maxient Report Maxient Report

Questions? Student Conduct and Integrity HMSU, Room