Behavioral Intervention Team

Core members will be expected to attend weekly meetings. If core members are unable to attend weekly meetings, they will be expected to have someone attend in their absence. Core members may have their proxy attend in addition to their attendance to help provide continuity of services.

The Dean of Students will be the chair of the BIT. The Director of Student Rights & Responsibilities / Disability Services for Students will chair the BIT in the absence of the chair. Additionally, core members of the BIT may call and chair a BIT as needed. Finally, the Associate Vice President for Human Resources & Payroll Services may call and chair a BIT meeting.

Dr. Alexander Pokornowski, Chair
Dean of Students

Dr. Sara Kaiser
Director of Student Rights & Responsibilities and Disability Services for Students

Dr. Lora Sloan
Lead Psychologist
University Counseling Center

Megan Thomas
Associate Director, Residence Life

Rodney Clark
Associate Vice President for Public Safety & Chief of Police

Donna Smith
Assistant Vice President Equal Opportunity & Title IX

Heather Wages
Director of Policy & Administration, Academic Affairs

Expanded members will be invited to attend the weekly meetings. Expanded members are not required to attend. Expanded members may attend the entire meeting or just the portion of the meeting that pertains to them. Expanded members are not required to have someone attend if they are unable to attend.

Telissa Stumpf
Associate Director, Student Health Services

Peggy Varberg
Associate Vice President, Human Resources & Payroll Services

Kara Helmig
Associate Athletic Director

Nancy Yon
Assistant Attorney General
General Counsel for the North Dakota University System

David Dodds
Director of Communications

Dean of Students (Chair)

• The Chair will be a senior Student Affairs administrator who has high level authority to manage student behavior and who has a solid understanding of UND student policies, procedures, and student disciplinary matters.
• The Chair will ensure that all roles and responsibilities of BIT members are clearly articulated and that all BIT practices and procedures conform to UND policies and applicable ethical, legal, and best practices.
• The Chair ensures that the team tracks BIT data through annual reports and other methods.
• The Chair, in conjunction with other BIT members, will monitor and periodically update practices and procedures as the law and best practices change.
• The Chair (or designee) will be the first designated point of contact for staff, faculty, students, and others who may have concerns about a particular student.
• The Chair (or designee) will make parental notifications.
• The Chair (or designee) will convene the BIT.

Associate Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police (law enforcement member)

• The law enforcement member will provide safety planning as well as gather background information regarding individuals who may be of concern.
• The law enforcement member will also be responsible for following up with any person that has referred an individual to the BIT as a threat to public safety.

Director of Student Rights & Responsibilities and Disability Services for Students

• The Director of Student Rights & Responsibilities and Disability Services for Students is a senior Student Affairs administrator who has high level authority to manage student behavior and who has a solid understanding of UND student policies, procedures, and student disciplinary processes.
• The Director will assume the position of Chair when the Dean of Students is not available.
• The Director will be the second designated point of contact for staff, faculty, students, and others who may have concerns about a particular individual.
• The Director will make parental notifications.

University Counseling Center (mental health professional)

• The mental health professional cannot disclose identifiable patient information however; they can offer assistance by talking in hypothetical terms about similar situations or offering guidance regarding the best plan of action given the details of the specific case.

In the event of an emergency situation, core members will be phoned or emailed to determine a response plan. The Chair of the BIT and two other BIT members must be present before a response plan can be implemented.

The BIT will review credible reports involving students, faculty or staff members. Information that may be reviewed by the BIT includes but is not limited to the following:

• University Police (UPD) reports
• Grand Forks Police (GFPD) and other law enforcement agency reports
• Reports submitted by Housing and other staff members
• Care Team reports
• Reports provided to the University by faculty, staff, students or other individuals, either directly or anonymously
• Data regarding a student's disciplinary history

Following a review of the information, the BIT will develop an appropriate plan of action. The following questions will be considered (Dunkle, Silverstein, & Warner, 2008).

• What is the behavior?
• Where is the behavior occurring?
• How does the behavior affect the community?
• Is the identified student in imminent danger or an imminent danger to the community?
• Are there any past documented incidents/behaviors?
• What do we know of the student's academic performance or behavioral history?
• What are the ethical/legal issues?
• What systems need to be involved in finding more information or responding?

Possible campus responses include but are not limited to the following:

• Monitor the situation
• Engage directly with the individual to de-escalate the situation/concern
• Work with a trusted peer or ally to monitor the individual/situation more closely
• Work with other departments to coordinate a plan of action (e.g., assessment, counseling, case management, disciplinary action)
• Voluntary referral for mental health assessment or treatment
• Mandated psychological assessment
• Disciplinary review/action
• Notification of family member(s)
• Separate the student from the institution (Emergency action or, voluntary leave)

• Deisinger, G., Randazzo, M., O'Neill, D., & Savage, J. (2008). The Handbook for Campus Threat Assessment & Management Teams. TSG Solutions.
• Dunkle, J. H., Silverstein, Z. B., & Warner, S. L. (2008).Managing violent and other troubling students: The role of threat assessment teams on campus. Journal of College and University Law 34(3).
• Higher Education Mental Health Alliance (2012). Balancing Safety and Support on Campus: A Guide for Campus Teams.