Policy and Procedure for Addressing a Student Demonstrating Threatening or Disruptive Behavior

Updated: 1/11/19; Reviewed: 10/13/21
Contact: Student Life Office

I. Purpose
The intent of this policy and procedure is to support an appropriate and safe living and learning environment for students, faculty, and staff at William Jewell College (Jewell).  Demonstrations of threatening or disruptive behaviors by a student will be assessed and treated with care for the effects upon the student displaying the behavior as well as the entire William Jewell community. 

II. Policy
When a student engages in behavior that could impact the life, health, welfare, safety, or property of the William Jewell community and its members, the Risk Assessment Procedure outlined in Section III will be initiated. Such behavior includes the following:

  1. Causing physical harm to any member of the William Jewell community, on or off college premises, at college-sponsored activities, or threatening such harm.
  2. Engaging, or threatening to engage, in behavior that poses an immediate danger to the life, health, welfare, safety or property of any member of the William Jewell community.
  3. Engaging in behavior that disrupts or interferes with normal William Jewell operations or college-sponsored activities.

When warranted, a student engaging in the conduct listed above may result in evaluations, team assessments, emergency removals, or voluntary or involuntary withdrawals from the College.   It may also be determined that addressing the behavior through the ordinary student conduct process is the appropriate course of action.

III. Risk Assessment Procedure
A. Overview
When behavior indicates a significant life, health, welfare, safety, or property concern (as described in Section II above), William Jewell will employ a team approach to determine the nature of the risk and any measures that can be taken to manage the risk. Jewell will make these determinations as the result of an individualized assessment.  Jewell will first seek voluntary cooperation of an affected student, but, if necessary, will take involuntary action.

The purpose of the assessment is to inform decisions about the student’s future participation in William Jewell’s programs and to assess the level of risk the student poses to the life, health, welfare, safety, or property of the William Jewell community.  Jewell will make an individualized assessment, based on reasonable judgment that relies on current medical knowledge or on the best available objective evidence, to ascertain: the nature, duration, and severity of the risk; the probability that the potential injury will actually occur; and whether reasonable modifications of policies, practices or procedures or, where applicable, the provision of auxiliary aids and services, will mitigate the risk.

B. Process
When a student is referred to the Dean of Students for behavior indicating a significant life, health, welfare, safety, or property concern (as described in in Section II above), the student is required to meet with the Dean of Students (or designee).  If, following the meeting, the student agrees to have an evaluation, the Dean of Students (or designee) may refer the student to the Director of Counseling Services (or designee) for an evaluation.  This referral may also be to another qualified professional, at the College’s expense.   If the student does not agree to a voluntary evaluation, William Jewell may refer the student for an involuntary evaluation.  The student will be expected to sign a consent form allowing the results of an evaluation to be shared with the appropriate College officials.

The Dean of Students (or designee) will convene a Behavior Intervention Team (BIT) to assess the situation.  Members of the BIT may vary depending on the student’s circumstances and other factors, but could include a combination of the following:  Dean of Students, Director of Counseling Services, Director of Residence Life, Nurse Practitioner, Director of Disability Services and Compliance, Director of Academic Achievement Center, and Director of Campus Safety.

If an evaluation initiated by the College was undertaken, the qualified professional will share the outcome of the evaluation with the Dean of Students and the BIT.  The BIT will then meet with the student and the student will have the opportunity to provide documents or other information related to the team’s assessment.  At the student’s expense, the student may also have an evaluation performed by another qualified health professional of the student’s choice and provide the results thereof to the BIT.   If the student does not provide information or submit to an evaluation initiated by the College, William Jewell will proceed with the documents or information William Jewell has available.

In reaching its decision, the BIT will consider what life, health, welfare, safety, or property concerns the student’s behavior raises and whether the risks associated with those concerns can be managed by modifications, support measures, or accommodations.  The team may consider the imposition of a Behavior Contract, if appropriate, that may include, among other things, consultations with health care professionals or restrictions on participation in William Jewell activities.  If the team determines the student poses a risk to the life, health, welfare, safety or property of any member of the College community, and that the risk cannot be mitigated by modifications, support measures, or accommodations, the student may be required to take a medical leave or voluntary or involuntary withdrawal.

A student may appeal the decision of the BIT by utilizing the appeal procedure set forth in Section IV, below.

C. Possible Courses of Action
As noted, student situations involving a significant life, health, welfare, safety, or property concern (as described in in Section II above) will be individually assessed and handled on a case-by-case basis.  Notwithstanding, the subsections below provide general information on possible courses of action the College may take.  At all times, the College reserves the right to take action it deems necessary and in the best interest of protecting members of the William Jewell community.

  1. Student Remains Enrolled
    The BIT may determine that a student can remain enrolled at the College, as follows:
  • Remain enrolled with no Behavior Contract: The BIT’s assessment may determine that the student already addressed or will be able to immediately address the concerning behavior, in which case the BIT may determine that no further action is required as long as the student’s behavior does not occur again.
  • Remain enrolled with Behavior Contract: The BIT determines that a Behavior Contract is necessary in order to explain College expectations and make sure a student understands what they must do in order to continue as a member of the William Jewell community.

A Behavior Contract is a document that explains College expectations and provides a framework for what the student must do to continue as a member of the William Jewell community.  It could have a variety of individually-tailored terms for the student based on their situation.  Examples of what may be incorporated into a Behavior Contract include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Ongoing monitoring of student behavior
  • A reduction of course load
  • Specific course attendance requirements
  • A reduction or elimination of participation in extra-curricular activities
  • Not being allowed to live on campus
  • Restrictions from certain areas of campus
  • A commitment to meeting regularly with a therapist
  • A commitment to remaining compliant with prescribed medication and meeting with the prescribing physician
  • A commitment to meeting with the Office of Student Life for support and help navigating any residential or campus concerns
  • Signing consent forms allowing information from the student’s medical provider to be shared with appropriate College officials
  • Notification of emergency contact(s) for additional support
  • A statement indicating that the student understands that they must fulfill the stated commitments in order to remain enrolled at William Jewell
  • Any further requirements specified by the BIT

The student and the Dean of Students (or designee) will sign the Behavior Contract, and a copy will be provided to the student.   Failure to follow the terms of a Behavior Contract may result in the student being withdrawn from the College.

  1. Student Does Not Remain Enrolled
    Other possible courses of action include those where a student does not remain enrolled at the College, as follows:
  • Medical Leave of Absence: The student may decide, with or without a recommendation by the BIT, that a medical leave of absence is preferred.  A medical leave of absence is typically for a specified period of time (e.g., the remainder of the semester) during which the student has an opportunity to get medical support to address the concerning behavior and underlying issues.  If a medical leave is taken after a student has exhibited behavior covered by this policy, the student will be informed in writing of return requirements.
  • Voluntary Withdrawal*: A voluntary withdrawal occurs when a student agrees with a recommendation by the BIT that withdrawal is the appropriate course of action.  Withdrawal is typically more indefinite in nature (when compared to a medical leave), thus requiring the student to contact the Dean of Students (or designee) when the student believes they are ready to return to school.  The student will be informed of this, as well as any other conditions of return/readmission, in writing.
  • Involuntary Withdrawal*: An involuntary withdrawal occurs when a student disagrees with a recommendation by the BIT that withdrawal is necessary, and the College determines that it will initiate withdrawal despite this disagreement.  The student will be informed of any conditions of return/readmission in writing.

Following a determination that an individual poses a risk to the life, health, welfare, safety, or property of any member of the Jewell community necessitating a medical leave or voluntary or involuntary withdrawal, Jewell may require as a precondition to a student’s return that the student provide documentation that the student has taken steps to mitigate the previous behavior.  Jewell may request records from the student and request permission to speak to a treating professional.  The records and information that will be requested and required are determined on a case-by-case basis depending on what information is necessary to determine whether the student is able to return and fulfill the fundamental requirements of academic and residential life.

If the College decides that the student is not allowed to return to the College following a medical leave or voluntary or involuntary withdrawal, the appeal procedure set forth in Section IV can be utilized.

*Please reference the Course Catalog or Student Handbook for the College’s withdrawal policy.

  1. Emergency Removal of a Student from Campus
    Jewell recognizes that emergencies may arise when a student’s behavior indicates a significant life, health, welfare, safety, or property concern (as described in in Section II above).  Such emergencies may create an immediate threat to member of the William Jewell community.  Exceptional situations may also occur in which a student is judged to be out of contact with reality and unaware of the consequences of their actions.  When emergencies of this nature occur, they are reported to the Office of Student Life for referral to the Office of Counseling Services. As emergency situations, these cases may fall outside of the Risk Assessment Procedure stated above.  Action to remove the student from the campus may be taken by the Office of Student Life or the Office of Counseling Services, in cooperation with the student’s emergency contact(s), if possible, and outside medical or psychiatric providers, if necessary.  Involving the student in these actions may not be possible because of the nature and degree of the student’s circumstances. Hospital evaluation and/or hospitalization may be required at the student’s expense. Upon return to campus from a hospital evaluation or hospitalization, the student will meet with the Director of Counseling Services (or designee).  The Director of Counseling Services (or designee) will then meet with the BIT to further assess the situation and follow the outlined process in Section II.

IV. Appeals
A student may appeal the decision of the BIT or a decision not allowing the student to return to the College following a medical leave or voluntary or involuntary withdrawal.  In order to do so, the student must file a written appeal with the Provost within three (3) business days of the decision being made.  The Provost will issue a written decision to the student within a reasonable timeframe.  The Provost’s decision is final.