Responding to Distressed and Disruptive Students and emergencies

Issued by: Office of the Provost                                                                    September 1, 2006                            Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs

As faculty members, teaching assistants (TAs), and University staff members, you need to know what to do when a student is distressed or disruptive. Do not attempt to address a student’s distress or disruptive behavior without consultation and assistance. When a student’s behavior continues to disrupt others—despite a request to stop—or creates a direct threat to themselves or others, you must notify the University’s trained professionals as soon as possible.  All students have a right to learn in an environment free of disruption. Delays in responding may result in serious consequences.

PROCEDURES:

            EMOTIONAL DISTRESS

Contact the University Counseling Center, as soon as possible at 632-6720, to refer an emotionally distressed student. If you believe the situation is urgent, make that clear to the Counselor on Call. The Counseling Center is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and is located on the second floor of the Student Health Services, Stadium Road, West Campus. For urgent situations after 5:00 p.m. and on weekends, call University Police at 911 from campus phones, or 632-3333 from a cell phone or from off campus.  Examples of distress include expressed hopelessness, anxiety, or grief. 

DISRUPTIONS

Contact the Director of Judicial Affairs (Student Judiciary), Office of Student Affairs,

as soon as possible, at 632-6705, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. when a  student disrupts a class or other University activity. You may be asked to describe the student’s behavior in writing. Judicial Affairs will contact the student directly to arrange an interview and referral for further assessment and assistance as needed.

          ASSESSING POTENTIAL DANGER AND RISK

Contact the University Counseling Center, at 632-6720, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  A professional counselor must see students whose physical or verbal behavior suggests potential danger to themselves or others, as soon as possible, to assess the degree of risk.  After 5:00 p.m. and on weekends, call the University Police at 911 or 632-3333, or the Psychiatry Emergency Room, Stony Brook University Medical Center, at 444-6050. Examples include verbal or written references to suicide, angry outbursts, and agitation or hyperactivity. 

Emergencies AND DIRECT THREATS

If the student or others appear to be in imminent danger, or you have an emergency of any kind, call University Police immediately at 911 from campus phones, or 632-3333 from a cell phone (or from off campus) at any time of the day or night.  Examples include direct threats of suicide, assault, or other injury. State clearly: “This is an emergency.”