• • Don’t personalize the situation: take a breath and look at the situation as objectively as possible.

  • Identify the specific behavior of concern.

  • Avoid creating an adversarial relationship where there is no room for movement.

  • Look for the educational opportunity. An educational conversation from a College official can have a lasting impact on a student. Look for the opportunity to dialogue about the situation.

  • Maintain professional communication.

  • Address inappropriate, disruptive, or concerning behavior from the beginning. If you have a concern, do not wait to see if it happens again.

  • Use ”I” statements:

    1. "I am happy to discuss this/speak with you about this matter, however (see "a" and "b," below)."

    2. "I hear that you are frustrated, however: (see "a" and "b," below)."

    3. "I recognize how frustrated you are and I want to work with you. We need to take a step back for a minute so we can look at this situation together."

    4. "Repeat the statement calmly two times. The third time, add, "I am going to end this conversation. I do not….. (see "a" and "b," below).

       1. "I do not/will not speak with another adult who is yelling (cursing, etc); and/or

       2. as an educator, I do not/will not speak to someone who uses vulgar/crass/inappropriate/disrespectful language.”

  • Maintain records of interactions with difficult students.

• Article: Disruptive Behavior in the Classroom

• Article: Responding to a Verbally Aggressive Student

• Article: When Students Harass Professors

Recommended Response

• Call Public Safety/911 immediately

• If you are face to face with a student who is threatening you, remain in an open area with a visible means of escape until help arrives.

• Do not touch or crowd the student.

Resource(s)

• Public Safety

Recommended Response

• Stop class and call Public Safety.

• When you provide Public Safety with the details of the situation, they will advise about next appropriate steps.

• Public Safety will file a report, investigate the situation, and inform the Dean of Students Office.

Resource(s)

·         Public Safety, 717.358.3939

·         Department Chair

Recommended Response

• • Politely respond to the email and ask for clarification about what is meant by "you will be sorry."

  • If the student is in the room when they make an implied threat, you may ask the student to leave the room or tell the student you are ending the conversation if you feel comfortable.

  • Depending on the severity of the threat and your level of concern, you can contact Public Safety.

  • Public Safety can refer the situation to the Dean of Students Office depending on the level of severity.

  • Inform your supervisor of the situation.     

Resource(s)

• • Public Safety, 717.358.3939

  • Dean of Students Office 717.358.4000, cshaw@fandm.edu

  • Supervisor

Recommended Response

• Calmly inform the student that there is an expectation for professional communication between students and faculty, and that the current behavior is inappropriate.

• If the student is able to respond to this information positively, then the conversation can resume.

• If the student continues to act inappropriately, tell the student you will continue the conversation at a time when the student is able to communicate without yelling.

• You may also suggest that the student take some time to reflect about the concern and send you an email.

• You can then respond to the email.

• If the student is unwilling to calm down and continues to yell, calmly exit the situation and dismiss class if in session.

• If the student continues to follow you, inform the student that you will contact Public Safety.

• Call Public Safety if necessary.     

Resource(s)

• Inform department chair or supervisor of the situation

• Depending on the severity, submit a report to Dean of Students Office or DipCares (Student of Concern)

• Failure to comply with a directive by the faculty in this situation could be a violation of the Code of Conduct

·         Public Safety, 717.358.3939

Recommended Response

• Ask the student to please discuss this in a calm manner and state you would be happy to listen.

• An option that some faculty use in regards to grade conversations is to require all students to wait 24 hours or to meet during office hours.

• Listen to the concern and attempt to understand the student’s rationale.

• If you prefer, you could ask the student to submit concerns in writing.

• Another option would be to tell the student that you are going to think about the request and will respond after you have had time to evaluate the request.

• You could consult with your department chair or other faculty in your department.

• You can then decide how you will inform the student of your decision--email or at the next class meeting.

• If you consulted others before making the decision, you could choose to inform the student that your decision was made after consulting with the department chair or other faculty.

• If you think it is appropriate, you can modify the grade or give an alternative assignment.

• If you think the expectations were clear, inform the student that the expectations were clear and the grade will stand.

• Follow department protocol for academic grievances/complaints.

• If the student persists in the argument, inform the student that the next step would be to contact the student grievance officer.  

Resource(s)

• • Department Chair

  • Faculty Colleagues

  • Associate Provost

Recommended Response

• • If the student is belligerent or blatantly threatening, call Public Safety.

  • If there is no blatant threat, calmly remind yourself first that, depending upon the student’s background, not all students will perceive crass or vulgar language to be inappropriate.

  • Take a breath (literally). Don’t escalate with the comments or take them personally. This is difficult, but the comments are meant to provoke. Handling them calmly may diffuse the situation and teach the student that this is not an effective means to get what is desired.

  • Try a non-threatening, non-escalating “I” statement, such as: "As an educator, I do not speak to someone who uses vulgar/crass/disrespectful language. Let’s discuss this as adults." Repeat this calmly if needed.

  • An alternative would be: "I find your statements/email, etc., to be vulgar/inappropriate/disrespectful and others may, too. An alternative way to effectively communicate your point would be …."

  • This is a teachable moment; take advantage of it. Most students will calm down enough to have a conversation if you start with statements meant to de-escalate their frustration.

Resource(s)

• • If the student is belligerent/threatening, call Public Safety at 717.358.3939 or 911

Recommended Response

• If you suspect the disturbing features of the writing are literary (suggest another word: fictional or literal) in nature, discuss your concerns directly with the student. Listen carefully to ascertain any serious threats or hostility.

• Consult with your department chair or a colleague.

• Contact the Dean of Students Office to explain the situation.

• Send the piece of writing to the Dean of Students Office for review of possible Code of Conduct violations or DipCares (student of concern) referral.

• Contact Public Safety if you think there is a concern for harm to self or others.

Resource(s)

• • Inform Department Chair

  • Dean of Students Office 717.358.4000, cshaw@fandm.edu

  • Public Safety, 717.358.3939

Recommended Response

• If a direct threat is involved, call Public Safety.

• Tell your supervisor.

• Contact the Dean of Students Office to explain the situation.

• Send the communication to the Dean of Students Office for review of possible Code of Conduct violations or DipCares (student of concern) referral.

Resource(s)

• • Supervisor

  • Dean of Students Office 717.358.4000, cshaw@fandm.edu

  • Public Safety, 717.358.3939 or 911

Recommended Response

• Clearly communicate to the student that you are not interested in having an inappropriate classroom relationship with them.

• Tell the student to stop the inappropriate communication.

• If you must meet with the student in your office keep the door open and have a responsible third party present.

• Report and document the situation to your supervisor.

• Explain that if the behavior continues, the incident will be reported as sexual harassment.

• If inappropriate communication continues, contact the Title IX Office to report sexual harassment

Resource(s)

• • Supervisor

  • Department Chair

  • Dean of Students Office 717.358.4000, cshaw@fandm.edu

  • Title IX Office