Protocol

Protocol

The BIT developed a protocol to ensure that critical student behavior or mental health issues or incidents are addressed appropriately.

There are 3 BIT categories:

1. Self-injurious behavior/suicidal ideation or attempt.
2. Erratic behavior (including online activities) that disrupts the mission and/or normal proceedings of college students, faculty, or staff.
3. Involuntary transportation to the hospital for alcohol and drug use/abuse.

Once an incident occurs it is referred to the BIT Chairs and confirmed via incident report or email. The student(s) involved are contacted and are instructed to undergo an assessment at the Counseling Center.

The type of assessment is dependent on the behavior. In most cases students are required to undergo a 4 session assessment by Counseling Center staff.

Students may appeal following the initial assessment by meeting with the BIT Chair, who may allow for individual counseling or an assessment by an outside agency.

Students who fail to comply with the request for assessment and/or to complete the assessments may be referred to the college’s disciplinary system and may summarily be removed from the college for failure to comply.

Amnesty Provision

Post assessment, any potential disciplinary sanction will be addressed on a case by case basis. The College’s default position for involuntary hospitalization for alcohol will be an FIO or For Information Only finding for the alcohol violation. An FIO finding indicates that the record of the alleged offense is for internal Flagler College Student Disciplinary records only, and will not be shared without consent to anyone outside of Flagler College. Students who have violated the alcohol policy but bring another student who needs involuntary hospitalization to the staff or campus security attention may be given an FIO finding for an alcohol violation as well.

Other members of BIT will be contacted as needed on a case-by-case basis. After the assessment, the BIT will make a determination that takes into consideration the student’ s best interest, as well as the best interest of the College Community.

Possible outcomes include but are not limited to:

• 4 session assessment
• Referral to a more appropriate campus resource
• Medical withdrawal from the College
• Referral to off-campus treatment
• Reduction in access to courses and/or facilities

This program is modeled after the Behavioral Intervention Team at the University of South Carolina and used with their permission.