For any students who are worried about themselves or a friend, the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) is available to help.
BIT is an interdepartmental team working to ensure the safety and health of students. The team also responds to any alerts about students who may be a disruption or threat to the campus community. Additionally, team members provide awareness and educational information for responding to a troubled student.
According to the BIT mission statement: “The Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) exists to support students and the wider University community. The Team receives, collects, assesses and when appropriate, acts upon information regarding students of concern.”
The BIT Team first came to Seton Hall in 200. Any member of the University community may raise concerns over a student. Anyone who knows a student who is in trouble is encouraged to contact BIT members immediately.
Once a student is referred to BIT, the team will develop an action plan that can range from maintaining a confidential file, to a formal intervention and threat assessment.
“The majority of plans connect a student with resources and assistance to address the concerning behavior and to be successful in the continuation of his/her college career,” the BIT blog states. “The plan may change and evolve as additional information becomes available.”
Any students involved with BIT will have their privacy protected, although the students do need to be made known to the team. Those who are considering referring a student are encouraged to let the student know that they are concerned. In many instances students will suggest that they need help.
“Our goal is to work with and support students who may be having a struggle or challenge, we obviously need to know who they are so that we can reach out,” said Karen Van Norman, dean of students and BIT chair, “We do protect students’ privacy and always treat them and any information we receive for respect for that privacy.”
On the BIT blog, the team has listed various signs that a student may be at risk. These signs include: inappropriate emotional outbursts, exaggerated personality traits, deterioration in quality or quantity of school work, and missing class or exams.
More signs, as well as frequently asked questions, can be found on the BIT blog at www.blog.shu.edu/bit.
Resources for faculty concerning how to respond to and address disrupting behavior are also available. Student resources such as emergency phone numbers and on-campus counselor contact information are available online as well.
Emily Parise can be reached at emily.parise@student.shu.edu.
