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Our Behavioral Intervention Team

The Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) is a task force of Staff and Faculty who meet regularly to promote student, faculty, and staff success and campus safety by:

• Providing support and intervention to individuals who demonstrate early warning signs of possible disruptive or violent behavior
• Coordinating responses to natural, health, and human-induced disasters
• Providing consultation and education on issues that support the health, welfare, and safety of the ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ community

BIT members are chosen by the Chairs and bring a variety of skills and perspectives to the team, which helps ensure that the BITs efforts are well-informed, appropriate, and align with the University’s values and commitment to the safety.

Or call to report by phone at (858) 635-4014

Trust your instinct. If you see someone who is potentially in distress, report it.  

The BIT’s goal is to successfully engage, support, and minimize concerns by intervening at the earliest possible point. Accomplishing this goal requires a coordinated institutional response that includes all members of the ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ community.

When to Report

A BIT report may be sent at any time by any member of the ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ community through the online  or by leaving a message on our BIT phone line.

Trust your instinct. If you see someone who is potentially in distress, report it.

What to Report: Behavior-Related

Examples of behaviors that may be signs of distress:

• Classroom disruption
• Suspicion of drug or alcohol use
• Threatening words or actions
• Self-injurious behavior, such as cutting or burning
• Threatening postings on social media
• Excessive class absenteeism
• Suicidality including threats, gestures, or attempts
• Acts motivated by hatred or discrimination
• Paranoia
• Stalking
• Relationship violence
• Bullying
• Flat affect or extreme lack of responsiveness
• Harassment
• Changes in academic performance
• Disruptive or disturbing behavior
• Dramatic changes in appearance, behavior or weight
• Problems at home, with classes or work
• Dramatic mood shifts
• Isolating behaviors
• Frequently angry or easily frustrated
• Struggling with health problems

THIS LIST IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE. IF YOU SEE ANYTHING THAT YOU THINK SIGNALS THAT AN INDIVIDUAL MIGHT BE IN DISTRESS, TRUST YOUR INSTINCT AND REPORT IT.

What does BIT need to know?

Providing as much factual information as possible is critical.  BIT’s effectiveness depends upon obtaining as comprehensive a report as possible.

Please ensure that your report includes the following:

• Student, faculty or staff member’s name and ID number (if known).
• A factual description of the incident or behavior.
• Direct quotes, whenever possible.
• Where and when the incident or behavior occurred.
• Names and contact information of witnesses.
• Your name, position and complete contact information.
• Any emails or other information you have.
• Copies of voice recordings, text messages, and/or e-mails, when available.

Want to report something? Use the button above, or .

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I call 911?

You should call 911 whenever you believe there is any threat of suicide, violence, or other unlawful behavior. Any threat of violence should be taken seriously. Trust your instinct and err on the side of caution.

Should I act immediately or wait for a pattern of misbehavior to occur?

It is important to take every disruptive behavior seriously, and to intervene by setting clear, reasonable, and behaviorally-anchored expectations for performance. It is also important to report any disruptive incident immediately; the individual may be engaging in similar behavior in other contexts, and a pattern of misbehavior could already be occurring about which you are unaware.

What rights do faculty and staff have to request that students refrain from certain behaviors?

Faculty and staff have the right to prevent disruptive students from interfering with their right to teach and the right of other students to learn. To this end, faculty and staff may ask a student to refrain from certain behaviors in the classroom or in the office, require a student to meet with them or, when necessary, ask a disruptive student to leave the classroom or office area. Any behavior that requires a student to be removed from a class or office should be reported to the BIT team.

What about confidentiality?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) does not prohibit the sharing of personal observations and knowledge about a student or individual among campus officials when there is a legitimate concern related to campus safety.