Threat Based Assessment Intervention Team

TABIT

Saint Leo University has established a Threat Assessment Behavioral Intervention Team (TABIT) to assist in addressing situations where students, faculty, or staff are displaying disruptive or threatening behaviors that potentially impede their own or others’ ability to function successfully or safely. The process is designed to help identify persons whose behaviors potentially endanger their own or others' health and safety.

It is the responsibility of faculty, staff, and students to immediately report any situation that could possibly result in harm to anyone at the University. Any member of the campus community may become aware of a troubling person or situation that is causing serious anxiety, stress, or fear and, if so, this information should be provided to TABIT through the Office of Campus Safety & Security (352-588-8432).

In cases where a person may pose an immediate risk of violence to self or others, please call 911. 

Purpose

For the safety of the campus community, any threat, explicit or implied, will be considered a statement of intent. TABIT will recommend actions to the appropriate vice president(s) or designee in order to protect the student, employee, and University community. TABIT has been established to:

• Respond to incidents of violence, threatening behavior, unwanted pursuit, harassment, and behavior indicating a student, faculty, or staff member poses a risk to self or others; when necessary, initiate contacts with appropriate authorities to place a student/employee in the custody of a mental health facility capable of supporting specific behaviors.
  
• Coordinate and assess information from faculty, administrators, students, and local authorities.
  
• Investigate the incident(s) and recommend appropriate actions, which may include suspension, dismissal, involuntary leave of absence, filing of criminal charges, or ongoing monitoring for follow-up and observation of behavior patterns; recommendations are made as appropriate to the Vice President or designee, who shall sign off on action to be taken.
  
• Identify resources for troubled students and personnel and make referrals to appropriate campus and off-campus agencies; help secure therapeutic actions that are appropriate, such as treatment or counseling, and that may include internal or external psychological evaluations.
• Authorize notification, within FERPA guidelines, of parents, guardians and/or next-of-kin.
• Assess outcomes of actions taken periodically.
  

Nothing in this policy is intended to abridge any employee's rights or student's rights under the provisions of their respective employment agreements or student code of conduct, or their respective rights at law.

What Should I Be Concerned About?

There are many behaviors that cause concern for the safety and well-being of an individual or the campus community and clearly violate institutional Core Values and policies. The following is not an exhaustive list but provides examples of behaviors or situations that may indicate risk to the safety of an individual, others, or our community.

• Specific threats to another person, group of people, or the community;
• Statements indicating approval of the use of violence to resolve a problem;
• Articulated plans to bring weapons to the workplace, classroom, or living spaces, or to use a weapon to harm a person, group of people, or the community; or
• Threatening postings on posters, flyers, websites, or other media.

Other behaviors, while not violations of our values and policies, also raise concerns and may, in certain circumstances, warrant intervention by TABIT or by another resource. Sometimes it can be difficult to determine if such behaviors indicate a threat to self or to others; TABIT is trained and available to do so. Examples of behaviors that may, particularly in combination, or may not indicate a threat include:

• Indication that someone wishes to die or is willing to die;
• Significant changes in behavior that suggest that an individual is in severe distress;
• Outbursts of anger, especially uncharacteristic outbursts;
• Signs of isolation or withdrawal from the community;
• Display of paranoia, distrust, and devaluation of others;
• Numerous conflicts with and alienation of others;
• Preoccupation with weapons, violent events, or persons who have engaged in violent acts;
• Extreme reaction to a loss or traumatic event; or
• Uncharacteristically poor performance at work or in academics.

Who Is On The Team?

The Threat Assessment Behavioral Intervention Team (TABIT) consists of University personnel with expertise in human resources/employee assistance, law enforcement/threat assessment/tactical applications, University operations, medical knowledge, social equity, and student affairs. A collaborative process to assess threats will be used, and depending on the situation, personnel with areas of specialization/responsibility may be called upon to assist the team. Other individuals may also be consulted as needed such as a faculty member who has a concern about a student, a counseling psychologist to share expertise, and/or a manager who has information concerning an employee.

Typically, the executive committee shall be comprised of the Executive Director of University Public Safety or designee, who shall serve as chair of the executive committee, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs or designee, Associate Vice President/General Counsel, or designee, Director of Counseling Services or designee, Associate Vice President of Human Resources or designee, Director of University Communications or designee, and the Special Assistant to the President or designee.   The executive committee of  TABIT will initially evaluate the report and, if necessary, convene others as TABIT members (including but not limited to Academic Affairs, Athletics, Health & Wellness Center, Residence Life, Student Success, Saint Leo Worldwide and University Ministry). Individual members of the team are also available for advice and consultation.


TABIT will meet on an emergency basis as well as on a regular schedule to review reports brought forward by faculty, staff, and students concerning disruptive, inappropriate, and/or threatening behavior.  Student information received by or related to the activities of TABIT will be maintained in the Student Affairs Office.  Employee information received by or related to the activities of TABIT will be maintained in the office of Human Resources. This information will be treated as confidential among and between members of TABIT, will be protected in accordance with FERPA and other applicable laws and administrative rules, and will be released only as required by law or permitted by law under exigent circumstances.

How to Report a Concern

Threat-related information should be forwarded to TABIT by calling
Campus Security & Safety (352)588-8432. However, in an emergency, immediately dial 911. 

Once a report is received, the following preliminary investigative information will be collected by Campus Safety & Security and/or other members of the executive committee as appropriate/necessary to complete the preliminary investigation as expeditiously as possible:

1.      Interviews to determine the existence of corroborating evidence;
2.      Student disciplinary/judicial history;
3.      Relevant employment records under the custody of the Director of Human Resources;
4.      Other relevant information as deemed appropriate to assure the safety of the University community.