Student Services

Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT)

 

To File a BIT Referral-Student Conduct/Concerning Behavior:
If you wish to report an incident that involves a behavioral issue, improper conduct, threatening behavior or is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct, please submit the Student Conduct Reporting Form.

When in doubt, call extension 545 or 557-5648 from campus phones, but always call 9-911 if the incident or emergency is life threatening.

Purpose:

Muskegon Community College is concerned with the safety, health, and well-being of its students, faculty, staff, and community.  The Behavioral Intervention Team's responsibility is to identify and coordinate services or intervention strategies for a broad range of troubling student behaviors, including but not limited to substance abuse, disruptive conduct and mental illness.  The use of behavioral intervention teams is a sound method for identifying and responding to distressed students in educational settings.  The BIT has been charged with upholding College policies and maintaining a healthy environment for the College.

The BIT convenes meetings once per month and provides administrators, faculty, staff and students with one place to report their concerns about a student's behavior which might pose a threat to students and/or others in the College community.

911 should always be called first if a situation is life threatening.  Call Campus Safety at extension 545 or 557-5648 for other emergencies.

Students may complete a report electronically at any time by going to the MCC homepage, clicking on "Current Students" and scrolling down to "Student Conduct Reporting Form".  Faculty, staff and administrators can access a behavioral reporting form on the Faculty/Staff Info web page.

BIT Membership:

  • Dr. John Selmon - Vice President of Student Services - Co-Chair
  • Larry Visconti - Counseling - Co-Chair
  • Becky Evans - English Department Faculty
  • Gerald Nyland - Physical Plant
  • Sally Birkam - Dean of Student Success/Campus Life
  • Janice Alexander - Coordinator/Counselor Special Services
  • Al Barreto - Criminal Justice Faculty
  • Pam Beane - Muskegon County Community Mental Health
  • Kelley Conrad - Counseling Department Chair
  • Patti D'Avignon - Director of Registration and Entry Services
  • Stanley Dean - Maintenance Supervisor
  • Vernon DeMoss - Security Supervisor
  • Angela DePouw - Psychology Faculty
  • Tonette Garner-Brown - Evening Administrator
  • Sylvia Hayes - Counselor
  • Paula Halloran - Recording Secretary
  • Aaron Hilliard - Human Resources Director
  • Tonia Lans - Counselor
  • Marty McDermott - Director of Athletics
  • Renica Minott - Counselor
  • Cindy Reuss - Dean of Enrollment Services
  • Jean Roberts - Dean of Academic Services and Registrar
  • Cathy Rusco - College Success Center Department Chair
  • Nancy Slater - Graphic Design Faculty
  • Bruce Wierda - Director of Financial Aid

*Bold = Core team members who respond to daily routine behavioral issues
*BIT meets once per month on the third Friday of each month

Protocol:

Members of the Muskegon Community College community may refer students of concern to the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) using Maxient's Conduct Manager System.  This product is a comprehensive software program that allows us to electronically manage our student conduct processes, from initial submission of incident reports and storage of supporting materials like photos and audio, to hearing a case, tracking sanctions, sending letters, and through follow up.

The process is initiated with the submission of a Student Conduct Reporting Form, which is completed via an electronic incident form generated by the Maxient System.  The form will require a narrative of the behavior of concern you have witnessed.  See submission instructions below.

Designated members of the BIT receive an email and/or text message, depending on the urgency of the report.  Once BIT members receive a Behavioral Report the team will discuss the reported concern.  The BIT then determines if any intevention is needed, and monitors the intervention.  Although the action/outcome will depend on the situation, the BIT will intervene in support of the person of concern, as well as in support of the college policies and procedures.  Students may be referred to the Vice President of Student Services for disciplinary action or the Counseling and Advising Center for mental health issues.  At meetings, updates are given about each case.

If you believe the student or community is in immediate danger, please call extension 545 or 557-5648 from campus phones.  Always call 9-911 if the incident or emergency is life threatening.  BIT is not a crisis response team but acts in a proactive manner to assist identified students and acts to prevent violence on campus.

Reasons for BIT Referral-Student Conduct Reporting Form

  • Self-injurious behavior/suicidal ideation including, but not limited to: talk of suicide or suicidal action
  • Erratic behavior (including online activities) that disrupts the mission and/or normal proceedings of college students, faculty, staff, or community.  Behaviors include, but are not limited to: threats of a weapon on campus, significant inappropriate disruption to community, and behaviors with potential to compromise safety.
  • On Campus alcohol and drug use/abuse.
  • Academic Integrity, Classroom Misconduct, and all Student Code of Conduct violations

Understanding FERPA and BIT:

  • FERPA protects the privacy of students' education records.  FERPA does not prohibit or in any way restrict a College employee from sharing what they personally observe.  In other words, a College employee would not violate FERPA by advising BIT of what he or she saw or heard when directly interacting with a student, when observing a student interact with others, or when otherwise observing a student's behavior or demeanor.
  •  In addition, if a MCC faculty member notices disturbing content in a student's writing or artwork, the faculty member should refer this to the BIT.  Although the student's writing or art work would likely be an education record protected by FERPA, FERPA authorizes school officials (such as faculty) to disclose education records, without the student's consent, to other school officials who have a legitimate educational interest in those records.  Since the BIT is responsible for identifying, responding to, and supporting at-risk MCC student while simultaneously attending to the needs of the MCC community, the members of the BIT would have a legitimate educational interest in examining the student's writing or artwork.
  • Protecting student privacy is a high priority of the BIT.  Records and proceedings of the BIT are kept confidential and shared only on a "need to know" basis in a manner that is consistent with College policy and the College's obligations under applicable law, including FERPA.
  • For further information regarding FERPA, contact the Office of the Registrar at jean.roberts@muskegoncc.edu