Behavioral Threat Assessment and Intervention Team (BIT)

Administrative Procedure 4.602

The Behavioral Threat Assessment and Intervention Team, known as BIT at Elgin Community College (ECC), is guided by the National Behavioral Intervention Team Association (NaBITA) threat assessment and the Deisinger, Randazzo & Savage Threat Assessment and Management Process protocols in order to ensure the well-being and safety of the campus community. The role of the BIT is to assess situations, via an established protocol, where students are reported as displaying threatening or disruptive behaviors that potentially impede their own or others’ ability to function successfully or safely at ECC, mitigate those threats, and assist students in distress. This is achieved by providing early intervention, support, warning/notification, and response to help prevent situations of safety concern from becoming more serious.

A “threat” is defined as any conduct that presents a clear and present danger to self and/or others. In immediate and serious threatening situations, the President or their designee and the Elgin Community College Police Department reserve the right to waive the referral to the BIT and act in the best interest of campus safety.

The BIT consists of a cross-functional team of college personnel with expertise in law enforcement/threat assessment/tactical applications, college operations, student services, judicial affairs, and psychological knowledge. A collaborative approach to assess threats is employed and, depending on the situation, personnel with specialized expertise not currently represented on the BIT may be called upon to assist. Others in the campus community who have a specific concern about a student may also be consulted or notified, as needed.

Procedure

Faculty, staff, and students may contact any member of the Behavioral Threat Assessment and Intervention Team at any time via email, phone, or in-person to report observations of potentially threatening behavior involving an ECC student or on the ECC campus. If the campus is closed, the report should be filed with the complainant’s local police department.

Upon receiving an initial report, the Associate Vice President of Student Services and Development/Dean of Students (hereafter dean of students) will immediately conduct a preliminary investigation to determine if BIT needs to be convened or if the report needs to be referred to Judicial Affairs, Wellness Services, or another appropriate department. A preliminary investigation may include contacting faculty, staff and/or students related to the case and also a meeting with the referred student. To ensure the well-being and safety of the campus community in the interim, the referred student may be immediately removed from campus while the investigation proceeds.

The dean of students will always convene the BIT any time a student is given an interim suspension from campus for behavioral reasons. The BIT will meet and complete the threat assessment within five (5) business days if the student has been removed from campus. If a student is placed on interim suspension, requirements to return to campus will also be described in a letter to the student.

The BIT has full investigatory authority when reviewing the alleged concern(s) in order to properly evaluate the student’s behavior.

The BIT has the right to:

• Interview the student, witnesses, the complainant, and any individual who may provide information for a proper assessment.
• Inspect all student records.
• Request medical records or an evaluation from a community agency that conducts relevant evaluations or other medical professionals.
• Notify a designated person, identified by a student who has completed and submitted a Student Optional Disclosure of Private Mental Health Form, that a qualified examiner, as defined by the Illinois Student Optional Disclosure of Private Mental Health Act, has made a determination that the student poses a clear, imminent danger to themselves or others.
• Disclose confidential personally identifiable information about a student without their consent to any individuals the College reasonably determines to be in need of that information for public health and safety reasons, subject to and consistent with the conditions and limitations set out in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and its regulations.

Once the BIT has met and finalized its decision, BIT will write a recommendation report. The report may include, but is not limited to:

• A description of the allegation(s) and code of conduct violation(s), if applicable.
• Actions are taken by the BIT to investigate the behavior.
• An assessment of the level of threat posed by the student to the health, safety, and welfare of themselves or others.
• An action plan for the student.

As a follow-up, the dean of students or their designee will communicate with the student and explain the BIT’s decision. The student will be given a written letter detailing the investigation, findings, and decisions. A hard copy of the BIT report will be kept in a secured location by the dean of students’ office, as appropriate under FERPA, when it impacts their safety and/or class. Affected parties will be informed of the BIT’s decision and reports will be provided as soon as information becomes available.

If a Code of Conduct violation has also occurred, the investigation may move to the Student Disciplinary Committee after the assessment has been completed and interventions identified and will serve as the student’s due process. Faculty, staff, and administrators displaying threatening behaviors will be referred to Human Resources.

Behavioral Intervention/Threat Assessment Team Members