Behavioral Intervention Team

When to Submit a Report

In cases where an individual's behavior poses an imminent threat to you or another, contact 911 immediately!

When an individual displays or communicates behavior that causes you concern or that poses a threat to safety, or that causes a significant disruption to the Jefferson community, you should submit a referral to the JeffBIT. Trust your instincts, and ask for help if you have concerns. It is much better to over-report a concern than to ignore a situation or incident assuming it is isolated or unimportant. The following behaviors can be signs of distress:

  • Extreme rudeness or insubordination to university officials, staff, faculty, or administrators.
  • Classroom disruption.
  • All violations of residence hall rules.
  • All violations of the student code of conduct.
  • Drunkenness or being under the influence of illicit drugs in the classroom.
  • Threatening words or actions.
  • Themes of suicide, death and dying in papers/projects or writings that convey clear intentions to harm self or others.
  • Observed self-injurious behavior, such as cutting, burning, eating disorders, etc.
  • Online postings in social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, blogs, websites, e-portfolios) or online class platforms (e.g., class journals, Blackboard) that are threatening.
  • Excessive class absenteeism.
  • Suicidality, including threats (“I am going to kill myself”), gestures (intentionally erasing one's hard drive), ideation (“I’ve always thought about killing myself by jumping off a cliff”), or attempts.
  • Acts motivated by hatred or discrimination.
  • Possession of a weapon.
  • Paranoia or delusion that a student groundlessly believes they are being targeted.
  • Harassment, bullying or stalking.
  • Relationship/Domestic/Intimate Partner violence (even if the victim doesn’t want you to tell, unless the information is conveyed to you in a privileged or confidential relationship).
  • Hazing.
  • Flat affect or extreme lack of responsiveness.
  • “Accidental” overdose, including all involuntary hospitalizations for non-responsive intoxication.
  • Academic Behaviors - Deterioration in quality of work, repeated absences from class or work coupled with signs of distress, disorganized or erratic performance or behavior.