Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT)
Contact BITPlease download the Student of Concern Report Form (PDF), fill it out and bring it to the Judicial Affairs Office, C-216.You can reach the Behavioral Intervention Team via e-mail, bit@ramapo.edu. Student of Concern Report (PDF) |
Mission Statement
The mission of the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) is to coordinate the support services of Ramapo College of New Jersey (RCNJ) to assist students in achieving their academic pursuits and in promoting their health and well-being.
Purpose
The purpose of the Team is to serve as a central network focused on prevention and early intervention in college situations involving students experiencing serious distress or engaging in harmful or disruptive behaviors. The Team will develop strategies for and provide consultations to the college community when concerns arise about students’ well-being or when there is behavior that is potentially harmful to self and/or others or is disruptive/ threatening. The team will take actions to prevent violence on campus and mobilize resources to protect the community. This Team will regularly assess these situations in the college community and will recommend actions in accordance with existing college policies.
Responsibilities
- Receive and gather information about difficult situations involving students.
- Develop specific strategies to manage potentially harmful or disruptive behavior with regard to safety and rights of others and in order to minimize the disruption to the college community.
- Make recommendations to college officials on appropriate action(s) consistent with college policies and procedures.
- Coordinate the college response to potentially harmful/disruptive situations.
- Develop and disseminate informational materials focused on identification and prevention of disruptive behavior.
- BIT is not a crisis response team but acts in a proactive manner to assist students once identified and acts to prevent violence on campus.
Team Members
- Melissa Van Der Wall - Director of Judicial Affairs (chairperson)
- Linda Diaz - Director of Residence Life
- Ramona Kopacz - Acting Director of Specialized Services
- Susan Geltman - Acting Clinical Coordinator, Center for Health and Counseling Services
- Vincent Markowski - Director of Public Safety
- Dr. Samuel Rosenberg - Dean for the School of Social Sciences and Human Services
As Needed Members
Other college officials may be asked to serve on the team in specific situations as needed. The Team will consult with the Deputy Attorney General as needed. The Team will meet bi-weekly, or as needed.
BIT Referral Process
Members of the RCNJ community may refer students of concern to BIT through numerous channels. The Student of Concern Report Form is accessible above. This form should be downloaded, competed and brought to the Judicial Affairs Office, C-216. RCNJ community members can also contact BIT through calling or emailing the Chair of BIT.
If you believe the student or community is in immediate danger, please contact Public Safety at 201-684-6666.
Potential Dispositions/Outcomes*
The following are potential recommendations for Dispositions/Outcomes:
- No action recommended at this time, pending further observation
- Assist faculty or staff in developing a plan of action
- Referral to existing on-campus support resources (e.g., Center for Health and Counseling Services, Public Safety, Judicial Affairs, Office of Specialized Services)
- Referral to appropriate community resources
- Recommendation of parental notification
- Recommendation of a voluntary Medical Leave of Absence (MLOA)**
- Recommendation of an Involuntary Leave of Absence**
- Recommendation of an Interim Suspension**
- Chair may discuss situations with faculty members
* Depending on the circumstances, students who fail to comply with the dispositions of BIT may be referred to the Office of Judicial Affairs for disciplinary action.
** Depending on the circumstances, The Associate Vice President for Student Affairs (or designee) may be notified when there is or there is believed to be a potential for a true campus emergency.
Appeal Process
Dispositions that can be appealed are an Interim Suspension or an Involuntary Leave of Absence. If a student who is suspended on an interim basis through an Interim Suspension or an Involuntary Leave of Absence wishes to return to classes and/or residence he or she may make an appointment to appear personally before the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs or designee within five (5) business days from the effective date of the issuance.
Case Information and Confidentiality
Right to Privacy
Ramapo College recognizes the importance of maintaining certain records for each student which contribute to and confirm the student’s educational progress. To protect the rights of students regarding these records, the College has established policies and guidelines which describe the records maintained and provisions for releasing information. These rules conform to State and Federal laws (the U.S. Department of Education guidelines for the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended, known as the Buckley Amendment or FERPA.)
If the student referred to BIT is already receiving care at the Center for Health and Counseling Services or an outside mental health provider, information about that student’s relationship may not be obtained by the team from those agencies without written authorization from the student in question, in accordance with federal and state law.
Exceptions
Members of the team may provide each other or faculty/staff involved in a particular case, or outside parties in connection with the situation (such as parents/guardian), with information in situations that concern protecting the health and safety of that student or others in the community. The College has the duty to warn members of the community when potential harmful or dangerous situations have been reported and after a review by campus officials warrant such notification. In these situations, the BIT team may breach confidentiality in order to warn identified victims.
Official minutes and meeting records containing identifying data will be maintained in a confidential file in the Chair’s office
This Statement of Purpose is based on documents created at William Paterson University and Cornell University, The University Counseling and Advising Network (UCAN) Alert Team Statement
