The Behavior Intervention Team (BIT) is a multi-disciplinary group lead by the Dean of Students at St. Cloud State University that meets regularly to coordinate supportive interventions for students exhibiting behaviors that indicate distress, cause a disruption to the campus, and/or affect their wellbeing or that of the community. Members of the team determine the best course of action to support the student of concern and coordinate outreach to them and others in the affected community. The BIT also serves as a resource for staff and faculty by providing consultations and responding to referrals.
The BIT strives to prevent the occurrence of crisis situations on and off campus and to maintain the welfare of the campus community through individualized support to identified students in need.
The team also serves as a coordinating entity in responding to critical incidents that affect students, staff and the greater campus community. When needed, a smaller group of individuals from the BIT (professional involvement is determined based on the nature of the incident) will assess the situation and coordinate an appropriate response.
The BIT team includes representatives from:
The following are rare instances when a student’s behavior poses a threat of:
In these cases, prompt action should be taken. Depending on your circumstances and level of concern you might:
There are many reasons why students may be struggling or in distress. This includes relationship difficulties, financial problems, academic, personal or family issues, academic challenges, stress, depression or health concerns. Students provide a number of clues that they are having difficulty. These clues can consist of:
We should not assume that students will stop concerning behavior on their own because they may not be aware that it is troubling or know where to seek help or assistance. It is important to respond to incidents or behaviors of concern as they occur. Talking to students can help identify issues sooner and help them cope more effectively. In many cases, your initial expression of concern may be all that is needed to help.
Talking with the student is the first step
Guidelines for Responding to Students of Concern
Tips for Faculty and Staff - How to Support Students in Distress
In the event of an emergency, dial 911.
The primary referral source for students of concern. Consultation may result in a referral to the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT). BIT identifies disruptive, problematic or concerning behavior and determines the best mechanisms for support, intervention, warning/ notification and response. The team identifies the next steps, deploys the resources needed and coordinates follow-up. Email reports are welcome and should be sent to sld@stcloudstate.edu.
Counselors are available for consultation and, if warranted, crisis appointments. A clinical case manager can assist struggling students who may need referrals within campus or in the community.
Maintains a 24/7 operation working to provide the safest environment possible by addressing safety, security or medical requests for assistance. They can assist with concerns about students after hours.
Provides a student-centered living and learning environment. Staff are trained to respond to various situations and can be an excellent resource when dealing with residential students.
An accredited medical clinic staffed by licensed medical doctors and nurse practitioners that provides a full range of medical care for currently enrolled students.
The Center for Health and Wellness Innovation serves the whole student – from academic success to mental and physical well-being. Housed in the newly renovated Eastman Hall, the Center includes student services alongside academic spaces to increase accessibility and reduce barriers to student health and well-being. Click on the link above to review the variety of resources available to assist students, faculty and staff in Eastman.
For faculty and staff, the Family and Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) guidelines allow information about students to be shared when you are concerned about a student’s health or safety. While counselors and medical personnel have more restrictive limits about when they can share information, they are always able to accept information from you.
Referral Form for Student Support
As members of the Husky Community we support our students as whole people and sometimes that means helping them get connected to receive some additional help. Faculty and staff are encouraged to use this form to refer students to the BIT team for help connecting to resources. You can use this form to refer students of concern for a variety of reasons, including (and not limited to):