Identifying and Dealing with Disruptive Student Behavior in the Workplace

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Identifying and Dealingwith DisruptiveStudent
Behaviorin the Workplace
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Office of Ethics and Student Conflict
Resolution(OESCR)
Susan Vaughn, Director Chris Taylor, Associate
Director

• 9 Warfield Hall
• Miami University
• (Oxford Campus)
• 9-1417

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What we do

• Adjudication of violations of the Code of Student
  Conduct occurring on and off campus
• Oversight of conduct on the regional campuses and
  training for regional campus staff
• Provide mediation and conflict resolution
  services
• Assist students, victims, parents, and others in
  understanding the student conduct process
• Verifiy conduct records for background checks,
  employment, transfer applications, and study
  abroad programs

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The Code of Student Conduct

• The Code applies to all undergrads, grads, and
  student organizations
• Miami reserves the right to review and take
  disciplinary action based on conduct occurring
  off campus or between academic periods
• If a student breaks a law that also violates the
  University standards of conduct, that student may
  be held accountable by both civil authorities and
  the University
• The University may, at its sole discretion, elect
  to pursue disciplinary action against the student
  at the same time as criminal proceedings, even if
  criminal charges involving the same incident are
  not complete, have been dismissed, or were reduced

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Whats Disruptive?

• Minimally Disruptive Behavior (if persistent
  and/or pervasive)
• Repeated and disruptive tardiness
• Eating and drinking in class or office (if not
  permitted)
• Electronic devices going off in
  class/office/library
• Sleeping or reading materials not related to
  class
• Agitation over little things such as waiting in
  line or crumbling a parking ticket

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Whats Disruptive?

• Minimally Disruptive Behavior (if persistent
  and/or pervasive)
• Making a disrespectful comment to any
  administrator or faculty
• Littering or disrespecting property (throwing
  paperwork on the floor slamming the door)
• Distracting repetitive acts (tapping fingers,
  chewing gum, talking)
• Disrespectful engagement of course content and/or
  unsolicited conversation

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Whats Disruptive?

• Significant Disruptive Behavior
• Persistent noise in the library or study areas
• Inappropriate arguing with an administrator over
  a class schedule, Bursar bill etc.
• Disregarding rules such as eating in the library
  or other restricted areas
• Eating food while in line or fail to pay for it

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Whats Disruptive?

• Significant Disruptive Behavior
• Invading personal space or blocking an entry/exit
• Yelling and/or using aggressive body movements
• Use of intimidating or abusive language
• Moving in the classroom/office in a threatening
  manner or without authorization
• Threats (explicit or implicit)
• Email harassment/threat

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Proactive Suggestions for Prevention of
Disruptive Behavior

• Define unacceptable and acceptable behavior with
  all office staff (include student staff as well)
• Have a plan in your office or classroom for
  dealing with disruptive behavior
• Define unacceptable and acceptable behavior in
  your course syllabus
• Utilize the syllabus to convey information on
  electronic devices (cell phones, lap tops, etc.)
  as well as how classroom discussion will be
  conducted

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Proactive Suggestions for Prevention of
Disruptive Behavior

• Discuss with your students on the first day of
  class what they think the behavioral norms and
  expectations should be of each other and include
  suggestions you find acceptable in a syllabus
  addendum or memo to the class
• Serve as a role model in the classroom or office
• Reference the Code of Conduct as appropriate
• Be consistent when addressing unacceptable
  conduct in the classroom or office. Don't single
  out one student and not another.

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Responding to Disruptive Behavior

• Important to address at the time it occurs and
  document as well
• For Minimally Disruptive Behavior
• Take the student aside and privately explain the
  behaviors that are causing disruption. Ask the
  student to stop and explain acceptable behavior
  if appropriate. Make a personal note of the date
  and time you spoke with them about it.
• If it is repeated, take the student aside again,
  reference your previous conversation and alert
  the student that if it occurs again a complaint
  will be filed with the conduct office (OESCR).
  Document the situation (e-mail or letter to
  student). You may also want to contact your
  supervisor/department chair and copy him/her on
  the note to the student.

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Responding to Disruptive Behavior

• For Minimally Disruptive Behavior
• Regarding documentation the student should be
  given something in writing that summarizes the
  conversation. That may just be a warning and no
  further action is needed or it might be a
  referral for disciplinary action. A warning
  would suggest that next time it gets referred to
  June Fening.
• If it is repeated at that point, contact June
  Fening to make a complaint.

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Responding to Disruptive Behavior

• Important to address at the time it occurs and
  document as well
• For Significant Disruptive Behavior
• If non-threatening
• De-personalize keep comments, issues, and
  conversation focused on the issue or behavior
  not on personal attributes
• Defuse keep calm, listen and find ways to
  determine how you and the student will address
  what needs to happen
• Determine a future time for discussion to avoid
  addressing what needs to happen
• Document the situation and notify
  supervisor/department chair and June Fening or
  Jim Ewers immediately after the incident

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Responding to Disruptive Behavior

• For Significant Disruptive Behavior
• If threatening
• Ask the student to leave the area
• Remove oneself and other students and staff from
  the area
• Contact Campus Security immediately
• Immediately report the situation to June Fening
  or Jim Ewers
• Gather information from others who were present
  and witnessed the incident
• Document the situation as quickly as practical
  and safe so that you remember the details

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Responding to Disruptive Behavior

• If this is a classroom situation you CANNOT drop
  or permanently remove a student involuntarily
  without due process, no matter how many times you
  have warned them. You can ask them to leave for
  the remainder of the class and follow-up with a
  meeting later or prior to the next scheduled
  class. But you can't deny them returning.

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After a Complaint Is Made

• Document the entire situation in writing and
  provide as much detail as possible. Submit this
  to June Fening. It can be an email but also
  include any previous correspondence you have had
  with the student. List other witnesses, if any.
• OESCR will be notified by June Fening, priors
  will be checked, and code(s) assigned (e.g. 103B,
  Verbal Abuse)
• Depending on the nature of the offense the
  judicial process begins. (refer to the OESCR
  brochure)

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After a Complaint Is Made

• Student is informed of the charges
• Student has the right to a hearing. You will
  likely have to serve as a witness if it goes to a
  hearing.
• Decision is made on responsibility and, if
  appropriate, the sanction.
• Process generally takes 3 weeks or less.

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