Speaking up for someone who may not be able to speak for themselves can often avoid harm or even tragedy. If you are concerned about someone's well-being in the campus community or even need help finding resources for yourself, we can help. Please call Campus Police, the Dean of Students, or submit your concern online.
Examples of concerning behavior displayed by students, staff, or faculty include, but are not limited to:
cutting or other self-harm,
threatening harm to others,
staying in bed all day,
giving personal belongings away,
withdrawing from family & friends,
not participating in daily activities or enjoyable activities,
bizarre or strange behavior such as acting “out of touch” with reality,
angry, hostile, or abusive behavior,
bruises or marks on their body,
others controlling where they go, with whom they interact, etc.,
inability to cope with stressors,
or other behavior that is inappropriate, worrisome, or disruptive.
Need to talk to someone now?
In an emergency, call 911 immediately.
If you witness a behavior that you feel needs to be dealt with now, trust your instincts and call 911 or contact campus police at 765-973-8429.
Your report is completely confidential. See FAQs to learn more.
FAQs
Talk through your concern with campus police, the Dean of Students, or the campus counselor. We are happy to answer questions about what occurs when a concern is submitted, to discuss your specific concern, and to provide recommendations. You don't have to identify anyone until you feel confident and informed in your decision to do so.
It depends on the nature of the concern. Every situation is different; some issues can be dealt with quite simply and directly, others may require a more comprehensive, complicated response. No matter the situation, trust the people on campus with experience and training to determine the best course of action.
Some concerns may require input from a group of campus experts trained to investigate and act in a way that respects the rights of all involved and honors university policies. This group is called the Behavioral Consultation Team (BCT). Team members include representatives from University Police, Dean of Students, Center for Health Promotion, Title IX/Affirmative Action, and University Administration. Additional campus representatives may be included on an ad-hoc basis depending on the nature of the referred incident.
You are reporting a concern based on an observed behavior (e.g., verbal exchange, hostile interaction, etc.), not making a determination or judgment about the individual. There is no expectation that your observations are “right” or “wrong.” We will weigh all the information available, gather further information if warranted, and determine the best course of action.
The Behavioral Consultation Team is a campus-wide team that provides consultation, makes recommendations for action, and coordinates campus resources in response to reports of disruptive or concerning behavior displayed by students, staff or faculty.
The BCT does not enact sanctions or administer policy regarding referrals; however the BCT can coordinate and share information with units that may take administrative actions such as: evaluation for immediate detention; conduct/disciplinary action (student, staff or faculty); referral to University Police; emergency notification of others; parental/guardian notification; and recommend medical/psychological evaluation and/or permission to receive such records.
In some cases, there may be no violation of campus rules or policies, but the behavior may evoke alarm or concern among involved persons. The BCT provides consultation and recommendations to the appropriate parties, such as: classroom or workplace management strategies; behavioral contract development; awareness of campus resources and services; and mediation.
The BCT is a committee that was designed as a resource to try to identify troubling behavior and address it before it escalates to something more serious. Experience shows that tragedies affecting college campuses (for example the Virginia Tech tragedy) are often preceded by warning signs or patterns of behavior. Early communication and intervention may help to prevent an escalation of behaviors to critical levels. Therefore, report any behavior that is troubling or makes you concerned. It is better to be safe than sorry: if you have a “gut feeling” that something is not quite right, report it. If a member of the IU East community (student, staff, or faculty) behaves in a way that is disruptive or poses a potential threat to any aspect of our community, such behaviors should be reported to the BCT. Call 911 for all concerns requiring immediate attention (potentially criminal activity, violent, threatening, or imminent suicidal behavior).
The BCT is a multidisciplinary team composed of individuals from various departments on campus to allow for effective collaboration and coordination of efforts. Team members include representatives from University Police, Dean of Students, Center for Health Promotion, Title IX/Affirmative Action, and University Administration Additional campus representatives may be included on an ad-hoc basis depending on the nature of the referred incident.
If you believe that the person may pose a threat of imminent danger of harm to him/herself or to others, call 911.
To make a BCT referral, contact us by phone or complete the Concerned Persons Referral form above. You will be asked to provide your contact information and a description of the incident or behaviors that prompted you to make a referral. A BCT member will contact you to get additional information.
You are the Behavioral Consultation Team’s best resource because you are familiar with the individual or directly observed the concerning behavior. If you want to speak with a member of the team before submitting a referral, you should call (765) 973-8242 and ask to speak with the Chair of the BCT.
Anyone who feels an individual is a threat to him/herself/others, or is exhibiting concerning, disruptive, or worrisome behaviors can make a BCT referral including students, parents, faculty, staff and community members.
The team receives and prioritizes the information, then immediately begins further investigation. You will be contacted for clarification and additional information. Often the initial report is just one piece of the puzzle. A behavior that someone observes can turn out to be an isolated incident and no cause for further concern, or it may be an indication of a larger problem that needs to be addressed. The team attempts to understand the whole of a person’s behavior patterns before making any recommendations for action. Reports sent on weekends or after 5pm on weekdays will be reviewed the next working day.
Something that may appear to be a minor incident to you may be part of a larger pattern unknown to you. Early and effective communication among key offices and individuals is crucial to identifying problems before they get bigger. The guiding mission of the BCT is that of early intervention in order to understand what is happening and try to intervene before a situation escalates. We will attempt to resolve a situation BEFORE someone “gets in trouble.” The goal is to promote the safety of the individual and campus through early intervention. The BCT takes into account the concerns of the campus, as well as the needs of the student, faculty, or staff member about whom concerns are expressed. Whether the information will adversely affect the individual’s student or employment status will depend on the situation. Frequently, when a situation is identified early enough and reported it can be resolved without the need for further disciplinary action or criminal prosecution against the person involved. If you are unsure about whether or not you should say something, report it! Trust your instincts.
Anonymous referrals are discouraged. Identifying yourself assists the BCT if clarification or additional information is needed. Submitting your name also gives the referral more credibility. The BCT will attempt to handle all matters discreetly. We cannot guarantee that the person(s) involved will not be able to determine the source of the report. If this concerns you, please speak directly with a team member. IU East does not permit retaliation against any individual who reports a concerning or troubling behavior in good faith.
Probably not. Various privacy and confidentiality laws apply to the situations handled by the BCT. A member of the team will contact the person making the referral to get more information but it may not be possible to let you know the action taken or the status of the referral.
No. FERPA expressly permits the sharing of any and all information from you to the team.
The BCT does not enact sanctions or administer policy regarding referrals; however, the BCT can:
develop specific strategies to manage potential harmful or disruptive behavior to protect both the safety and rights of the individual and the IU East community.
assist faculty or staff in developing a plan of action.
coordinate and share information with units/departments that may take administrative actions such as:
evaluation for immediate detention (by the Police),
conduct/disciplinary action (student, staff, or faculty),
provide continued support to the individual (e.g., academic advising, counseling, etc.),
emergency notification of others,
parental/guardian notification.
refer information to the University Police.
recommend medical/psychological evaluation and or request permission to receive such records.
continue monitoring the situation without immediate action.
