Florida State University cares about its students and responds to identified students of concern.
When a student is reported to the Department of Student Success & Transitions, the Senior Associate Dean and/or a Case Manager triage the incident by using information provided in our reporting system, in email and phone messages and by walk-ins. They evaluate the situation using the FSU outreach response matrix. The FSU outreach response matrix determines whether the student is in need of monitoring, referral to support services, an assistance plan, a behavioral plan, or an involuntary medical withdrawal in the most serious of cases.
FSU Policy 5-5: Student Behavior Intervention Structure
Reporting a Student of Concern
If a student is threatening to harm themselves or someone else, immediately call 9-1-1 or 850-644-1234. Reporting to report.fsu.edu will not provide an immediate response.
Report.fsu.edu is available to all members of the FSU community to alert the Department of Student Support & Transitions to concerns about students and organizations so that appropriate follow-up and support can be provided. The site allows for anyone to share important information regarding incidents or concerning behavior happening in the FSU community. The appropriate staff member follows up on every report to ensure that all Noles have the support they need for success.
What to Report
Please provide specific information as to what is happening. What has the student said or done? Why is this concerning given what you know about this student?
- Unusual behavior. change in appearance, attendance, performance that is out of character and gets your attention or the attention of multiple individuals
- Student makes a statement which makes you question their safety and wellbeing
- Student is disrupting the classroom, event, or normal business operations
These are just examples. When you feel as if something is not well with a student please err on the side of reporting.
Classroom Disruption
In situations where the student is causing some level of disruption to a course, it is important for the faculty to quickly provide feedback and parameters regarding appropriate classroom behavior.
- Document specifically what is happening. What has been said and the impact on the learning environment.
- Be sure that your Department Chair and/or appropriate leadership are aware of your concern
- Involve the office of Faculty Development & Advancement as needed for support
- File a report at report.fsu.edu with specific information (have individuals with first-hand knowledge also file a report)
- What Guardrails are in place? Syllabus, Code of Ethics, Professional Standards, Departmental Expectations - does the student have these in writing?
- Has the behavior been addressed with the student? Have they been told to stop? Has that conversation been documented?
Response
There are 5 levels of response for students of concern which include:
Level 5: No identified risk (Case Management)
Mission
Case Management Services supports student success by working with individuals to provide emotional support, counseling, advocacy, and assistance in identifying immediate needs. Through on and off campus referrals, as needed case monitoring, and commitment to providing a high level of service case management services enable a student to navigate academic, personal and financial challenges while pursuing their academic and personal goals.
Purpose
Case Managers are both problem solvers and path-clearers for students who are faced with mental health, academic, personal, financial, relationship, or other stressful crises. Through the provision of resources, campus connections, information regarding processes and procedures, and campus expertise, case managers empower students by assisting in the creation of a plan to help the student continue to navigate their academic journey.
Students often struggle with challenges and crisis related issues that can interfere with success in both their academic and student life. Case Managers within the Department of Student Support & Transitions make connections so that students in distress do not go unnoticed or unsupported. At FSU, Case Managers provide a variety of services for students, depending on their specific situation. These services include:
- Assessment of student needs
- Short-term crisis counseling
- Emotional support
- Student advocacy
- Referrals to campus and community resources
- Academic support and other letters of support
- Outreach to students in distress or to students who may have experienced a crisis
- Consultation with faculty/staff to support a student in distress
- Individual meetings with students and follow-up appointments as needed
- Presentations on services and trainings on how to support students in distress
Case Managers are knowledgeable about multiple institutional policies (medical withdrawal, mental health withdrawal, academic, financial aid, food insecurities, homelessness waivers, etc.) and understand the complexities as these policies are often dependent upon the student’s status as an undergraduate or graduate student. In order to provide the best possible web of support, case managers work with partners across campus such as academic departments, University Housing, Counseling and Psychological Services, University Health Services, Center for Health Advocacy and Wellness (CHAW), FSU Police Department, Office of Accessibility Services, Title IX office, and many others. A wide range of common concerns and issues are supported through Case Management services. These include, but are not limited to:
- Emotional distress/mental health
- Death of a family member or close friend
- Serious illness (i.e. mononucleosis, meningitis, cancer, chronic illness, etc.)
- Accident resulting in injury
- Hospitalization for emotional or physical condition
- Housing crisis
- Financial hardship
- Family/relationship difficulties
- Academic concerns related to crisis
Case Managers do not formally assess or evaluate potentially suicidal or homicidal individuals.
Level 4: Low Risk (Student of Concern Committee)
Mission
The Student of Concern Committee is a campus resource created and dedicated to assisting students who may be in distress or experiencing challenging or difficult circumstances which reach beyond a base line of support as provided by a case manager.
Purpose
The Student of Concern Committee (SOCC) is tasked with identifying students whose distress is escalating so as to concern multiple members of the campus community. This student does not pose a threat to self or others but is exhibiting levels of distress which would indicate a need for coordinated intervention, referral(s) or an active monitoring plan. The SOCC utilizes the Outreach Response Matrix to identify and escalate any student whose level of distress meet the criteria for the Student Situation Resolution Team.
Level 3: Moderate Risk (Student Situation Resolution Team)
Mission
The Student Situation Resolution Team (SSRT) provides a centralized system for various campus departments to communicate relevant information concerning students who may be in distress or experiencing challenging or difficulty life circumstances with multiple touch points across campus.
Purpose
The Student Situation Resolution Team provides coordinated institutional responses and provides the opportunity for multiple areas to consult about students of concern. The primary focus of the team is to take a proactive approach in identifying students who are struggling and provide early intervention, resources, and referrals, both on campus and in the community. SSRT receives information from concerned faculty, staff or students regarding students who may be exhibiting worrisome or concerning behaviors related to their personal, physical, financial and emotional well-being. Case management may gather additional information from the concerned party, faculty members, academic college, family and the student to help create the next course of action. This information may then be presented to SSRT and reviewed for further recommendations.
Level 2: High Risk (Behavior Intervention Team)
Mission
The mission of the FSU Behavior Intervention Team (BIT) is to promote the safety and well-being of the FSU community. The team provides an institutional framework for information sharing and development of support plans for students of concern.
Purpose
The Behavior Intervention Team is a multidisciplinary team focused on early intervention for any student who has raised concerns and may be at risk of harming either themselves or others, or are of substantial disruption to university activities (academic environment, residential housing, campus facilities, and/or daily business practices). The team receives and reviews reports when a student poses a general threat and other concerning student behavior for the purpose of developing a support plan that mitigates risk and promotes student well-being and success within existing University policies.
Level 1: Extreme Risk (Threat Assessment Team)
Mission
The mission of the multidisciplinary Threat Assessment Team (TAT) is to determine if an individual poses, or may reasonably pose, a threat to the safety and well-being of themselves and/or members of the Florida State University community.
Purpose
FSU has established the Threat Assessment Team. TAT was created within the University specifically to consider those situations where a person’s behavior(s) indicate that they may be a potential risk to themselves or others. One role of this team is to evaluate whether the student meets the criteria for an involuntary medical withdrawal. The TAT is a pre-emptive team with a mission of early identification of intervention(s) and includes representatives from the Department of Student Support & Transitions, FSU Police Department, Counseling and Psychological Services, General Counsel, and the Vice President for Student Affairs Office.
