Threatening or Alarming Behavior

Sometimes behavior is more than just thoughtless or rude. Signs of threatening/alarming behaviors include:

• Saying or doing inappropriate things to test boundaries and/or to get a reaction.
• Using derogatory or profane language in an angry manner.
• Appearing hostile, aggressive, or violent.
• Escalating behavior (e.g., louder voice, faster speech, pacing).
• Making threats such as "If I don't pass this course, someone will pay," "I better graduate or else," "I will take things into my own hands."
• Speaking incoherently with unconnected thoughts, garbled speech.

If the Student's Behavior is Alarming, Escalating, or If You or Others Feel Threatened

• Contact the University Police immediately at 3-911, identify yourself and your location, describe the behavior, and request assistance.
• Inform your department chair if it was necessary to contact University Police.

Faculty, do you have students who do the following in your classes?

• Arrive late?
• Leave early?
• IM their friends or talk on their cell phones?
• Eat or Drink in class or lab?
• Talk with their classmates?
• Read the newspaper?
• Interrupt discussions or make inappropriate remarks?

Disruptive behavior in the classroom interferes with teaching and learning. Some faculty may be reluctant to confront such behavior because they do not know how to respond, worry about inflaming a difficult situation, or fear a lack of support from the University. However, such conduct should not be tolerated and may get worse if it is ignored.

Preventive Measures Faculty Can Take

• Include specific expectations for student behavior (e.g., no cell phones, no tardiness, etc.) during class introduction and in your syllabus.
• Confer with colleagues on ways they prevent or respond to disruptive behavior.
• Model the behavior you expect of students.
• Respond to disruptive behavior when it occurs. Ignoring it WILL NOT make it disappear.

Suggestions for Responding to Disruptive Behavior

Immediately ask the student to stop the behavior. Then speak with the student privately after class about his or her conduct.

When you talk privately with the student...

• Be specific about the behavior that is disruptive.
• Explain the effect the behavior has on the classroom environment.
• Address how you feel about their behavior, e.g., communicate your frustration.
• Allow the student to respond.
• Restate your expectations for the student's future behavior.

If Disruptive Behavior Continues

Some disruptive behavior simply reflects bad manners and a lack of consideration of others. If such conduct persists, inform the student you will report it to the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and that the case will be treated as a violation of the University's Student Code of Conduct. Behaving in disruptive ways in class and failing to comply with your directions to stop are both violations of University policy and will result in disciplinary action.

In other cases, however, disruptive behavior can be a result of psychological problems. If you suspect the behavior with which you are dealing could be caused by psychological problems, you should contact the Counseling Center for advice on how to respond.

Your rights as a Faculty Member

You have the right to direct students to immediately cease disruptive classroom behavior. If it becomes necessary, you may also direct a student to leave your classroom for the rest of the class period. If he or she fails to comply with your directives to cease the disruptive behavior or leave the classroom, you may report his or her failure to do so to the office of the Vice-President for Student Affairs.

View a printable version of addressing disruptive behavior.