Understanding the role of faculty and staff in identifying, assisting and referring students in distress or concern was one of the focuses during Monday’s “Student Wellness – It Takes a Campus” event.
The goal of the presentation was to explain what the Behavioral Intervention Team (B.I.T.) is and how it can assist faculty, staff and students in identifying and intervening in what could be harmful or worrying behaviors.
John Loprieno, theatre arts interim dean, cited a hypothetical example of how behaviors change constantly.
“It’s really essential to track behaviors of students,” said Loprieno. “Chuck may be okay last week, but he won’t be the same today.”
Made up of Norm Marten, biological sciences acting dean, Sharon Manakas, coordinator of Student Health Services, Nils Slattum, english professor, and the Campus Police, the B.I.T.’s goal is to provide a structured, positive method for addressing student behaviors that negatively impact either the student or the college community. This is done by managing each case individually while addressing mental health, academic, or safety concerns, initiating appropriate intervention without necessarily resorting to punitive measures, and eliminating fragmented interventions.
The role of faculty and staff in the B.I.T. process is to complete the Behavioral Intervention Referral Form (B.I.R.F.), which faculty members can find under the College Quick Links tab in their Ventura County Community College District online portal. Once completed, the forms will go the dean responsible for student conduct.
Reporting concerning behavior when a threat level three or four out of 10 is another role of faculty and staff.
Norman Marten, biological sciences acting dean, explained how critical is it to specify any worrisome behavior instead of trying to identify the problem.
“It’s important that you use descriptive words to describe the behaviors in question and don’t diagnose,” Marten explained.
Loprieno then said that faculty, staff, and administrators who have access to the faculty online portal can file a B.I.R.F. at both Oxnard and Ventura colleges as well.
According to Sharon Manakas, coordinator of Student Health Services, filing a B.I.R.F. might not be the first priority if a student continued to display the odd or disruptive behaviors.
“If you hear someone making threats and physical violence may be involved, call the Campus Police straight away,” Manakas said.
For more information on B.I.T., please contact one of the B.I.T. members listed below.
Campus Police at (805) 378-1455.
Sharon Manakas at (805) 553-4179
Norman Marten at (805) 553-4719
Nils Slattum at (805) 553-4889
