Support

Supporting Students in Crisis

If you choose to approach a student you are concerned about or if a student reaches out to you for help with a personal problem, follow these guidelines to make the situation more comfortable for you and more helpful for the student:

• Talk to the student in a face-to-face meeting when you both have time and are not rushed or preoccupied. If you have initiated the contact, express your concern in behavioral, nonjudgmental terms.
• Listen to thoughts and feelings in a sensitive, non-threatening way. Communicate understanding by repeating back key points the student shared.
• Give hope that things can get better. It is important to encourage them to realize there are options. Suggest resources and enable them to consult a professional. Do not try to solve the student’s problem.
• Avoid judging, evaluating, or criticizing even if the student asks for your opinion. Such behavior will push the student away. It is important to respect the student’s value system even if you do not agree with it.
• Maintain clear and consistent boundaries and expectations. Maintain the professional nature of a relationship with the student and help them understand available options.
• Refer the student to the appropriate professional. Help them understand that help is available and seeking help is a sign of strength. Let the student know what they should expect and what option are available.
• Time of day is important. Know what help is available when. The Counseling Center at The University of Alabama is open for appointments or crisis intervention Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For emergencies, help is available after hours by calling UAPD at 205-348-5454.
• Consult the Counseling Center if you are ever in doubt about advising or an intervention. View the Counseling Center website for more information, or call 205-348-3863. For emergencies, help is available after hours by calling UAPD at 205-348-5454.

Behavioral Threat Assessment

UA’s Behavioral Threat Assessment protocol is committed to improving the safety of UA’s community through a proactive, multi-disciplinary, and structured approach to situations which pose, or may reasonably pose, a potentially violent threat to the UA environment.

UA’s Behavioral Threat Assessment protocol ensures any developed information will be appropriately assessed, analyzed, and acted upon to ensure the safety and well-being of all associated with the UA community. Threat Assessment resources include the Behavioral Intervention Team, the Emergency Management and Response Policy Group, the Threat Assessment Specialist, and the Threat Assessment Team. For additional information, contact UA’s Threat Assessment Specialist at 205-348-2834, or learn more on the Behavioral Threat Assessment website.

Addressing Student Conduct

The Code of Student Conduct contains University conduct regulations that describe prohibited behavior for students. If a student is causing a classroom disruption, but does not appear to be a threat to themselves or others, discuss the disruptive behavior with the student individually and file a written complaint with Student Conduct. Remember, you have the authority to ask a disruptive student to leave a classroom or office temporarily.

Any member of the University community may file a complaint against any student for misconduct. Incidents of alleged violations of the Code of Student Conduct should be reported to the Student Conduct office. Any alleged violation should be submitted as soon as possible after the event takes place, preferably within one month of the occurrence. Contact Student Conduct to discuss the process or learn more at 205-348-8234.