Threat Assessment Team

Introduction

West Chester University is committed to promoting a safe and secure learning and work environment.  We believe, as outlined in the WCU Values Statement, that it is incumbent upon all members of our community --- students, faculty, staff, and administrators --- to conduct themselves with civility toward one another at all times.    

The University is committed to student success and strives to maintain an intellectual atmosphere that provides for the protection of the health, safety, welfare, and property

of all members of the campus community. To uphold these community standards the University relies on the enforcement of all local/state/federal laws and the following West Chester University policies:

Student Code of Conduct (The Ram’s Eye View Student Handbook, page 53)       

Disruptive Classroom Behavior (Undergraduate Catalog, page 51)  

Misconduct Complaints Against Employees (Human Resources Website)

Sexual Harassment/Non-Discrimination (Social Equity Website)

Weapons and Dangerous Devices (Public Safety Website)

Overview

West Chester University has established a Threat Assessment Team to assist in addressing situations where students, faculty, or staff are displaying disruptive or threatening behaviors that potentially impede their own or others ability to function successfully or safely. The process is designed to help identify persons whose behaviors potentially endanger their own or others health and safety.  

It is the responsibility of faculty, staff, and students to immediately report any situation that could possibly result in harm to anyone at the University.  Any member of the campus community may become aware of a troubling person or situation that is causing serious anxiety, stress, or fear and, if so, this information should be forwarded to the Director of Public Safety.  In cases where a person may pose an immediate risk of violence to self or others, the Department of Public Safety should be contacted at 610-436-3311.

Purpose

For the safety of the campus community any threat, explicit or implied, will be considered a statement of intent.  The Threat Assessment Team will recommend actions to the appropriate Vice President(s) in order to protect the student, employee, and University community.  This Team has been established to:

•  Respond to circumstances of violence, threatening behavior, unwanted pursuit, or harassment;
•  Investigate the situation and recommend appropriate actions including suspension, expulsion, termination of employment, filing of criminal charges, or ongoing monitoring for follow-up and observation of behavior patterns; 
• Respond quickly to behavior indicating a student, faculty, or staff member poses a risk to self or others;
• Identify resources for troubled students and personnel and make referrals to appropriate campus and off-campus agencies;
• Help secure therapeutic actions that are appropriate, such as treatment or counseling;
• Notify, within FERPA guidelines,  parents, guardians and/or next-of-kin;
• Initiate action to place a student/employee in the custody of a mental health facility capable of supporting specific behaviors;
• Require internal or external psychological evaluations;
• Coordinate and assess information from faculty, administrators, students, and local authorities;
• Make recommendations to the Vice President for Student Affairs and/or the Vice President for Administration and Finance who will sign-off on action to be taken; 
• Periodically assess outcomes of actions taken.

Nothing in this policy is intended to abridge any employee’s rights under a collective bargaining agreement or their rights at law.     

Procedure

Threat-related information must be forwarded the the Director of Public Safety or in an emergency to the Public Safety Dispatch Center (610-436-3311). The Director of Public Safety and the Assistant Dean of Students for Health and Wellness will initially evaluate the report and, if appropriate, convene the Threat Assessment Team.  Individual members of the Team are also available for advice and consultation.

Once a report is received, the following preliminary investigative information will be collected:

1. Interviews to determine the existence of corroborating evidence;
2. Initiation of threat assessment software (MOSAIC);
3. Student disciplinary/judicial WCU history;
4. Relevant employment records under the custody of the Chief Human Resource

        Officer;

    5. Other relevant information as deemed appropriate to assure the safety of the

        University community.

When information is received about a possible threat, it will be investigated and a probability will be identified.  It should be noted that assessing a possible threat cannot be 100% accurate. Information on “red flags, warning signs, and indicators” as well as other recommended actions from the Virginia Tech Review Panel Report, August 2007 will be used to help guide decision-making.

Threat Assessment Team

The Threat Assessment Team consists of University personnel with expertise in human resources/employee assistance, law enforcement/threat assessment/tactical applications, university operations, medical knowledge, and student affairs. A collaborative process to assess threats will be used and depending on the situation, personnel with areas of specialization/responsibility may be called upon to assist the Team. The Executive Deputy to the President will keep senior officials advised of situations and specifically will communicate with the Vice President for Advancement on Public Relations matters. Other individuals may also be consulted as needed such as a faculty member who has a concern about a student, a counseling psychologist to share expertise, and/or a manager who has information concerning an employee.

The Team will meet on an emergency basis as well as regularly to review reports brought forward by faculty, staff, and students concerning disruptive, inappropriate, and/or threatening behavior.    

Threat Assessment Team Members:

Vice President for Administration and Finance               Mr. Mark Mixner   436-2731

Vice President for Student Affairs                               Dr. Matthew Bricketto  436-3301

Executive Deputy to the President                              Mr. Lawrence Dowdy 436-6974     

Director of Public Safety                                           Mr. Michael Bicking  436-3311      

Assistant Dean of Students for Health and Wellness       Ms. Mary Ann Hammond  436-2509 

Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs                  Ms. Diane DeVestern  436-3511 

Associate Vice President for Human Resources               Mr. Michael Maloy  436-3309   

Associate Director of Public Safety                              Mr. Michael Vining  436-3311

Conclusion

While supervisors, managers, department chairpersons, deans, and student affairs/residence life staff are appropriate counsel for general student/employee concerns they are not experts in responding to threatening or alarming situations.   Therefore, it is everyone’s responsibility (students, employees, visitors) to report situations that could possibly result in harm to the campus community to the Director of Public Safety or, in an emergency, to the Public Safety Dispatch Center (610-436-3311).