Helping students in distress
The Behavior Intervention Team (BIT) is a group of administrators and staff who work closely with students who are struggling within the academic or social environment at Furman. The team works to coordinate university resources to assist students who are at risk academically, or who exhibit maladaptive behavior or signs of emotional distress. The team also identifies students who have either experienced personal loss or failures while enrolled or who may be a danger to themselves or others within the Furman community. The team develops intervention plans for each individual student based on the problems and concerns identified.
Concerned about a student?
Furman is concerned about the well-being of all its students. If you are concerned about a classmate, please contact us.
Complete our referral form.
This form will only be received during normal business working hours. If this is an emergency, please contact the University Police at 864.294.2111.
Our procedures
If you believe someone is an immediate threat to themselves or others, you should contact University Police at 864-294-2111.
In a non-emergency situation, the BIT will serve
as the university's primary contact when a concern arises about a student's behavior
or well being. If the team determines the student needs intervention, the student will
be contacted by an assigned member of the team to initiate conversations
about how to assist the student and assess the level of threat noted.
The Counseling Center and Student Health Services representatives on the
team do not comment on specific student matters, but serve as a
resource for the team in determining general intervention strategies and
providing professional mental and physical health consultation.
Student alert system
If there is a reason to be concerned with the behavior of a student, our campus administrators should be alerted to ensure that early intervention can occur.
Typical classroom issues which should be reported include: Multiple class absences, pattern of lateness to class or with assignments, missing tests/exams, lack of responsiveness in class, disturbing personal disclosures in class assignments. These should be reported initially to the assistant academic dean's office.
Typical outside classroom issues which should be reported include: Socially inappropriate behavior, alcohol or drug abuse, significant health concerns that interfere with daily functioning, disclosure of significant family or relationship issues, signs of a lack of connection or integration in the university community, or sudden, alarming changes in behavior. These should be reported initially to the student life coordinator.
Crisis and behavior intervention
The BIT deals with matters of crisis, disturbing behavior, and medical
and mental health situations in order to propose appropriate responses
and interventions. Situations of acute crisis typically result in
immediate follow up with the student of concern.
Threat assessment
The BIT assists in assessing threatening situations and developing risk
abatement plans that minimize the potential for violence. Leaders of the university's Crisis Management Team may also be consulted in extreme
incidents. Self-injurious behaviors/suicide ideation or attempt; erratic
behaviors that disrupt the normal proceedings of the university and/or
situations in which hospitalization are required will be considered
matters of highest concern and in need of immediate university response
and intervention
.