Disruptive Student Conduct in the Classroom or Other Learning Environments

What Constitutes Disruptive Behavior?

Disruptive student behavior is student behavior in a classroom or other learning environment (including both on and off-campus locations), which disrupts the educational process, as determined by the Instructor. Disruptive class behavior includes, but is not limited to, verbal or physical threats, use of any obscenity, unreasonable interference with class discussion, heckling or interrupting any speaker, making/receiving personal phone calls or text messaging during class, excessive tardiness, leaving and entering class frequently in the absence of notice to instructor of illness or other extenuating circumstances, public refusal to participate in class activities, and persistent, disruptive personal conversations with other class members. For purposes of this policy, it may also be considered disruptive behavior for a student to exhibit threatening, intimidating, or other inappropriate behavior toward the faculty, staff or classmates outside of class.

What Can Instructors Do to Prevent Student Behavioral Disruptions?

Instructors are the first line of defense when it comes to preventing and/or curtailing disruptive student behavior. An instructor may adopt these preemptive steps to minimize the likelihood of such behavior:

• Including behavioral norms and expectations in the course syllabus/presentation.
• Discussing what constitutes disruptive classroom behavior at the first meeting of the class with periodic reminders as necessary.
• Establishing and maintaining an environment in which opposing views may be expressed in a civil and respectful manner.
• Exhibiting the type of behavior expected from the students.

What can Instructors do in Response to Disruptive Student Behavior?

Instructors will attempt to deal with disruptive student behavior in a calm, courteous and direct fashion before it escalates or becomes an ongoing pattern.  They may ask the disruptive student to meet after class or during office hours so that they may address the issue in private.  The instructor may ask a colleague to sit in on the meeting with the student.  The instructor may warn the student that further disruptions can result in disciplinary action.  The instructor may document this verbal warning for his or her own records, and will keep their Department/Division/Course Chair (and the Associate Dean in SNHS) informed of problematic interactions with students. If the student behavior becomes violent or hostile, please contact campus safety. 

If the disruptive behavior continues after the instructor has had a private conversation with the student, then the instructor should bring the issue to the attention of their school’s designee:

• School of Arts & Sciences: Division Chair and Office of the SAS Dean
• School of Education
  • Undergraduates: Department Chair and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Advising
  • Graduates: SOE Office of Graduate Advising
• School of Nursing: Course Chair and Associate Dean of SNHS

Step One: Instructor Warns Student 

When disruptive behavior occurs:

• The instructor should warn the student. The warning will consist of orally notifying the student that (a) his/her behavior is disruptive, and (b) it must cease immediately, or else face removal from the classroom or other context, and/or be subject to other disciplinary action.
• If the student fails to comply with the instructor’s warning, the instructor may require that the disruptive student immediately leave the physical or virtual classroom or area for the remainder of the class period/presentation. If the student refuses to leave the physical space, the instructor may summon Campus Safety to remove the student. In a virtual classroom, the Instructor has the right to remove the student. 
• If the instructor believes that the student’s disruptive behavior poses an immediate threat to the safety of the instructor, the student, or any other students or persons, the instructor may summon Campus Safety to remove the student, regardless of whether a warning has been issued. 
• The instructor will decide whether the student will be allowed to return to the physical or virtual classroom or area. If the instructor chooses to allow the student to return to the class/presentation and continue in the course/event, the process is resolved. 
• If the instructor believes the student should not be permitted to return to the class to continue in that course, the instructor should proceed to Step Two, below.

Step Two: Withdrawal Process 

A. The Instructor 

1. If the instructor decides that withdrawing the student from the course is necessary, the instructor shall, within two (2) working days of the disruptive incident, provide the School designeewith a written report of the disruptive incident(s). 
2. If the instructor has the disruptive student in more than one class and decides that the student is disrupting learning in more than one of those classes, or exhibiting threatening and/or intimidating behavior outside the physical or virtual class (e.g., in the instructor’s office, outside the classroom), the instructor has the authority under this policy to initiate removal of the student from all courses taught by that instructor, with the signed approval the School designee.

B. School Designee

Except for extenuating circumstances, the School designee will:

1. Notify the student in writing, via e-mail and campus mail/U.S. mail, within 2 days of receiving the instructor’s notice that the matter has been submitted to the designee for a decision on whether the student should be removed from the course, and that the student may not return to the physical or virtual class until the issue is resolved. This notice shall include a written description of the reported disruptive behavior, a copy of the Disruptive Student Conduct in the Classroom or Other Learning Environment Policy (which includes a description of the appeals process), and the designee’s contact information
   
   This notice shall inform the student of the following processes:
   • The student may respond to the complaint within two days of receipt of the complaint.
   • The student will submit a written response to the designee.
   • Within 5 (working) days of receipt of the complaint, the student shall meet with the designee

    

2. Make themselves available to meet with the student as soon as possible within 5 working days after written notice to the student. 
3. Decide on the appropriate outcome and send notice of the decision to the student, explaining the basis for the decision. The School Designee may:
   • Allow the student to return to course or courses, with or without conditions; 
   • Allow or require the student to transfer to another course section or sections; or 
   • Require the student to withdraw from the involved course or courses. 
4. Notify the student via e-mail and Campus mail/U.S. mail of the decision within 2 working days of the scheduled meeting. If the designee decides that the student should be removed from the involved course or courses, the designee will notify the Registrar and Dean of the appropriate school via email that the student should be withdrawn. A copy of this withdrawal email will be mailed to the student by the designee via e-mail and Campus Mail/U.S. mail. The designee will also include notice that the student may appeal the decision by submitting a written appeal to the Dean of the of appropriate school, detailing the basis of the student’s denial of the charges, within 5 working days from the date of the designee’s written notice of the decision. 

Step Three: The Appeals Process 

The student may appeal the decision of the designee in writing to the Dean of the relevant school, as appropriate. The student’s appeal must be received by the appropriate Dean in writing within 5 working days of the date of the designee’s decision. The Dean shall follow School policies and procedures in making a decision. The decision shall be made and, except for extenuating circumstances, will be sent to the student within 5 working days of receipt by the Dean of the relevant school of the student’s appeal via e-mail and campus mail/U.S. mail.

Step Four: Final Resolution 

According to college policy, students who are withdrawn from a course for disruptive behavior will receive a grade of WA. If the charge of disruptive behavior is upheld, regardless of whether the student is allowed to return to the course, the student is responsible for any loss of tuition monies and/or financial aid. In the event a decision is made at any point in this process that the student was removed without sufficient cause, then the student will be allowed to immediately return to the course without penalty and the designee will work with the student to facilitate the completion of any work missed. The Dean will notify the Registrar’s Office of the final decision on the matter.

What Confidentiality Standards Should I Follow?

Please note that all information and discussion regarding the disruptive student shall be handled in a confidential manner. The privacy of the student’s educational records, including misconduct cases, is protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). For information on FERPA, go to: http://www.ed.gov

Disruptive Behavior and Disability

A student with a disability is not exempt from the college's behavioral expectations, rules, and regulations. Disruptive behavior by such students will be responded to as any other disruptive activity.