Oklahoma State University is committed to promoting and maintaining an environment where all students are able to participate in the educational process without compromising the safety, health, and welfare of themselves or others. To further this aim, the University has two teams of professionals, the Care Team and the Behavioral Consultation Team, to shape comprehensive support for OSU students experiencing significant challenges and difficulties. These groups are responsible for creating strategic, coordinated, and holistic action plans for individualized care for each student presented.
Care Team
The focus of the Care Team is to take a proactive approach when identifying students who are in distress and provide them with resources, interventions (early), and referral agencies on campus or in the community. The role of this team is to help students who may be in distress or experiencing challenging or difficult life circumstances.
Behavioral Consultation Team
The BCT is a specially trained group of professional staff members from several university departments with mental health, student development, law enforcement, academic, administrative, and legal expertise. The team gathers information from community reports and individual interactions, analyzes and evaluates threats and other concerning behavior using objective rubrics, tools, and assessments, and implements strategies for intervening and managing individuals who may pose a threat of harm. The team works with all parties involved to affect a safe campus environment.
The overarching goal for the BCT at Oklahoma State University is to promote individual and community safety. The campus-wide team does so through prevention and intervention efforts focused on identifying, assessing, and responding to behavioral concerns presenting a risk to the health or safety of the University or its members.
Reporting
Any member of the Oklahoma State University community who is concerned about a student’s behavior should immediately forward this information through the Care Report.
Phases of Operation
Prevention: Through concerted efforts in marketing and education, and by creating a culture of referrals regarding concerning behavior.
Intake & Data Gathering: Data is gathered through reports to the team, review of academic and student life records, and any other means deemed appropriate and necessary.
Analysis: During meetings, the information gathered will be analyzed and action steps developed. The team will use objective risk and threat assessment tools.
Intervention: The team will, by way of the appropriate university office or official, investigate and respond to reported concerns by intervening to offer support and resources. The team may refer students to various campus resources.
Follow-up: After an appropriate time, the team, by way of the appropriate university office or official, will follow up with these students in an effort to continue to gather information and analyze the next steps.
Objective Risk and Threat Assessment Tools
The Care Team and the Behavioral Consultation Team utilized an objective risk rubric established by the National Association of Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment (NABITA). The NABITA risk rubric is a researched based expert system tool useful for the initial training of mental health concerns and the potential for threat. In addition to the NABITA Risk Rubric, there are four additional NABITA assessment tools are used for cases that align with the purpose of the assessments.
Dangerousness and violence, from a student, faculty, or staff member is difficult, if not impossible, to accurately predict. The NABITA risk rubric and assessments offer research-based techniques and theories to provide a foundational understanding and improved awareness of the potential risk. The training and tools should not be seen as a guarantee or offer any assurance that violence will be prevented. – National Association of Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment.
Team Members
Team members are available to take referrals or talk about a student of concern.
- Behavioral Consultation Team (BCT)
The following individuals serve on the Behavioral Consultation Team.
Name Area of Representation Dr. Brent Marsh Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Aleigha Mariott Assistant Vice President, Student Affairs - Chair Scott Alexander Director of Student Support Jeff Bates Director of Student Conduct Dr. Joseph Dunnigan Associate Director of University Counseling Services Candace Thrasher Academic Affairs Sergeant Kyle McCool OSU Police Department Clint Pratt, J.D. Associate General Counsel Jack Henneha University Health Services Dr. Matt Lovern Associate Dean of the Graduate College Dr. Clyde Wilson Associate Vice President of Institutional Diversity - Care Team
The following individuals serve on the Care Team.
Name Area of Representation Dr. Aleigha Mariott Assistant Vice President, Student Affairs - Chair Alyssa Turner University Health Services Dr. Amy Martindale College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Andrea Hearn Honors College Angelia Barrera-Taylor Housing and Residential Life Audrey Pinion Academic Affairs Becca Krouse Student Support – Case Manager Britteny McClure Student Support – Case Manager Dr. Carol Challenger University Counseling Chelsey Thompson Student Accessibility Services Dr. Cynda Clary Furgeson College of Agriculture Dan Link Student Success Jawauna Harding Athletics Jessica Ley Student Support – Case Manager Dr. Johnny Robinson Campus Life Kandice Talbert College of Education and Human Sciences Kara Irwin Student Support – Case Manager Kyle McCool OUS Police Marissa McIntyre College of Business Dr. Matt Lovern Graduate College Rachel Todhunter College of Engineering and Technology Robert Rabb Financial Aid Scott Alexander Student Support Shannon Baker Student Success