Faculty & Staff Handouts
How to Deal With Difficult or Disruptive Students in your Classroom/Office
Dealing with: | Established Procedure |
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A student鈥檚 misconduct or disruption in your classroom: | Minor Incident/Disruption:
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A student who is aggressive or threatening: |
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A crime on campus or questions about your personal safety: | 糖心Vlog Police will take reports of crimes and can advise you if you have concerns about your safety. Their office is located in building 2250, (707) 256-7777. |
A student who is struggling academically in your classroom: | Talk to the student in private and recommend that they make an appointment to see a counselor in the Counseling Department, (707) 256-7220, Rm 1339A. Counselors can help students deal with workload dilemmas, personal difficulties, and other issues that are interfering with their academic success at 糖心Vlog. |
A student who wants to file a complaint or grievance: |
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A student who was caught cheating or you suspect is cheating: |
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If you are unsure how to deal with an issue or student: | Always seek assistance from your division chairperson first. But if still unsure on how to deal with a student situation, you may contact the CARE Team (707) 256-7776 or call the Vice President of Student Affairs, (707) 256-7363. |
ON CAMPUS RESOURCES AVAILABLE
Department/Office | Contact | Phone (707) | Available Services |
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Office of Student Affairs | Oscar De Haro, Asst. Superintendent/VPSA | (707) 256-7365 | Administers the student code of conduct and deals with dangerous student behavior; provides guidance to faculty, staff, and students in disciplinary issues, complaints and grievances. |
College Police | Amber Wade, Chief | (707) 256-7770 (707) 256-7777 |
Crime prevention and crime reporting including assistance for victims of crime or violence; immediate response and/or help with disruptive students. |
Counseling Department | Howard Willis, Dean | (707) 256-7355 | Academic and career counseling including developing realistic academic workloads; personal counseling/crisis intervention including help with personal, family and other issues that may affect students鈥 educational progress; referrals to appropriate community resources; college success strategies. |
CARE Team | Amber Wade, Chief | (707) 256-7776 | Collaborative team that identifies, assesses, intervenes, and manages cases where people may be exhibiting concerning or unusual behavior. |
DSP&S ADA Accommodations |
Sheryl Fernandez Assoc. Dean | (707) 256-7234 | Assessment of learning or psychological disabilities; referrals to Dept. of Rehabilitation, County Health and Human Services, or other agencies; accommodations might include enlarged book print, note-taking, readers, sign language interpreters, and modified test taking. |
Ombudsperson | Howard Willis, Dean | (707) 256-7355 | Investigates complaints, provides information, and resolves problems. |
Student Health Center Psychological Services | Nancy Tamarisk, Director, NP | (707) 256-7780 (707) 256-7782 |
Personal and private counseling appointments with a licensed therapist in dealing with finances, job, school, marriage or relationships, or life in general. |
Handling Classroom Disruptions
Prevention
Prevention of misconduct is the first priority.
- Faculty members are obligated to be knowledgeable of District rules on student conduct.
- College should distribute to faculty a copy of the Standards of Student Conduct (AKA Student Code of Conduct).
- This policy, along with other college policies like the Academic Honesty policy, is found under the Student Rights and Responsibilities section on the Student Affairs website (Student Affairs).
- Faculty members must inform their students of their expectations for proper conduct.
- Identify the types of conduct not permitted in their classroom, including disruptive, threatening, or nuisance behaviors.
- Inform students of the sanctions for misconduct. These varying types of sanctions are listed on the Standards of Student Conduct under section III and are as follows:
- Warning
- Censure
- Conduct Probation
- Restitution
- Suspension or Termination of Financial Aid
- Suspension (initial and longer suspension)
- Expulsion
- Course syllabus: At the beginning of the term, the instructor should clearly define proper behavior (i.e., classroom decorum, mutual respect, etc.) and penalties for misconduct in writing. Also, please include an explanation of how to handle a concern or disagreement.
Identification of Problem(s)/Intervention
Quick Resolution of problems will best serve all involved.
- The College should convey to faculty the types of services and support available to faculty and students to assist in solving disruption problems.
- Counseling Services: (707) 256-7220
- Mental Health Services/Psychological Counseling: (707) 256-7783
- Student Health Center: (707) 256-7780
- College Police (campus security): (707) 256-7770/7777
- CARE Team: (707) 256-7776
- DSPS/ADA Accommodations: (707) 256-7345
- Vice President of Student Affairs: (707) 256-7363
- Faculty must develop methods for early detection of misconduct and classroom control including student conferences, setting clear guidelines for proper conduct, consistent enforcement of consequences for misconduct, and referral to other campus services.
- Issues that faculty can handle.
- Intervention for non-physical, nuisance type of behavior:
- Talk with student individually before or after class
- Create rapport with student
- Change student's seat
- Refer to counselor
- Give student verbal, positive feedback to reinforce positive behavior
- If you have a disruptive group, separate them. Talk to them individually
- Conflicts with student regarding grades, if non-physical
- College Police officers are trained and available to assist in violent and threatening circumstances.
- Emergency phones are located throughout campus.
- For Urgent Help 鈥 Dial 7777 (Suspicious Situation or Assistance)
- For help on campus using a cell phone, call (707) 256-7770.
Protection of Students' Rights in the Classroom
Protection of students鈥 rights must be an overriding consideration.
- American with Disabilities Act 鈥 General Rule: No qualified individual with a disability shall, based on disability, be excluded from participating in or be denied benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by a public entity.
- ADA protects individuals with physical, psychological and drug/alcohol impairments.
- Psychologically impaired students may be discipline for misconduct.
- Reasonable accommodations are required for qualified individuals; faculty may need assistance from College staff.
- Safety: All students and faculty have the right to be safe in their classroom and on campus.
- Faculty must be trained to recognize unsafe situations.
- College must provide adequate security.
- Freedom of Expression/Non-Discrimination
- Faculty and staff must ensure that discipline is not used to thwart protected speech. It is equally important that disciplinary acts be taken in a non-discriminatory manner.