Addressing Disruptive Student Behavior
Threatening or Alarming Behavior
Sometimes behavior is more than just thoughtless or rude. Signs of threatening/alarming behaviors include:
- Saying or doing inappropriate things to test boundaries and/or to get a reaction.
- Using derogatory or profane language in an angry manner.
- Appearing hostile, aggressive, or violent.
- Escalating behavior (e.g., louder voice, faster speech, pacing).
- Making threats such as "If I don't pass this course, someone will pay," "I better graduate or else," "I will take things into my own hands."
- Speaking incoherently with unconnected thoughts, garbled speech.
If the Student's Behavior is Alarming, Escalating, or If You or Others Feel Threatened
- Contact the University Police immediately at 872-3433, identify yourself and your location, describe the behavior, and request assistance.
- Inform your department chair if it was necessary to contact University Police.
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Important Contacts
- Counseling Center - 872-3122
- Student Affairs - 872-3594
- Student Health Service - 872-3250
- University Police - 872-3433
The Student Code of Conduct can be viewed in the Millersville Student Handbook.
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Faculty, do you have students who do the following in your classes?
- Arrive late?
- Leave Early?
- IM their friends or talk on their cell phones?
- Eat or Drink?
- Talk with their classmates?
- Read the newspaper?
- Interrupt discussions or make inappropriate remarks?
Disruptive behavior in the classroom intferes with teaching and learning. Some faculty may be reluctant to confront such behavior because they do not know how to respond, worry about inflaming difficult situation or fear a lack of support from the University. However, such conduct should not be tolerated and may get worse if it is ignored.
Preventive Measures Faculty Can Take
- Include specific expectations for student behavior (e.g., no cell phones, no tardiness, etc. during class introduction and in your syllabus).
- Confer with colleagues on ways they prevent or responds to disruptive behavior.
- Model the behavior you expect of students.
- Respond to disruptive behavior when it occurs. Ignoring it WILL NOT make it disappear.
Suggestions for Responding to Disruptive Behavior
Immediately ask the student to stop the behavior. The speak with the student privately after class about their conduct.
When you talk privately with the student...
- Be specific about the behavior that is disruptive.
- Explain the effect the bahavior has on the classroom environment.
- Address how you feel about their behavior, e.g., communicate your frustration.
- Allow the student to respond.
- Restate your expectations for the student's future behavior.
If Disruptive Behavior Continues
Some disruptive behavior simply reflects bad manners and a lack of consideration of others. If such conduct persists, inform the student you will report it to the Student Affairs Office and the case will be treated as a violation of the University's Student Code of Conduct. behaving in disruptive ways in class and failing to comply with your directions to stop are both violations of University policy and will result in disciplinary action.
In other cases, however, disruptive behavior can be a result of psychological problems. If you suspect the behavior which you are dealing could be caused by such difficulties, you should contact the Counseling Center for advice on how to respond.
Your rights as a Faculty Member
You have the right to direct students to cease disruptive classroom behavior immediately. If it becomes necessary, you can also direct a student to leave your classroom for the rest of the class period. If they failto comply with your directives to cease their disruptive behavior or leave the classroom, you report their failure to do so to the Student Affairs office promptly.
Click here to view a printable version of addressing disruptive behavior.
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