Sinclair College Catalog

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Sinclair College
444 West Third Street, Dayton, Ohio 45402

Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT)

Introduction and purpose:

The behavioral intervention team, or BIT, is a group of campus representatives that serves as a multidisciplinary consultation team. This team's purpose is to respond to student behaviors and concerns that may significantly affect the educational mission or operation of the college. Filing a BIT report when students are having personal difficulties notifies the team of troubling student behavior and allows the team to take proper action.
 

The BIT team includes members from various campus departments, including:

  • Faculty
  • Counseling Services
  • Accessibility Services
  • Ombudsman
  • Provost Office
  • Sinclair Police
  • Student Affairs
  • Student Conduct
  • Regional Centers
  • Department Chairs Council

When to report:

Sinclair employees are the eyes and ears of the campus community. It is everyone's responsibility to act and assist those individuals who show any type of behavior that could threaten their safety or the well-being of the Sinclair College Community. We all play a vital role in ensuring the safety of our students, faculty, and staff. The Behavioral Intervention Team strongly encourages faculty and staff to utilize its referral services to better serve and enhance our community.  All concerns brought to the team will be assessed to determine the best course of action to protect students and the community. The success of this process depends upon the community's commitment to reporting behavioral concerns.


What to be aware of/concerned about:

The following behaviors can all be important signs of distress. If you notice a student exhibiting one or more of the following physical, emotional, or academic signs, or you have a "gut feeling" that something is wrong, report your concern. You do not have to wait for tangible proof that a problem exists. Further, a simple check-in with the student may help you get a better sense of the situation.


Physical signs include:

  • Falling asleep in class or at other inopportune times
  • Dramatic changes in energy level in either direction
  • Worrisome changes in hygiene or personal appearance
  • Significant changes in weight
  • Appearing confused or disoriented
  • Threats of hurting self or others
  • Frequent suspicions of being under the influence, such as appearing bleary-eyed or hung-over or smelling of alcohol or drugs
  • Noticeable cuts, bruises, or burns
  • Verbal or physical threats, online or in-person
  • Unusual or disturbing speech or behaviors


Emotional signs to be aware of include:

  • Inappropriate emotional outbursts, such as unprovoked anger, hostility, or sobbing
  • Exaggerated personality traits: More withdrawn or more animated than usual
  • Expressions of hopelessness, fear, or worthlessness
  • Continuously argumentative, easily irritated, or excessively worried
  • Communication of themes of suicide, death, and dying in papers or projects
  • Direct statements indicating distress, family problems, or other difficulties
  • Peer concern about a fellow student, such as a classmate, lab partner, or fellow club member 

Academic signs to be concerned about include:

  • Deterioration in quality or quantity of work
  • Negative changes in classroom or research performance, such as a drop in grades
  • Missed assignments or exams
  • Repeated absences from class or lab
  • Disorganized or erratic performance
  • A decline in enthusiasm in class, such as no longer choosing a seat in the front of the room
  • Frequent, lengthy "ranting" or threatening types of emails sent to staff or faculty
  • Continual seeking of exceptions, such as late papers, extensions, postponed exams, and projects

Other signs or behaviors warranting a BIT report include:

  • A revelation of previous acts of violence or disturbing behaviors
  • Disruptive behavior past the point of classroom management, which the instructor has previously addressed with the student.

It is possible that any of these signs may simply mean that a student is having an off day. It's also possible, however, that even one serious sign such as a student writing a paper expressing hopelessness or thoughts of suicide or a cluster of smaller signs, such as emotional outbursts, repeated absences, a noticeable cut on the arm, can justify an intervention.


As stated previously, trust your instincts when assessing whether a student needs intervention. In cases where a student's behavior poses an imminent threat to you or another, contact Sinclair Police immediately: Dayton Campus: 937-512-2700 Learning Centers: 911


To File a BIT Report:

  1. Go to www.sinclair.edu
  2. At the bottom of the webpage, under Conduct & Safety,
  3. Click on File a Report
  4. Select BIT report and complete the incident report 

  • Last Revised: 07/27/2023