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Since the tragic events at Virginia Tech and other schools and universities, many people have
asked what they should do in the event of an incident. These situations are unpredictable.
However, there are a few steps that can be taken to prepare.
Alcohol and other drug use misuse is a serious public health problem. High-risk substance
use is associated with poor attrition rates, academic failure, mental health issues
and interpersonal violence. It is a serious problem, but one that can be prevented!
Discrimination is unfair or prejudicial treatment based on characteristics such as
race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, age, color,
creed, national or ethnic origin, disability, marital status, familial status, pregnancy,
genetic predisposition, criminal convictions, domestic violence victim status, and
veteran or military status and all other protected classes.
Student behavior that interferes with academic (eg. impedes classroom management)
or administrative activities and may threaten or endanger the physical and psychological health, safety, or welfare of the student or others. Some
non-threatening disruptive classroom and workplace behaviors can be managed by setting
good ground rules.
Students experience emotional distress in a myriad of ways and due to a number of
sources (family, financial, academic, interpersonal, and social difficulties). While
many students will cope successfully with stress, for some, these difficulties can
become unmanageable and require added resources and support to be successful.
Food and housing insecurity impacts students on our campus. Local campus data as well
as national studies have shown that food and housing insecurity issues are both prevalent
among and highly impactful on the well-being and success of students. Students who
don’t have enough to eat or a stable place to live can have lower grades and even
a lesser likelihood of degree completion.
Engaged students and spirited classroom discourse are the cornerstones of active learning.
However, interactions must be respectful to others and shouldn’t interfere with classroom
decorum. Disruptive classroom behaviors can become recurrent if not addressed early
on, impeding the instructor’s ability to teach and other students’ ability to learn.
This health crisis may result from a worsening of a pre-existing medical condition,
catastrophic onset of illness, accident, physical attack causing bodily harm, consequence
of an infectious disease, substance abuse or overdose, exposure to a hazardous substance,
severe reaction to an allergen or other causes not immediately apparent.
It may be difficult to distinguish between a student who simply is not following attendance
guidelines for class or work and those who are truly missing. When you are concerned
about a student’s whereabouts and have not been able to get in touch with them, we
prefer that you share your concerns as soon as possible.
Sexual Violence can take many different forms, but one thing remains the same: it’s
never the survivor’s fault. The aftermath can be devastating to the survivor both
in and out of the classroom. It is less likely that you will witness an incident of
sexual or relationship violence.
Student death can be emotionally difficult and stressful for all. Any student death
irrespective of the cause (natural, suicide or accident) and location (on-or-off campus)
has a significant impact on the community necessitating a coordinated response that
includes several stakeholders (UPD, Academic dept., bursar, student organization,
campus residence, counseling services etc.).
Suicidal crisis most often occurs when life stressors and mental health issues converge
to create an experience of hopelessness and despair. Untreated conditions like depression,
anxiety and substance abuse problems increase risk for suicide. A suicidal person
may see suicide as the only solution to a set of overwhelming feelings or unbearable
circumstances.
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Active Shooter
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Alcohol and Other Drugs
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Discrimination
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Disruptive Behaviors
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Emotional Distress
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Food and Housing Insecurity
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Managing Challenging Classroom Situations
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Medical Emergency
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Missing Student
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Sexual Violence
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Student Death
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Suicide Crisis
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