Ana Barraza
PlacardsAna Barraza1-1-1-1
Placards For PrecautionA Different Kind Of Hand-OutGuidelines For Disruptive Behavior Distributed
For the first time in Pierce College history, 8 Ω by 11 inch laminated placards offering guidelines on how to deal with disruptive behavior and/or students in crisis were distributed to all faculty members this semester. There is no specific reason that prompted the decision for the distribution, said Joy McCaslin, vice president of Student Services, however, “people are more aware because of the incidents at Virginia Tech.” “They laminated them so that they would be easy to put in a notebook and be handy for them to have,” said McCaslin of the glossy three-hole-punched sheet. “The fall semester is historically more stressful than the spring semester,” said Beth Benne, director of the Student Health Center. Deborah Barber, the health center’s psychologist, was completely booked with appointments the first two weeks of school this semester, according to Benne. “If a student gets up and starts yelling in a classroom, they would go to sheriff’s department, if they are sobbing uncontrollably they would come to me.” Benne, who helped write the guidelines for assisting students in crisis/distress says that when a student acts out, it is mostly about a loss of control over their lives. “Maybe they lost their apartment, or they don’t have food in the fridge to feed their child.” According to David Follosco, dean of Student Services, there has not been an increase in disruptive student behavior..”Actually with enrollment over 20,000 at Pierce, there are very few incidents of disruptive behavior,” said Follosco. Student Services has always conducted workshops for faculty on student discipline and addressing disruptive behavior. “Bob Garber (president of Pierce College) brought the concept of the faculty guidelines from his previous institution and asked us to adapt it for Pierce. Since not all faculty could attend these workshops, President Garber requested that the guidelines be placed in all faculty mailboxes. We want faculty to know that there are resources available to them,” said Follosco.Disciplinary actions for a student that causes a problem may vary. It depends on the severity of the incident, said Follosco. “Sometimes speaking with and counseling the student will resolve the issue. Often, by understanding the cause of the disruptive behavior, appropriate options can be discussed with the student. Other incidents may require disciplinary action which may include suspension from a class or the campus for a few days or longer.”Standards of conduct along with a detailed description of student disciplinary procedures can be found in the back of the schedule of classes and also at www.piercecollege.edu/info/conduct/.