Frequently Asked Questions

Depressed mood & Lethargy
Hyperactivity or rapid speech
Unexplained crying, irritability, anxiety, or anger
Lowering of academic performance, changes in attendance or participation, decreased ability to concentrate
Changes in personal hygiene, dress, or appetite
Strange or bizarre behavior indicating loss of contact with reality
Talking or writing about suicide or homicide
Highly disruptive behavior (e.g., hostility, aggression, and violence)

Arrange to talk with the student outside of class time and express your concerns in terms of specific behaviors.
Listen to thoughts and feelings in a sensitive, nonjudgmental way.
Use directly but non-threatening terms. It is better to state your concern directly than to ignore the behaviors.
Take all suicidal/homicidal expression seriously and seek immediate help from the Texas Tech Police Department.
Tell the student that help is available and that seeking help is a sign of strength.
Make the appropriate referral(s). Students should make their own appointment if possible. You could offer to walk the student to the appropriate office or allow them to use your phone to schedule an immediate appointment.
Follow-up is an important part of the process. Check with the student later to find out how he or she is progressing and if they followed through with the referral.

Clearly establish classroom behavioral expectations in your syllabus and address behavioral problems accordingly. For suggestions on syllabus wording or tips on maintaining civility in the classroom, refer to the Student Judicial Programs website and the Civility in the Classroom brochure at www.depts.ttu.edu/studentjudicialprograms
The Texas Tech Police Department is available to assist with threats of violence, physical or verbal abuse and uncooperative students (refusing to leave class). Report suspected illegal activity such as physical and verbal abuse to university police. If a student expresses a direct threat to themselves or other, or acts in a bizarre, highly irrational or disruptive way, call the Texas Tech Police Department at (806) 742-3931 or 9-911 from a campus phone in case of emergencies.
Behavioral issues and classroom disruptions, even those related to mental health, can be referred to Student Judicial Programs, where disciplinary sanctions may result. In addition, document the incident with your student records and inform your department chair of disruptive activity and student concerns.

FERPA refers to the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act. FERPA is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. For more information on FERPA, contact Student Judicial Programs at 742-1714.
HIPPA refers to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. HIPAA addresses the security and privacy of Health Services at 743-2860.
It is important to inform students that all contact with the Student Counseling Center or Student Health Services are confidential. Information about contact with these offices can only be released with the student's written request, in circumstances where there is clear and present danger to the student or others, or other specific conditions allowed by law.
Issues of confidentiality should not be a deterrent to talking with a student about your concerns. In addition, issues of confidentiality should not hinder your from calling any office to discuss a student you are concerned about or for suggestions on how to work with a student in crisis. While these offices can only share student information within the limits of the law, it is important as campus colleagues to have open lines of communication about pertinent student information and increasingly important to discuss issues for the benefit of students and the campus community.

Whenever you feel there is a threat of violence or other unlawful behavior-including a students' refusal to leave a class after being told to do so. Any threat of violence should be taken seriously. Wee on the side of caution and notify the police as soon as possible.

OP 34.04 states “when absences jeopardize a student's standing in a class, it is the responsibility of the instructor to report that fact to the student's dean.”
The case Manager for Student Affairs may assist in contacting the student.

Students of Concern