Policy on Threats or Harm to Self or Others

1. General Information
Baylor University is concerned about the well-being of all students. The University takes seriously any behavior, including a non-privileged verbal statement, that tends to demonstrate a student may harm himself or herself or another. Such behavior demonstrates that the student may be in danger, or may be intending harm to another student and interferes with the educational efforts of those involved and with Baylor University's mission to educate all students.

2. Policy Statement
Concern for the safety of each member of the Baylor community has compelled Baylor University to adopt the following policy. Any student who (a) states an intent or desire to harm himself or herself or another, or (b) attempts to harm himself or herself or another, or (c) harms himself or herself or another may not live in University residential facilities, participate in University academic programs, or participate in other University activities the University may deem to be harmful to the student until cleared to do so by the associate dean for judicial affairs in accordance with the clearance procedure set forth below. The University reserves the right to determine what actions might be deemed as harmful to the student or another. The prohibition against living in University residential facilities, participation in University academic programs, or participation in other University activities the University deems to be harmful to the student is not disciplinary in nature; and the fact that such a prohibition has been imposed will not be entered in the student's disciplinary records. However, if the student engages in disruptive behavior (which may include, but is not limited to, the behavior that caused processing under this policy), fails to comply with the terms of the clearance procedure, or violates a University policy such as harming another or stating the intent to harm another, the student may be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Disciplinary Procedure. In which case, documents relevant to both processes may be placed in the student's disciplinary record.

3. Incident Reporting
If a student is in need of immediate medical treatment, the Baylor University Police Department (campus phone extension: 2222 or 254-710-2222) or 911 should be notified immediately. If a student or a faculty or staff member observes a student (a) stating an intent or desire to harm himself or herself or another, or (b) attempting to harm himself or herself or another, or (c) in the process of harming himself or herself or another, the person observing such behavior should report what was observed to the Baylor University Police Department (campus phone extension: 2222 or (254)-710-2222) or 911 immediately and to the associate dean for judicial affairs 254-710-1715 as soon as possible. The associate dean may consider the need to advise parents or the next of kin.

4. Clearance Procedure

(a) Notice
The associate dean for judicial affairs, or any Baylor official, may notify each student who has been observed (a) stating an intent or desire to harm himself or herself or another, (b) attempting to harm himself or herself or another, or (c) in the process of harming himself or herself or another that he or she will not be permitted to continue to live in the University's residential facilities, participate in academic programs, or participate in other University activities the University deems to be harmful to the student until the student receives approval of the associate dean in accordance with this clearance procedure. If, after a student has been notified that he or she cannot live in the University's residential facilities, participate in the University academic programs, or participate in other University activities the University deems to be harmful to the student, he or she violates the prohibition by entering a residence hall, attending class, or participating in an activity that has been prohibited, such violation may result in disciplinary action in accordance with the Student Disciplinary Procedure.

(b) Evaluation by a qualified mental health professional
Before the associate dean for judicial affairs may clear a student to live in the University's residential facilities, participate in the University's academic programs, or participate in other University activities the University had previously deemed to be harmful to the student, the student must have an assessment conducted by a licensed mental health professional, either a psychologist, psychiatrist, or one of the licensed mental health professionals in the Baylor Counseling Center. The student may choose the mental health professional, including those in the Baylor Counseling Center. Cost, if any, for evaluation and treatment will be the responsibility of the student. It is possible that the assessment may include the requirement that the student have an additional assessment by a physician before the final assessment can be completed.

(c) Communication of results of evaluation to the associate dean for judicial affairs
The student must arrange for the mental health professional who evaluated the student to contact the associate dean for judicial affairs. Because the student's contact with the professional is confidential, the student will be requested to sign a release form permitting the mental health professional to disclose the evaluation to the associate dean for judicial affairs.

The mental health professional will be asked to provide his or her opinion about

(1) the student's readiness to resume living in the University's residential facilities, participation in the University's academic programs, or participation in other University activities the University had previously deemed to be harmful to the student and

(2) recommendations about conditions the University should impose on the student's participation that are in the student's best interest.

The opinions of the mental health professional may be communicated orally at first for expedience but must be followed in writing.

(d) Student interview with the associate dean for judicial affairs
After the student has been evaluated by a mental health professional, the student must schedule an interview with the associate dean for judicial affairs. Interviews may be scheduled anytime between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The purpose of the interview is to determine if the student will be allowed to resume living in the University's residential facilities and participation in the University's academic programs.

(e) Approval from the associate dean for judicial affairs
Based upon the interview with the student and the results of the evaluation by the mental health professional that may include a physician's assessment and/or recommendation, the associate dean for judicial affairs will make a decision about the student's fitness to resume living in the University's residential facilities, participation in the University's academic programs, or participation in other University activities the University had previously deemed to be harmful to the student.

If the associate dean determines that the student is able to resume living in the University's residential facilities, participate in the University's academic programs, or participate in other University activities the University had previously deemed to be harmful to the student, the associate dean will provide a letter to the student stating the student has been cleared to return to residential facilities, classes, or other University activities. The student must present the letter to the Campus Living and Learning staff or any faculty or staff member who requests the letter as proof that the clearance process has been completed.

If the associate dean determines that the student is not fit to return to the University's residential facilities or academic programs, the associate dean will assist the student, upon request of the student, in making arrangements to meet the residential and academic needs of the student until approval is obtained. Costs, if any, for arrangements to meet the residential and academic needs of the student will be the responsibility of the student.

If the associate dean determines that the student is not fit to return to University's services or programs other than residential facilities or academic programs, the associate dean will provide the student with written instructions regarding which activities or programs are prohibited, the length of the prohibition, and the conditions (if any) for re-admittance to those activities or programs.

(f) Unavailability of the associate dean for judicial affairs
In the event that the associate dean for judicial affairs is unavailable to perform any task pursuant to this policy, the associate vice president for student life shall act. In the event that the associate vice president for student life is also unavailable, the vice president for student life shall act.

Modified 1-31-96; 9-24-08