If a student is posing a threat to the safety of himself/herself or others and/or becomes physically or verbally abusive, The University of Oklahoma Police Department should be contacted immediately and the faculty member should submit a written report to the Office of Judicial Services.

It is often a mistake to assume that disruptive behavior will stop on its own, so steps should be taken to immediately address the behavior. Faculty may take the following courses of action:

• During class, if you observe disruptive behavior, you may first make a general statement such as, “Let’s discontinue any behavior that is distracting our focus on the topic.”
• If the disruptive behavior does not cease, you may ask a particular student to refrain from the disruptive behavior and ask that they see you after class or during your office hours so that you may address the issue in private. When you meet with the student explain why you found the behavior to be inappropriate, stress your behavioral expectations and warn the student that further occurrences may result in disciplinary action.
• If a student is disruptive, a faculty member is authorized to ask a student to leave the classroom or other academic site. Typically, a student cannot be permanently removed from a class in which he/she is enrolled without a formal charge for disruptive behavior. A student who has been charged with a violation of the student code must be advised of his/her rights as well as offered the opportunity for a hearing. The matter may be resolved either by a Negotiated Settlement with the Judicial Coordinator or through a hearing before the appropriate disciplinary board. It is therefore essential that you work with the Office of Judicial Services if such formal charges are necessary.
• Seek consultation from the Office of Judicial Services.
• Consult with your departmental chair, the Office of Disability and Judicial Services, or Counseling and Testing Services if you observe odd or disruptive behavior. All students, including those with or without identified disabilities, must meet the same standards of conduct.
• Save and forward any threatening or offensive e-mails or voice mails to the Office of the Judicial Coordinator and/or OUPD as appropriate. Please include the headers from the original e-mail when forwarding so that the sender may be identified.