BIT Team Structure

Behavioral Intervention Team Structure

The BIT membership includes the Assistant to the Chief Student Affairs Officer for Student Retention (Chair), the Deputy Title IX Coordinator, the Associate Director of Residential Life, the Director of Community Standards, the Chief of Police, the Clinical Director of Counseling, the Director of Support for Students with Disabilities, and the Clinical Director of Health Services.

The BIT consults with and collaborates with USM staff and faculty about student behavior as appropriate and on a need to know basis.

The BIT meets regularly throughout the academic year and calls emergency meetings when needed.  At the meetings we review and make plans to act upon reports of student of concern.  The goal is to support and provide resources to students.

The BIT is available to train and educate the community on what to report and why it is important.

The Chair of the team consults with appropriate offices to a) coordinate a response to the situation, b) determine what, if anything, to communicate to others affected by the situation, and c) to track the action plan associated with resolving the issue and d) to make sure that follow ups with the student occur on a regular basis.

After review of the circumstances possible action steps for the BIT to take include:

1. Permit the student to continue at USM with no restrictions
2. Permit the student to continue at USM subject to conditions: a mandated referral (generally to health or counseling but it could be to other offices as well depending on the circumstances),  judicial charges, clarified behavioral expectations, hospitalization
3. Separate the student from the University

University Resources 

In the event of an emergency or situation that requires immediate intervention, please contact USM Public Safety (207-780-5211) or for LAC (207-784-6421).   

The BIT plays a secondary role after a crisis and should be contacted once you have called Public Safety.

To contact the BIT directly you may email the chair at dnelson@usm.maine.edu or call (207-780-5644 or 207-939-4425).

*Temporary membership might be extended to other professionals at the university depending on the situation.

**The BIT is an operational unit of the University and reports to Craig Hutchinson, the Chief Student Affairs Officer.