Behaviors of Concern
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Northeast State encourages all members of the college community to report behaviors of concern. Such notifications will enable the College to intervene when necessary, offer referrals to campus and community resources, and identify patterns or systematic problems related to misconduct. Northeast State has developed an online mechanism to report Behaviors of Concern in addition to direct reports to the Northeast State Police Department. The Report Behaviors of Concern online system is designed to enable students, faculty, and staff to voluntarily report behaviors of concern and incidents of misconduct using the Behavior of Concern Submission Form.
An incident of misconduct is defined in this context as an event that does not warrant immediate intervention but violates applicable college, local, state, or federal guidelines. In the event of an emergency that requires immediate intervention, you should contact the Northeast State Police Department at 423.677.7927 (emergency cell) or call 9-1-1.
Any student or employee with a concern about another student or employee may submit a report by clicking the Report Behaviors of Concern Here shield where found on a web page.
Online reports may be submitted anonymously. Though reports will be kept as confidential as possible, the College cannot guarantee the confidentiality of every report or complaint. Reports will be shared only as necessary. Privacy of individuals will be maintained.
If a victim of sexual violence chooses to report an incident in a confidential manner, the College may be unable to conduct an investigation into the matter or pursue disciplinary action against the alleged offender. For assistance with confidential reports, contact Denise Walker, a Licensed Professional Counselor/Mental Health Service Provider (Temp) employed by the College, at 423.323.0211 or email counseling@NortheastState.edu. The office is located in the General Studies Building, Room C2101, on the Blountville campus.
In accordance with state law, Northeast State allows Limited Voluntary Confidential Reporting. The Northeast State Police Department encourages anyone who is a victim or witness to any crime to promptly report the incident. Because police reports are public records under state law, the Northeast State Police Department cannot hold reports of crime in confidence.
If you are the victim of a crime and do not want to pursue action within the college system or the criminal justice system, you may still want to consider making a confidential report. With your permission, the Northeast State Police Department can file a report on the details of the incident without revealing your identity. The purpose of a confidential report is to comply with your wish to keep the matter confidential, while taking steps to ensure the future safety of yourself and others. With such information, the College can keep accurate records of the number of incidents involving students; determine where there is a pattern of crime with regard to a particular location, method, or assailant; and alert the campus community, through a Timely Warning or Emergency Notification, to potential danger. Reports filed in this manner are counted and disclosed in the annual crimes statistics for the institution.
Behaviors of Concern
Behaviors of concern are defined as those behaviors that seem questionable, suspicious, or inappropriate to the situation. Behaviors that go beyond what is normal for the situation may be presented through an individual’s notable change in appearance, spoken or written words, or specific actions.
Examples of situational behaviors of concern that should be reported:
- Disruptive behaviors which regularly interfere with the classroom environment or management (e.g., belligerent behavior or improper use of technology)
- Repeated academic misconduct
- Repeated violations of NeSCC Policies and Procedures, including the Student Code of Conduct
- Notable change in behavior or appearance (emotional reactions or personal hygiene)
- Impairment of thoughts (verbal or written)
- Inappropriate or strange behavior
- Low frustration tolerance or overreaction to circumstances
- Paranoia
- Anger management problems
- Overly aggressive behaviors toward others (inability to set limits or re-direct focus)
Examples of emergent behaviors (harm to self or harm to others) that may require immediate intervention and should be reported to the Northeast State Police Department directly at 423.677.7927 (emergency cell):
- Criminal Activities
- Sexual Assault
- Domestic Violence
- Dating Violence
- Stalking
- Hazing/Bullying
- Disappearances, kidnappings, or missing persons
- Harassment (all categories)
- Hate Crime
- Acts motivated by hatred or discrimination
- Incidents of alcohol, drug, or substance abuse
- Writings and comments endorsing violence (unusual interest in violence) that convey clear intentions to harm self or to harm others
- Indirect or direct threats to others (writings, verbalizations, or actions)
- Threatening online postings on D2L, Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, MySpace, or other social media sites
- Self-injurious behavior
- Suicidality or the expression of suicidal thoughts, including:
- Attempts
- Gestures (e.g., giving away belongings, erasing a hard drive, or making a point of saying “goodbye”)
- Ideation – “I’ve thought about killing myself.” or “You'd be better off without me.”
- Threats – “I’m going to kill myself.” or “I’m going to jump off the roof.” or “I’m going to slit my wrists.”
- Visit Suicide Prevention and Awareness for more information.
Emergency notifications can also be made by calling 9-1-1.
A Timely Warning or Emergency Notification may be necessary to alert the campus community to potential danger.
Investigations
Reports are reviewed by the Vice President for Institutional Excellence and Student Success and the Chief of Police for determination of investigative procedures. Information provided through the reporting system may be considered in determining appropriate disciplinary action by the College notwithstanding any actions that may or may not be taken under applicable state criminal and civil laws.
Related Student Conduct and Disciplinary Sanctions are described in the following NeSCC Policies:
- 01:13:00 - Freedom of Speech and Expression
- 02:18:00 - Admission & Delivery of Services to International Students and the Employment & Delivery of Services to International Faculty & Academic Staff at TBR Institutions
- 03:01:08 - Sexual Misconduct
- 03:05:00 - Expectations of Students and Student Code of Conduct
- 03:05:01 - Student Rights and Freedoms
- 03:05:02 - Institutional Policy Statement
- 03:05:03 - Disciplinary Offenses
- 03:05:04 - Academic, Non-Academic and Classroom Misconduct
- 03:05:05 - Disciplinary Sanctions
- 03:05:06 - Disciplinary Procedures
- 03:05:15 - Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment
- 04:62:01 - Social Media
- 04:66:00 - Timely Warning
- 04:67:00 - Emergency Notification
- 05:04:02 - Drug-Free Campus/Workplace Policy
- 05:04:03 - Harassment: Sexual, Racial and Other
- 06:04:00 - Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment Committee
- 06:04:01 - Care Team Subcommittee
- 06:43:00 - Student Discipline Committee
- 06:51:00 - Academic Discipline Committee
- 07:01:00 - Firearms and Other Weapons
Behaviors of concern affecting an individual’s well-being, the well-being of others, or the welfare of campus may be referred to the College’s Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment (BITA) Committee.
Contact
Local: 423.323.3191
Toll-Free: 800.836.7822
Address
2425 Highway 75
PO Box 246
Blountville, Tennessee
37617-0246
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