Crisis & Immediate Support

It is rare for community members to be disruptive, threatening, or violent. But sometimes people behave in ways that others may consider concerning or alarming.

Examples may include:

• Being disorderly, disruptive, or verbally aggressive- expressing uncontrollable anger, hostility, or frustration;
• Acting bizarrely, disturbed, or odd for that person;
• Threatening physical harm – in person, on the phone, or electronically;
• Being a threat to oneself - suicidal ideation; and/or
• Possessing a weapon, being violent, or damaging property*

Trust your instincts. You don't need "proof" or "evidence" that something isn't right. Say something right away - do not wait! We are all responsible for a safe and academically productive campus.

Call 911 or the University Police at 301-405-3333 in emergencies: weapons, violence (including suicide threat or attempt), or property damage. When in doubt, make the call. Do you feel you need to warn someone about another student? If so, call the police.

If you are unsure if a situation warrants immediate police response, call the University Police non-emergency number at 301-405-3555 to talk about the situation. The University police officers in the Department of Public Safety never consider it a bother if you contact them.

Anyone can report a concern about a student to the BETA Team by:

• Submitting a Behavioral Concern Report
• Emailing us at beta@umd.edu
• Calling us at 301-314-BETA (2382)

Most people reporting give their names and contact information, but you may remain anonymous.

Almost all reports contain the name of the student of concern, but if you withhold the student's name, give us your contact information. We'll give you advice and resources to help you engage with the student.

We will acknowledge that we received your report. And we may be able to share with you the steps we are taking depending on the confidentiality issues of the situation. We view you as an ally in this process and so if you shared a concern and yet, given time, you continue to be worried about a student, we would appreciate hearing from you. Contact the BETA Team chair or case manager directly.

Faculty or staff members who already knows the student can be very effective in asking questions such as "Are you okay?", "Can we talk about this?", "I have noticed you have been absent from class a lot, can I offer you resources on campus to help?" You may also consider emailing the student and/or calling the student on their cell phone to inquire about a student's well-being and academic progress. If you want to talk directly to the student but might like a bit of guidance or ideas for what to say, call us in the Counseling Center (301-314-7651) or call the BETA Team chair or case manager (301-314-BETA).

The BETA Team reviews the report of concern, checks to see if the student is exhibiting concerning behaviors in other areas on campus, learns more about the student's experience on our campus, and develops a strategy to support the well-being and academic success of the student. It determines if the BETA Team is the best method for responding to a report of concern. For example, a report may be re-directed to the Counseling Center's Dyad Liaison Team (whereby individual psychologists are assigned to counsel with specific campus units) when that course of action is deemed most appropriate.

Often, a member of the BETA Team will contact the student directly but sometimes, the BETA Team will guide a faculty or staff member in interacting with the student if that person is on a familiar basis with the student. When BETA members reach out to students, they do so from their area of expertise and identify themselves by their University title not as members of the BETA Team. The BETA Team typically does not identify the person who made the report; we try to to keep that information private.

We seek to connect with students in appropriate ways specific to their needs. The BETA Team itself does not discipline, impose sanctions, or provide or mandate treatment. However, individual members on the BETA Team do possess authority to take action as follows:

• The University of Maryland Police have the authority to make arrests;
• The Director of the Office of Student Conduct has the authority to suspend a student on an interim basis pending a medical evaluation or threat assessment by the police; and
• The Director of Mental Health Services has the authority to transport a student for psychiatric evaluation and/or hospitalization.

You are always welcome to directly contact departments that are part of the BETA Team:

• University Police - dial 911 from campus phones, 301-405-3555 from off-campus phones or #3333 from any Verizon Wireless, ATT, Sprint/Nextel or T-Mobile cell phone
• Counseling Center, in the Shoemaker Building, 301-314-7651
• Psychiatry and Substance Use Services (PASS), in the Health Center, 301-314-8106
• Office of Student Conduct, 301-314-8204, studentconduct@umd.edu
• Office of Student Affairs, 301-314-8430