Care Team Policy

Purpose

To create and sustain a safe campus environment, and to ratify the Care Team to lead this work.

To Whom Does This Policy Apply

Employees, students, visitors, applicants, and community members.

References

Code of Student Conduct

NABITA

State Board of Community and Technical Colleges

Definitions

College Premises: any location, either permanent or temporary, owned, leased or under the control of Tacoma Community College. This includes but is not limited to the buildings, grounds, right of way, surrounding perimeters, parking lots and sidewalks, athletic fields, classrooms, halls, leased space, alternative work locations or any class location.

Threat: an expression or action that suggests physical, emotional, or mental harm.

Safe: protected from or not exposed to danger or risk.

Policy

This policy is established to assist in promoting a safe and secure work and learning environment through the formation of a Care Team.

Care Team is a multidisciplinary team of professionals from Tacoma Community College that meets regularly to identify, assess, and intervene, when necessary, in situations involving students of concern. Care Team used to be known as BITA or BIT, and will still apply threat assessment principles to determine if an immediate threat to any community member of the college or the college itself exists.
 

The College is authorized to create such a Team to respond to behavior that may pose a threat of harm to Tacoma Community College students, employees, and invitees, thereby encouraging an environment of increased safety. The Team’s primary focus is assisting students when there is a concern for their overall wellbeing, and without support or early intervention, the student’s continued attendance could be impacted. The Team should provide a coordinated referral system, a detailed behavioral assessment process, an internal communications structure, an intentional intervention strategy, and a comprehensive monitoring system to allow for follow-up and support.

The Vice President of Student Affairs, or designee, shall approve Team members. 

The jurisdiction of the Team’s authority shall extend to employees, students, visitors, applicants, and community members regarding on or off campus premises behavior that may be deemed to be a legitimate concern and a potential threat of harm to one or more members of the College community. 

If the Team determines that a person’s behavior represents an imminent risk to one or more members of the College community it shall recommend action to be taken by college personnel and/or departments with the authority to take immediate emergency action. In accordance with established College procedures, appropriate due process shall be afforded to the affected individual(s).

Procedure

This process is overseen by the Vice President of Student Affairs or designee.