Campus Assessment Response Evaluation and Support (CARES)

Examples of concerning behaviors may include:

• Excessive absenteeism, especially when they historically have been to class
• Concerns about a student’s well-being
• Sudden, significant drop in academic performance
• Visible changes in appearance (poor hygiene, noticeable weight loss/gain)
• Symptoms of depression or anxiety
• Teasing or bullying
• Isolation from others
• Displays paranoia, mistrust or hallucinations
• Extreme mood swings
• Preoccupation with death or suicide
• Substance abuse/dependence
• Student self-disclosure of hopelessness or desperation

Examples of Disruptive Behaviors

• Taking/making calls, texting, using smart phones for social media, etc. during class.
• Students’ misuse technology in the classroom. Sneaking text messages from beneath the desk or having a laptop open to Facebook or other social media sites during a lecture.
• Frequent interruption of professor while talking and asking non-relevant, off-topic questions.
• Inappropriate or overly revealing clothing in the classroom, including extremely sexually provocative clothes, pajamas, or other sleepwear in the classroom.
• Crosstalk or carrying on side conversations while the professor is speaking.
• Interruptions such as frequent use of the restroom, smoke breaks, etc.
• Poor personal hygiene that leads to a classroom disruption or lack of focus.
• Use of alcohol or other substances in class. Attending class while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
• Entitled or disrespectful talk to professor or other students.
• Arguing grades or “grade grubbing” for extra points after the professor requests that the student stop.
• Eating or consuming beverages in class without permission (or against the class norms).
• Showing up to class in strange clothing (e.g., dressed in military gear, Halloween costumes when it is not Halloween, etc.)
• Reading magazines, newspapers (yes, they still read them, although usually the campus one), or books, or studying for other classes/doing other homework.
• Student posts non-relevant spam or unrelated personal advertising material in the forum discussion board.
• Frequent interruption of the professor’s questions, threaded discussion posts with non-relevant comments, or off-topic, personal discussions.
• Inappropriate or overly revealing pictures shared with members of the online community through their profile.
• Choosing a screen name or profile name that is offensive to others, such as [email protected] or assman69@
• Posting or making comments while drunk or intoxicated. Attending online class discussions or lectures while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
• Arrogant, entitled, rude, or disrespectful emails or messages to professor(s) or other students.
• Arguing grades or “grade grubbing” for extra points after the professor requests that the student stop.
• Inciting other students to argue with the professor over grades or other assessment-related expectations.

Examples of Dangerous Behaviors

• Racist or otherwise fixated (not just expressed once to press a button) thoughts, such as “Women should be barefoot and pregnant,” “Gays are an abomination to God and should be punished,” or “Muslims are all terrorists and should be wiped off the earth.”
• Bullying behavior focused on students in the classroom.
• Direct communicated threats to the professor or another student, such as, “I am going to kick your ass,” or “If you say that again, I will end you.”
• Prolonged, non-verbal passive-aggressive behavior, such as sitting with arms crossed, glaring or staring at the professor, and refusing to speak or respond to questions or directives.
• Self-injurious behavior, such as cutting or burning, or exposing previously unexposed self-injuries.
• Physical assault, such as pushing, shoving, or punching.
• Throwing objects or slamming doors.
• Storming out of the classroom when upset.
• Conversations that are designed to upset other students, such as descriptions of weapons, killing, or death.
• Psychotic, delusional, or rambling speech.
• Arrogant or rude talk to the professor or other students.
• Objectifying language that depersonalizes the professor or other students.
• Racist or otherwise fixated thoughts such as “Gays should be stoned like back in Bible times,” “Men should go back to playing football and stop thinking so hard. Leave the mental heavy lifting to the ladies in the class,” “Muslims and Mormons are cults and should be wiped off the planet,” and others posted to the discussion boards to troll for a response or to incite an electronic “riot.”
• Bullying and teasing behavior through messages, emails, or online hazing.
• Direct communicated threat(s) to the professor or another student, such as, “I am going to kick your ass,” or “If you say that again, I will end you.”
• Prolonged passive-aggressive behavior, such as constant disagreement with everyone and everything in class, challenging the professor’s credentials, and refusing to respond to questions or directives.
• Mentioning self-injurious behavior, such as cutting or burning self, or suicidal thoughts or intentions in online posts.
• Threats of physical assault such as pushing, shoving or punching.
• Threats of online assaults, like hacking a website, sharing personal information, or posting others’ pictures online without permission.
• Conversations that are designed to upset other students, such as descriptions of weapons, killing, or death.
• Psychotic, delusional, or rambling speech in posts.
• Arrogant, entitled, rude, or disrespectful messages to the professor or other students.
• Objectifying language that depersonalizes the professor or other students.