To allow for collaboration and coordination of efforts, the committee is composed of individuals from many areas on campus. Committee members include representatives from the following areas:
You should alert us to any behavior that is concerning. Early communication and intervention may help to prevent an escalation of behavior to dangerous levels.
Important: If you notice a student exhibiting behavior that poses an immediate threat of harm to self or others, call 911. You can also alert the Department of Police and Public Safety at their non-emergency number, 815-753-1212.
If you believe that a student poses a threat of immediate harm to self or others, call 911. You can also alert the Department of Police and Public Safety at their non-emergency number, 815-753-1212.
If you notice concerning behavior with no immediate risk of harm, you should submit a referral to us. You’ll be asked to provide information about the person of concern and a description of the concerning incident or behavior, along with your contact information.
We strongly encourage you to identify yourself when making a referral. Identifying yourself is helpful if the committee needs clarification or additional information.
You are our best resource because you’re familiar with the student or you have directly observed the concerning behavior. If you want a member of the team to contact you, please contact any of the team offices or contact the team at SoCC@niu.edu. This email is not monitored 24/7. Please know it may take up to 72 hours for a response.
We receive and prioritize the information, then immediately begin further review. You may be contacted for clarification and additional information (if you included your contact information in the report).
Often, the initial report is just one piece of the puzzle. A behavior that someone observes can turn out to be an isolated incident and no cause for further concern, or it may be an indication of a larger concern that needs to be addressed. We try to get a complete view of a student's behavior patterns before making any recommendations for action.
Our process is not meant to punish. It identifies those at risk of harm to self or others so that the underlying conditions causing their behavior can be addressed. An incident that appears minor to you may be part of a larger pattern of which you’re unaware. Early communication among key offices and individuals can help identify concerns before they get bigger and more difficult to manage.
Our goal is to promote the health and safety of our campus through early intervention. When we’re able to understand a situation, we can attempt to resolve it before it escalates and someone "gets in trouble." We take into account both the concerns of the campus and the needs of the student about whom concerns are expressed. Whether the information will adversely affect the individual's student or employment status will depend on the situation.
When a situation is identified and reported early enough, it can often be resolved without the need for disciplinary action or criminal prosecution. If you’re unsure whether or not you should say something, report it. Trust your instincts.
Typically, the student will not be aware they were referred to us. We respect all information we receive and treat it confidentially. We collect information to determine the level of risk, if any, and determine a management plan, if necessary. We then task existing campus departments with carrying out the plan.
We strongly encourage you to identify yourself when making a referral. We attempt to handle all matters discreetly, but cannot guarantee the student(s) involved will be unable to determine the source of the report. The university will not attempt to determine the identity of an anonymous reporter unless there is an immediate threat of harm, or the reporting system is being abused. The university does not permit retaliation against an individual who reports concerning or troubling behavior in good faith.
We do not enact sanctions or administer policy regarding referrals. However, we may take the following actions: