CWUR 2-60

Student Affairs

• 2-60-005 Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment
• 2-60-010 Appeal of Mandatory Student Fees
• 2-60-020 Awarding of Posthumous Degrees
• 2-60-060 Student Union Operations Event Guidelines

CWUR 2-60-005 Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment Process

In support of Central Washington University’s commitment to providing a university environment of integrity, civility, and safety, the university employs a multi-disciplinary approach to responding to and reviewing student behavioral concerns. In an effort to better identify, track, and respond to student concerns, CWU employs a collaborative, multi-team approach to their behavioral intervention process. The behavioral intervention process includes three collaborative, multi-disciplinary teams with specific focus and purpose on addressing student needs and concerns.

Behavioral concerns reported through the university are coordinated by the Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities and can be filtered through one of the three Behavioral Intervention Teams (BIT) based upon the nature of the incident and the specific concerns raised: Risk Assessment and Behavioral Intervention Team (RABIT), Bias Response Team (BRT), and Coordinated Assistance and Resource Education (CARE) Team.

Each of these teams works in coordination to review behavioral concerns and provide a coordinated and collaborative response to address the concerns and support the students and university community. Each of these teams also works in coordination to refer specific incidents or individuals of severe concern to the CWU Threat Assessment Team (TAT) for immediate review, assessment, and intervention.

These behavior intervention procedures serve as a means of collaboratively identifying and addressing positive modifications of concerning student behaviors early. Formal investigation and adjudication of student prohibited conduct is overseen by the Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities following the provisions outlined in the Student Conduct Code (WAC 106-125).

(1) RABIT (Risk Assessment and Behavioral Intervention Team)

(A) Mission/Purpose:

CWU’s Risk Assessment and Behavioral Intervention Team (RABIT) is dedicated to a proactive, coordinated, and collaborative approach to the identification, assessment, intervention, and management of students who may be at risk due to interpersonal or behavioral concerns. The RABIT aims to provide a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to identify and respond to student behavioral concerns and to provide guidance to university community members who may need to refer students for assistance and review.

1. Types of Cases Referred:

Bias Motivated Incident; Deferred Suspension; Distribution/Manufacturing; Domestic Violence; Overdose; Physical Assault; Sexual Misconduct; Stalking; Threat Assessment; Threat of Violence; Other Behavioral Conduct of Concern.

2. Membership:

Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities; University Police and Public Safety; Counseling Clinic; Case Management; Wellness Center; Disability Services; Housing & Residence Life; Office of Civil Rights Compliance/Title IX.

NOTE: RABIT may bring in other ad-hoc members to consult and collaborate on particular incidents based on the specific circumstances or dynamics. These ad-hoc members may include, but are not limited to employees from: Academic Departments; Office of International Studies and Programs; University Centers; Diversity & Equity Center; VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity; Office of the Dean of Student Success; CWU Athletics.

(2) BRT (Bias Response Team)

(A) Mission: 

The Bias Response Team (BRT) is committed to addressing incidents that may reflect bias against members of the university community and to providing support services and resources for those individuals and communities who may have been targeted or affected by bias incidents. The BRT looks to assess environmental trends and concerns to provide support to impacted students while also helping to guide and educate the university community and administrators.  

(B) Purpose: 

The Bias Response Team (BRT) seeks to gather information based on reported incidents within the university community. The BRT will use this information to examine aggregate trends and form a clear understanding of university climate from this lens.  

Tracking university climate concerns (bias incidents) should not be confused with Washington State Law covering malicious harassment (colloquially referred to as “hate crimes”).  

1. Definitions: 

a. University climate incident: Behavior, conduct, speech, images, or expression that demonstrates conscious or unconscious bias that discriminates, stereotypes, excludes, harasses or harms anyone in our community based upon their actual or perceived identity (such as race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, age, or religion). Concerns may stem from fear, misunderstanding, hatred, or stereotypes.   

b. Hate Crime: See RCW 9A.36.080 for Washington State law definition.  

2. Types of Cases Referred:

a. Bias Motivated Incidents

2. Membership:

Diversity & Equity Center; VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity; Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities; University Police and Public Safety; Counseling Clinic; Disability Services; Housing & Residence Life; Veterans Center; Director of Civil Rights Compliance/Title IX Coordinator; Associate Dean of Access & Equity; Faculty Senate Representative; ADCO Representative; Exempt Employee Association Representative; Classified Staff Employee Council Representative.

(3) CARE (Coordinated Assistance and Resource Education) Team

(A) Mission/Purpose:

The Coordinated Assistance & Resource Education (CARE) Team is a multidisciplinary team of professionals dedicated to a proactive and collaborative approach to the prevention, identification, assessment and management of challenges impacting student success. The CARE Team provides coordinated support and resources to identified individual students, as well as to others vicariously impacted (living community, classmates, clubs/organizations, faculty, family, partners, etc.). Additionally, the CARE Team aims to identify university-wide trends and determine plans for interventions in order to embody the university culture of embracing holistic wellness.

(B) Types of Cases Referred:

Death of a Student; Overdose*; Self-Harm; Student Hospitalization; Mental Health; Medical Withdrawal; Grief/Loss; Basic needs (housing, food insecurity, financial, etc.); Suicidal Ideation; Suicide Attempt; Interpersonal violence; Any other concern not addressed by other CWU intervention teams.

(C) Membership:

Office of the Dean of Student Success; Case Management; Counseling Clinic; Wellness Center; Diversity & Equity Center; University Police and Public Safety; Academic Concerns & Dispute Resolution; Housing & Residence Life; Disability Services; Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities. 

Ad-Hoc Membership Representatives (by invitation or referral request):

Medical Clinic; Information Services (Tech); Human Resources.

(4) Threat Assessment Team (TAT)

The Threat Assessment Team (TAT) is dedicated to assessing and responding immediately to situations or individuals who may pose a potential imminent threat of violence to themselves or others, and to intervene to avert the threat and maintain the safety of the university community. 

The TAT is comprised of staff from key offices and is responsible for comprehensively assessing and evaluating threats and determining appropriate interventions or responses. While the core membership of the TAT is responsible for formal assessment and outcome development, the TAT team will rely on, and call upon other relevant offices and staff (resource members) who may be asked to serve as a resource when assessing the particular situations and/or determining appropriate interventions and actions.

Referrals for formal threat assessment may be submitted via official reporting channels within each of the offices represented on TAT or through referral by any of the institution’s behavioral intervention teams. Members of the university community are encouraged to direct concerns about threatening behavior to CWU Police for initial response. They may also submit less critical or severe concerns of potential threatening behaviors via the Behaviors of Concern Report form. Both of these reporting channels will feed to the TAT.

The TAT will review all referrals and immediately conduct an initial assessment of the situation. A threat assessment is a comprehensive, fact-based assessment of an individual’s reported behavior. The TAT may utilize a variety of appropriate assessment tools and methodologies specific to the particular situation or threat.

The TAT will then determine appropriate responses and next steps, including, but not limited to, conducting an individual threat assessment interview with the individual of concern or referral for follow-up from appropriate agencies or procedures (law enforcement, Student Rights & Responsibilities, etc.).

(A) Threat Assessment Team Membership:

Counseling Clinic (director or designee); Case Management (director or designee); CWU Police Department (Chief of University Police or designee); Office of Student Rights & Responsibilities (executive director or designee); Human Resources (executive director or designee); VP of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity (or designee).

(B) Potential Threat Assessment Resource Members (as needed):

Academic College Administration; Dean of Student Success; Associate Dean of Health and Wellness; Department Chairs; Disability Services; Diversity & Equity Center; Housing & Residence Life; University Center Site Directors.

NOTE: TAT may consult with other staff members who are found to have specific knowledge about a particular situation.

[Responsibility: Dean of Student Success; Authority: Provost/VP for Academic & Student Life; Reviewed/Endorsed by: Provost’s Council: 8/18/2020; ELT t/UPAC; Review/Effective Date: 11/07/2012; 04/14/2021; 03/02/2022; Approved by: A. James Wohlpart , President]

CWUR 2-60-010 Appeal of Mandatory Student Fees

Students may submit an appeal of the following mandatory student fees under specific circumstances: Health and Counseling Fee/Student Medical and Counseling Clinic Fee, Student Union Building Fee, Student Wellness Fee, and Student Recreation Fee. Appeal requests should be turned in to the Office of the Vice President of Student Engagement and Success. Submission of an appeal does not constitute an approval of that request; decisions regarding appeals are made on a case-by-case basis by a committee constituted through Student Engagement and Success.

An appeal request may be made for the above listed mandatory fees only for students who:

(A) have no access to the facilities or services offered under the mandatory fees

(B) are permanent professional staff or faculty at CWU

Policy and procedure for Tuition and Fee Waivers, including exemptions outlined in RCW 28B.15, are separate from this request and can be found in CWUP 2-20-090 and CWUR 5-10-010.

Note: A student who is approved for an appeal of any of the above mandatory fees and, during that quarter utilizes those facilities or services, will have the fee reinstated on their student account.

 [Responsibility: Student Success; Authority: Provost/VP for Academic & Student Life; Reviewed/Endorsed by: Student Success, Provost’s Council, BFA, 12/2013; Cabinet, 02/27/2013; 01/8/2020; UPAC, 02/19/2020; Review/Effective Date: 03/06/2013; 02/19/2020; 04/26/2023; Approved by: A. James Wohlpart, President]

CWUR 2-60-020 Awarding of Posthumous Degrees

Anybody may identify a candidate for a posthumous degree, but the formal request must come from the student’s family to the academic dean in which the student was enrolled. 

(1) The dean of the college in which the student was enrolled will obtain the student’s degree audit from the registrar to verify program/plan and progress toward degree completion.

(2) The dean of the college in which the student was enrolled will recommend the candidate for a posthumous degree through a formal written request to the provost. The request must include the name and ID of the student, the degree/program/plan to be awarded, and the recommended quarter for degree conferral. The provost may choose to present the formal request to the college deans for review/discussion prior to a final decision. 

(3) For nominations the provost approves, the provost will notify:

(A) the president;

(B) the dean who will inform the immediate family or authorized student support network of the University’s decision and desire to recognize their student with this honor (this process should be kept confidential until and unless approved at all levels). If the family or authorized student support network desires to represent the student and receive the diploma at a commencement ceremony, this must be relayed to the Registrar and the Director Executive Events and Planning for planning;

(C) the registrar who will waive the graduation fee, process the degree, notify student accounts if student had an outstanding balance and mail the diploma to the student’s family if the student’s family or authorized student support network plans not to receive the diploma at the commencement ceremony.

(4) The statement "awarded posthumously" will be printed on the student’s academic record, but not on the diploma. 

[PAC: 2/6/02; Responsibility: Provost/VP of Academic Affairs; Authority: Cabinet/UPAC; Reviewed/Endorsed by: Provost Council, 05/04/2021; Cabinet/UPAC; Review/Effective Date: PAC 04/2002; 06/21/2021; Approved by: Jim Wohlpart, President]

CWUR 2-60-060 Student Union Operations Events Guidelines

Central Washington University is committed to maintaining an inclusive and diverse campus community that promotes intellectual inquiry and encourages civility, mutual respect, and cooperation. CWU embraces diversity, equity, social justice, and cultural responsiveness throughout the university.  In this regard, the university expects all invited guests, employees, and students to behave responsibly within the framework of this commitment and the Facility Usage Agreement (FUA) Terms and Conditions.

To ensure that rights of citizens at campus events are duly protected and that the university discharges its right and responsibility to set standards of conduct, guidelines are established for such events.

For the purposes of these guidelines “events” are defined as non-academic, non-course-credited scheduled speakers, panels, or debates. Those arranging such events using university facilities or held on university property are required to meet with the Student Union Operations Office and must complete a facility usage agreement that includes guidelines in hosting University events.

Behavior determined to violate or potentially violate tenets of the terms and conditions are seen as unacceptable and may result in a university response to halt the event.

[Responsibility: Dean of Student Success; Authority: Provost/VP for Academic & Student Life; Reviewed/Endorsed by: Provost’s Council 7/24/2012; Cabinet 04/24/2013; UPAC Review/Effective Date: 05/01/2013; Approved by: James L. Gaudino, President]