Student Affairs : Judicial Affairs : Faculty and Staff : Disruptive Behavior

Disruptive Behavior

Tips for Classroom Management

INTRODUCTION

If you have ever experienced a challenging disciplinary situation in your classroom, you are not alone. The majority of students act in an appropriate and respectful manner; however, there are occasions when students test the limits of acceptable classroom behavior.

Student conduct that substantially or repeatedly interferes with the ability of an instructor to teach or the ability of other students to learn is a violation of the SJSU Student Conduct Code. These expectations extend to field trips, internship placement and other off-campus university activities.

PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS

Confronting a disruptive student can be an uncomfortable experience. If a student’s behavior obstructs or disrupts your ability to teach or the ability of students to learn, you may find the following suggestions helpful.

1. Clearly articulate rules regarding active class participation, plagiarism, cheating, use of electronic devices, and appropriate conduct on the course syllabus. Specify consequences (e.g., reports to the Office of Judicial Affairs) and follow through in a fair and consistent manner. Reference acceptable computer use and e-mail policies where appropriate.
2. Model professional behavior. Respond to inappropriate remarks in a professional, mature manner. Put-downs or witty comebacks tend to escalate the situation.
3. If possible, pause until everyone quiets down, and make direct eye contact. Disruptive students are not always aware that they are bothering others.
4. When the problem is isolated to one student, speak privately with the student. Use “I” messages such as, “When I see you _____; I feel _____; and I need the activity to stop.”
5. Seek consultation from experienced colleagues, your department chair, the a Judicial Affairs Officer, the University Ombudsman, Counseling, or University Police Department.
6. If the problem continues, issue a written warning to the student addressing concerns and consequences for non-compliance (e.g., risk of a lower grade if classroom participation is a percentage of the course grade and/or referral to the Office of Student Conduct & Ethical Development).
7. If verbal admonishment is not effective, give the student the option of modifying the undesirable behavior or leaving the class for the remainder of the period. Instructors may tell a student to leave class temporarily, but adjudication by the Office of Student Conduct & Ethical Development is necessary for permanent removal.
8. If a student prevents you from moving on to another topic, take control of the discussion, express the need to cover all of the material, and invite the student to continue the conversation during your office hours.
9. If you are seeing a pattern of disruptive behavior, consult with the Ombudsman, Judicial Affairs Officer and your department chair. All students, including those with psychological disabilities, are required to comply with regulations set forth in the SJSU Student Conduct Code. Inform the Office of Student Conduct & Ethical Development if the behavior continues.
10. Document all incidents and your attempts to resolve the situation. Be factual and objective. Use quotations whenever possible. Contact the Office of Student Conduct & Ethical Development if you want to consult with the Chief Judicial Affairs Officer about possibly referring incidents for disciplinary action.
11. If a student is making threats of violence to him/herself and/or to others, immediately contact the University Police Department at (408) 924-2222. Document the incident(s) (General Report Form) and forward the information to the Office of Student Conduct & Ethical Development as soon as possible.

Adapted/reproduced with permission from “Why can’t I bring my iguana to class?” distributed by Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Defining Disruptive Behavior

Disruptive behavior can assume many forms.  It may be:

• the student in your class who persistently arrives late or leaves early;
• the student who talks incessantly while you are delivering a lecture;
• the student who loudly and frequently interrupts the flow of class with questions or interjections; or
• the student who become belligerent when you confront his or her inappropriate behavior in class.

It is important to differentiate disruptive classroom behavior (that which directly interferes with the ability of the instructor to teach or the ability of other students to benefit from the classroom experience) from behavior that is merely rude or uncivil.  While the latter may become disruptive when it is repetitive or persistent, it usually is best addressed by example and influence.

Disruptive student behavior is detrimental to the academic community, to both faculty and student, because it interferes with the learning process, inhibits the ability of instructors to teach effectively, diverts university energy and resources away from the educational mission, and may indicate a significant level of personal problems or distress on the part of the disrupter.

Strategies for Handling Disruptive Behavior

Initial class meeting:  Clarifying expectations at the beginning of a course and agreeing on standards for classroom conduct can assist students in abiding by those standards.  Other positive benefits include fostering expectations among student peers concerning appropriate behavior and having a concrete and agreed-upon reference point should inappropriate behavior occur later.

When you are establishing and promoting guidelines for behavior in your course, it is important not to articulate standards you are unwilling to enforce.  Likewise, standards for classroom behavior should be fairly and consistently applied, otherwise confusion and resentment may result.

Policy Recommendation Greensheet (Syllabi) Statement

It is best for behavioral standards to be published in the green sheet and discussed the first day of class.  Information should specify the behaviors that are prohibited, how you will manage behavioral issues, and the consequences that may result.  Remember, an instructor may ask a student to leave a class session, but may not drop a student from a class for disruptive behavior.  Explaining why your behavior standards are important for the course and how they benefit students can help students understand and abide by established expectations.  A statement in the course green sheet might include:

“Your own commitment to learning, as evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University, and the University's Academic Integrity Policy requires you to be honest in all your academic course work.  Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the Office of Student Conduct & Ethical Development.  The policy on academic integrity can be found at http://www2.sjsu.edu/senate/S04-12.pdf.”

Tips for Meeting with the Disruptive Student

• It is appropriate to meet privately with a disruptive student following a confrontation or removal from a classroom.  As an educator, you may wish to request a meeting with a student who has displayed unacceptable behavior eve n when a confrontation has not resulted.  In either case, the meeting is an opportunity for the student to understand the inappropriateness of his or her behavior and to develop strategies for continuing successfully in the class

During the meeting:

• Remain calm.  This may be difficult if the student is agitated or confrontational, but your calm and reasoned response will best control the meeting.
• Do not take behavior or remarks personally, even though they may be directed at you.  Disruptive behavior usually results from other life problems or a general academic frustration.
• Be specific about the inappropriate behavior the student has exhibited.  Describe the behavior, don’t focus on the person.  Explain why the behavior is a problem.
• Ask questions and summarize what you hear the student saying.  Respectful concern may enable you, the educator, to help the student be successful both in your class and in his or her general university experience
• Focus on areas of agreement between you and the student.
• Conclude by summarizing any resolution and articulating expectations for the future.  Be clear that the results of continued inappropriate behavior will be a referral to the Office of Judicial Affairs.

Adapted with permission from CSU Fullerton, Judicial Affairs

For more information about the student conduct process at SJSU, contact: Student Conduct & Ethical Development Office, Adm 218, 408-924-5985

         Disciplinary Incident Report Form [PDF] (Electronic Form )