Addressing Disruptive Student Behavior
Chances are you have seen disruptive behavior in your class. If you haven’t yet, chances are you will. This page provides basic guidelines to help you address disruptive behavior in its various forms.
Disruptive Behavior disrupts other students’ right to learn and/or instructors’ right to teach. It can involve physical actions, verbal utterances, or other activities. Disruptive behavior in a learning environment is prohibited by the student code. (USU Student Code, Article 5, V-3 C.1)
Addressing disruptive behavior early is the best way to prevent its esclation.
Disruptive Behavior: Disrupts the instructor's right to teach and the student's right to learn. It can include:
- Inappropriate use of electronics, including viewing pornography
- Verbal combativeness or belligerent behavior
- Inappropriate language or questions
- Obvious, disrespectful disengagement
- Consistent disregard for class rules addressed in the syllabus
- Constant talking during the lecture or while others are speaking
- Routinely arriving late/leaving early
- Offensive comments or insults
- Frequent and inappropriate interruptions or interjections
- Intoxicated behavior
- Behavior that threatens or harasses another classmate or instructor
- Violation of the USU sexual misconduct policy, USU Policy 339
- Violation of the USU Student Code of Conduct
Dangerous Behavior: Clearly and imminently reckless, disorderly, dangerous, or threatening, including self-harm behavior.
In these instances, call 911 first and dismiss class if necessary. Next, notify your department head and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.
Not Disruptive Behavior: Respectful expression and disagreement with the instructor and other students when the instructor permits class discussion.
Responding to Disruptive Behavior
Immediate Response
Ask the student to stop. Let the student know the behavior is inappropriate.
You may dismiss the student from up to one class session if the behavior persists or severely impacts your ability to teach and other students' right to learn, inform the student that you will contact them.
If there is any suggestion of violence, you should err on the side of safety and call the university police.
Follow-Up Response
Communicate with the student before the next class session.
- Explain why the behavior was inappropriate and what the necessary changes should be.
- Outline your expectations for more appropriate behavior moving forward.
- Offer support and resources to help the student, as appropriate.
- By the next class meeting, give the student a written, dated summary of the discussion and retain a copy. An email will suffice.
Consult with your department head (or dean) and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards for further guidance.
If Behavior Continues
Inform your department head (or dean) of the situation and share your written summary.
The department head or dean can initiate further discussion or escalate the situation to the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs and the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.