Leader Handbook

Behavior Problems

Your Responsiblity
How to Respond
- Verbal Warning
- Written Warning
- Termination

Your Responsibility

As a faculty-led program leader, your role is more than academic. You have a responsibility to supervise and respond to a variety of behaviors. You should decide on your expectations, approach, and limits, and communicate these to students prior to the start of your program.

Behaviors that you should respond to include withdrawal, compulsiveness, self-destructiveness, and anything else that negatively impacts the well being of an individual or the group. If you are unsure about how to address certain types of behaviors, feel free to contact OSA.

Students are also required to comply with all University regulations, rules, and policies in the same manner as if the program were being conducted on campus. If students violate any of these regulations, rules, or policies, and you become aware of it, then you are required to respond.

While students are typically subject to the Student Conduct Code on campus, they are additionally subject to a Statement of Responsiblity, which they sign and date as part of the application process. Students have as much responsiblity to honor these agreements as you have to respond to violations.

How to Respond

There are behaviors that warrant a progressive response and there are behaviors that warrant immediate termination from a study abroad program. Tardiness to class, personality conflicts, being rude/difficult, or acting weird, among other things, call for a progressive response which may consist of a verbal warning, a written warning, and finally termination.

In the case of any of the following behaviors, an immediate termination is the appropriate response: alcohol abuse; physical or sexual assault; harassment; possession, use or distribution of illegal drugs; setting a fire or possession of explosives; possession of a weapon, including BB guns and knives; and theft.

Regardless of the negative behavior, we strongly encourage you not to ignore it but to respond and do so in writing. You are not obligated to use our standard report forms, but you are obligated to report. Documentation is helpful to control behaviors, but also to mitigate legal issues and problems that might arise later on. Keep records; there is power in the pen.

Verbal Warning

  • Investigate alleged violation
  • Discuss expectations with student
  • Inform the student of consequences
  • Restrict activities if appropriate
  • Fill out an incident report form
  • Fax the form or email a summary and turn the form in upon your return.

Written Warning

  • If the same violation occurs again, or if a semi-major violation occurs, then a written warning form is appropriate.
  • A semi-major violation would be something that doesn't merit termination but is worth more than a slap on the hand.
  • Fax the form or email a summary to OSA and turn the form in upon your return.

Termination

  • If the same violation occurs again after a written warning, or if a major violation occurs, then a termination form is appropriate.
  • If the student refuses to sign the form, then have a witness sign a statement indicating that the student has been dismissed but refuses to sign the form.
  • Inform the student that the form will be filed with Judicial Affairs and a hearing may be arranged upon return to campus.
  • Fax the form or email a summary to OSA and turn in the form and any supporting documents upon your return.