Behavior Assessment Team

The mission of the university’s VPTM Program–including the BAT–is to identify, deescalate, and decrease threatening behavior from negatively impacting students, faculty, staff, and the greater university community. The purpose of the BAT is to improve the campus community’s safety through a proactive, multidisciplinary, coordinated and objective approach to the prevention, identification, assessment, intervention and management of situations that pose or may reasonably pose a threat to the safety and well-being of the campus community (i.e., students, faculty, staff and visitors). The BAT analyzes potentially threatening situations and then develops, and implements case management plans that may include recommended courses of action (as needed) to administrators. The BAT is not a disciplinary body, but may, as appropriate, refer matters to university administrators with disciplinary authority for review.

NC State’s BAT members have knowledge of current literature by known experts in behavior threat assessment, regular training, and consistent implementation of best practices.  Refer to NC State Rule 04.20.01 for more information.


Team members are individuals from the following NC State Departments and Offices appointed by the Chancellor:

Department of Risk Assessment

The Director of Risk Assessment. This position serves as an integral part of the University’s two-pronged initiative to address problematic behavioral issues among the University’s student and employee populations – not only identifying individuals that pose a risk of harm to themselves or others, but also identifying interventions and responses to those issues. The Director is the chair of the BAT. The role of the Director on BAT is to lead the team in collecting information regarding individuals with problematic behaviors and maintain such information as the central point of contact; to provide expertise from a risk and threat management perspective and to ensure that continued follow up with individuals or situations occurs until there are no longer immediate concerns regarding risk.

Violence Prevention and Threat Management

The VPTM Case Managers (VPTM) provides direct threat assessment and threat management services in cases involving an employee, student, or a non-affiliated individual. This position reports back to the team on interactions with individuals including but not limited to interviews, assessments, ongoing case monitoring and post hospitalization interviews.

University Police

The role of University Police to the BAT is to (1) provide advice and assistance from a law enforcement perspective, (2) advise the team what the police can and cannot do in any given situation, (3) when permissible, provide available information, including criminal history, history of police involvement and present information to assist with the threat assessment process, (4) serve as a direct liaison with other law enforcement agencies, (5) facilitate welfare checks on specific cases where there is concern for safety, (6) assist in the coordination of safety planning with individuals and/or departments.

Office of Student Conduct

In situations involving students, the Office of Student Conduct (OSC) provides relevant information to the BAT on known history involving the student or students, including known collateral information, and provides expertise regarding the Code of Student Conduct. OSC is also able to provide information on educational history and administrative and/or disciplinary options.

Prevention Services – NC State CARES

The CARES Coordinator position works directly with students in providing them with referrals and resources to assist in addressing their specific needs from the care and support standpoint. They represent the CARES team on the BAT, assist in informing the BAT of additional resources that may be available, and assist with the transition to CARES if necessary. This position will further report back to the BAT on interactions with students including but not limited to interviews, assessments, ongoing case monitoring and post hospitalization, and any additional collateral data known.

University Housing

The role of University Housing in the BAT is to (1) provide a context for those residents who live on campus and present threats; (2) share information from University Housing staff on residents who present threats; (3) advise the team on what University Housing staff can do to assist victims and perpetrators in any given situation, and (4) may facilitate alternative housing arrangements/interim measures when indicated and reasonably feasible.

Counseling Center

The role of the Counseling Center to the BAT is to (1) provide clinical expertise and knowledge regarding psychological dynamics in regard to particular cases, (2) exchange information between Counseling Center staff and the BAT, with appropriate releases in place, on students that may be identified within the BAT to enhance standard of care, (3) advise the BAT on risk factors involving individuals with particular mental health issues and make recommendations for follow up, and (4) when outside assessment is indicated, assist with referral process and interpretation of assessment reports.

Employee Relations

In situations involving faculty, staff and non-affiliates, Employee Relations (ER) provides the BAT with relevant personnel data and information maintained by members of management and helps ensure that the team remains balanced and neutral in assessing all conclusions reached before recommending any personnel actions or referrals to supporting resources. ER will contribute key skills to the team, including engaging appropriate management and administration, conducting or assisting with the investigatory process, developing communication strategies with affected or involved members of the workplace and providing guidance to the organization to address and resolve incidents through the imposition of preventative measures, which may include disciplinary action.

Office of Equal Opportunity

The role of the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO/ Title IX) is to be able to inform the BAT about discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, and retaliation related issues and cases that may have additional concerns from a safety perspective. This position works collaboratively with team members on issues related to domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, harassment, discrimination, and sexual harassment and sexual assault.

Academic Affairs Representative

This position serves in being the primary contact in working with faculty and advisors. This position has access to and understanding of academic issues and regulations/policies or protocols as it relates to students and provides this expertise to the team as a consultant.  This individual assists the BAT by providing perspective on academic policies and guidelines and assists in the collection of collateral information related to academic risk factors.

Office of General Counsel

The Office of General Counsel (OGC) is not a member of the BAT but provides legal advice and counsel to the BAT. OGC’s role is to advise and provide information regarding relevant university policies, regulations, and rules and state and federal laws and regulations in the course of investigations and response. In addition, OGC provides legal counsel pertaining to issues that commonly arise during behavior assessment (e.g., records, right to privacy, compliance, discrimination law, due process, etc.) OGC is also available to discuss balancing the risk and liability to the institution with respect to various situations. If necessary, OGC is able to work with University Police and management to obtain necessary court orders to protect the safety of employees and the community. OGC’s legal advice and counsel to the BAT is protected by the attorney-client privilege.