What is BETA?
The Behavioral Assessment and Threat Assessment Team (BETA) is a new resource at the University of Colorado Denver that can provide resources and information to faculty, staff or student community members who are confronted with individuals who may be threatening, disruptive, or otherwise problematic. The Team provides guidance and consultation and may make referrals to appropriate campus or community resources. BETA is one component of the newly formed University Emergency Management Operations Group (EMOG).
The Team consists of representatives from the Counseling Center, Faculty Development Center, Office of Student Life, Legal Counsel, Human Resources, Student Conduct Office, Risk Management, Student Life, Student Services, Ombuds, Disability Services, Campus Police and Student Housing.
The BETA is not an administrative, treatment, or disciplinary body. The Team’s purpose is to provide support, information and referrals to those dealing with threatening or disruptive situations.
The BETA acts as a resource and contact for campus faculty, staff and administrators who are dealing with a disruptive or threatening individual. Members listen to their concerns and offer information and resources to help in addressing the problem.
Working with BETA
Contacting a BETA member is generally the first step in what is a highly collaborative process. Members of the BETA often have questions and will request additional information and feedback from reporting parties. The more information the Team has to work with the better we are able to provide appropriate referrals and guidance.
Here are some tips and guidelines to help the process run smoothly:
- In most cases the BETA has no background or history with the student and will need to gather this information from reporting parties.
- The key is in the details. Specifics about what was said, to whom and when are key components of our assessment. Copies of communications and details about what interventions have been tried are also important pieces of information.
- We attempt to avoid making assumptions. Many of our questions may seem basic. Our goal is merely to fill in the blanks and complete the picture.
Contact by phone
Below you will find contact information for some of the key BETA members. We encourage you to contact one of these members to initiate a consultation and to start the process.
Larry Loften (Chair)
Director of Community Standards & Wellness
Tivoli Suite 259
303-556-2444
Jenny-Lynn Ellis, LPC, CACII.
Counseling Center Clinician and Case Manager
North Classroom 4036
303-556-4372
Jill Creighton
Coordinator of Community Standards & Wellness
Tivoli Suite 259
303-556-2444
Contact by Web
To alert us about a student of concern, please follow the link and fill out the form as completely as possible. https://cudenver-jams.symplicity.com/care_report/
Emergency
If you feel that there is an immediate threat to health and/or safety please contact Campus Police or 911.
Auraria Campus Police: 303-556-5000
Anschutz Campus Police: 303-724-4444
Working with BETA
Faculty/Staff Role
Faculty and staff play a key role in keeping the Campus Community and our students safe.
- Often the first to recognize that a student needs help
- Important to have knowledge of campus and community resources for referral
- Responsibility to maintain appropriate learning environment
- Responsibility to report threatening and/or concerning behaviors
- Encourage faculty and instructors to document incidents and concerns in writing
- Second and third hand reports can present numerous challenges
- Reports should address concerns directly – if there is a concern it needs to be expressed as a concern
- Objectivity is essential in documenting classroom disruption
- The report should be very factual and void of personal opinions and feelings
- Detail, detail, detail. The more details included in the report that easier it is to make an informed decision.
- Encourage faculty and staff to read and understand the Code of Conduct
- Some concerns in the classroom do not necessarily fit into this code and may need to be evaluated in more than one context
- One common example of this is in creative expression that may touch on disturbing or violent subject matter
- How are expectations about what is acceptable and limitations about such expression communicated to students?
- Is there a policy or statement in the syllabus?
- Who should review this content and using what scale?
BETA Tools and Possible Outcomes
Our response will vary greatly depending on:
- Nature and Severity of the behaviors and concerns
- Actions and attempts made by faculty/staff to address concerns
- Determination of Code of Conduct Violation
Our response may include:
- Summary Suspension or other immediate action where there is an immediate threat
- Threat Assessment Conducted with the assistance of Campus Police and the BETA Team
- Mandated psychological assessment/evaluation
- Conduct hearing and/or mediated conversation with student and faculty
- Consultation and guidance
- Referral to Chair or Dean for Academic Review