What to Do if a Student Appears to be Dangerous

If you believe that a student is dangerous or that a situation has the potential to escalate into a physical threat to you or other members of the University community, call the University of Arkansas Police Department at 911 to report the behavior. If you are confronted with a situation where you cannot contact the police department, please utilize the following guidelines:

1. Maintain a safe distance. Do not turn your back on the student.
2. Unless you are being physically assaulted, do not touch the student or his/her belongings. This may be interpreted as a threat.
3. Use a calm, non-confrontational approach and manner to defuse the situation.
4. If a threat of harm is present, immediately dismiss the class.

Do not mention disciplinary action or police intervention. If you have already mentioned these, direct the student's attention away from the consequences of his/her behavior. Once the student has calmed down and/or has left the area, the University of Arkansas Police Department and the Office of Student Accountability should be contacted immediately.

Note: The Associate Vice Chancellor for Students Affairs/Dean of Students or his/her designee can remove a student from your class on an interim basis, if the behavior exhibited is continuously disruptive or represents a danger to the instructor, the student, or others.