CARE Team Holds Workshop for Faculty and Staff

By Kirsten Moss-Frye

Motlow Buzz Contributing Writer

         SMYRNA -- Motlow's Crisis Assessment and Risk Evaluation Team hosted a special workshop on the Smyrna campus on June 14 to help faculty and staff members better handle student-related concerns.

         According to Dean of Students Kirsten Moss, Motlow's Behavioral Intervention Team is designed to respond not only as the college threat assessment team, but to connect students with emotional and/or behavioral concerns to appropriate resources before they become a crisis.

         The two-hour "CARE Team Foundations" workshop, which was facilitated by Moss and Director of Public Safety Ray Higginbotham, provided an overview of the team's role, the process for reporting student-related concerns, and what happens after a report is received by the CARE team. Attendees worked case scenarios in small groups.

         "All attendees thought the session was valuable, would recommend it to others, and reported feeling more confident responding to issues of student concern or crises after completing the training," Moss said. 

         The CARE team recommends the following policies and procedures.

Question: How can I identify a distressed student?

Answer: Has the student's personality or behavior changed? Are the student's basic needs not being met (food, shelter)? What kind of support does he or she have?

Question: When do I report a student concern?

Answer: Depending on your role, you could be the first one to identify that a student is in need of help to provide them with resources that will benefit them during a challenging time. Many students are identified through journal entries, papers or a shift in baseline behavior.

If a concern arises, we recommend your contacting the student, speaking privately and in person, if possible. If needed, refer them to an appropriate resource, such as the Dean of Students office; Title IX Coordinator Brian Stacey at (931) 393-1713 or bstacy@mscc.edu; Disability Services; our Licensed Therapist at Motlow; or the student's Completion Coach.

Please know that the CARE Team is available to help! If you feel a student's needs are beyond what you feel prepared to assist with, submit a Behavioral Referral Form. If you have any questions on whether a situation or student should be reported, you can contact the Dean of Students or Public Safety. If there is an immediate emergency, call 911.

For information on classroom behavior that may constitute reporting, read Examples of Disruptive vs. Dangerous Behaviors.

Question: Where do I report?

Answer: The Behavioral Referral Form is located in MyMotlow under the Employee Tab or Faculty Tab, and can be utilized by any Motlow employee.

Students spend most of their time in class; therefore, the CARE Team has put together a Classroom Response Flowchart to address various student concerns that might arise in the classroom. This is meant to be a helpful document to determine where to report specific circumstances.

Click on this link to see the flowchart: Classroom Response Flowchart related to Student Concerns/Crises

Question: How can I find out the status of my student?

Answer: You will receive a response to indicate your report was received and is being reviewed. The student will be given the support and assistance they need by the College and community resources. Please note that often times information can only be given out in general terms for confidentiality reasons, and therefore employees often do not hear the outcome of each case. However, since the majority of reports are from faculty with students in the classroom, it is always appropriate to contact the dean of students if the case is impacting the course or grades. Often times, there is a need for faculty to provide information to the CARE Team for the wellbeing of the student.

Question: How does the process for case determination work?

Answer: The CARE Team acts as the campus threat assessment team and Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT). The NaBITA Threat Assessment Tool is used to determine if there is a threat to self or others. Most cases do not pose a threat and require behavioral intervention by a member of the team. If the Student Code of Conduct has been violated, the case is handled by the dean of students.

See Policy 6:10:00:34: Crisis Assessment & Risk Evaluation (CARE) Team.

Together, we all work to create a healthy and safe environment for our students and campus community… Because Motlow Cares. 

Emergency Preparedness Drill to Occur on Smyrna Campus

         SMYRNA -- Imagine seeing the sky go dark and hearing an alert to take shelter.

         This actually happened at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin when a tornado ripped through the campus, damaging several buildings. Other twisters have hit Murfreesboro and Nashville in recent years.

         As stormy spring approaches, the Motlow Department of Public Safety has been scheduling a series of unannounced Emergency Preparedness drills on all Motlow campuses. According to Director of Public Safety Ray Higginbotham, these drills are required as part of the SACS COC accreditation requirements.

         "Participation in these drills is mandatory for all faculty, adjunct faculty, students and everyone on campus whenever a drill happens," Higginbotham said. "The scheduling of the drills was coordinated with each campus dean." 

         All drills will be conducted with the least amount of interruption as possible. Everyone is urged to take these drills seriously.

         "Treating these drills seriously and responsibly will help ensure that everyone is better prepared to respond appropriately in a real situation," he added.

         Higginbotham will be on each campus to monitor the drills, checking to see that proper procedures are followed and that everyone participates. He will be available to answer any questions and assist as necessary. Each drill will last no more than eight to 10 minutes maximum, from start to finish.  

         All emergency alert messages are broadcast through the Motlow intercom speaker system. The pre-recorded messages will provide very detailed instructions for everyone to follow. Staff is no longer required to blow horns or verbally announce messages during any alerts.

         "Each drill will be announced with a warning message explaining that the drill is not an actual emergency," Higginbotham continued. "That message will be followed by very distinct siren sounds that will be immediately followed by a very clear message explaining the procedures that need to be immediately implemented and followed." 

         Ample time will be given for everyone to implement the required procedures (approximately seven minutes). Once everyone has followed the proper procedures and moved to a designated shelter area, the “All Clear” message will be broadcast utilizing the Motlow intercom speaker system. 

         There will not be a “face-to-face All Clear” message given at the conclusion of the drill. Once the “All Clear” message has been broadcasted utilizing the Motlow intercom speaker system, everyone may resume their normal activities.

         The Motlow Alert messaging system (Text Alert Messages) will not be activated during a drill. The “Motlow Alert” messaging system will only be used in the event of an actual emergency situation. 

         There will not be a follow-up meeting of the “Emergency Management Team” at the conclusion of this drill.

         Higginbotham encouraged individuals to review the current Emergency Preparedness Plans for detailed instructions of what you should do during any drill or actual emergency situation. The Emergency Preparedness Plans for all campuses are located on the Intranet.

         "It is critical that everyone review the Emergency Preparedness Plans and familiarize themselves with everything in the plans," he said. "You may also refer to the color-coded quick reference sheets that are located throughout each campus in office areas, classroom areas, etc., for detailed instructions for specific types of situations. I encourage everyone to pay close attention to the Emergency Preparedness Plans, especially those individuals who are listed as 'Building Responsible Persons.'"

         All Motlow severe weather shelters are located on the first floor of all buildings. Designated shelter areas may be hallways or rooms. These areas are identified by distinguishable signs.

Beware Motlow Drivers: You Could Be Ticketed

                SMYRNA, Tenn. – Motlow Smryna will be busier than ever this fall, with hundreds of additional students (and many more vehicles to park). That’s why it’s so important to follow the college’s parking and safety rules. Otherwise, you might have a fine to pay.

                According to Motlow Director of Public Safety Ray Higginbotham, the college has developed a policy to help facilitate the orderly and efficient flow of traffic on all campuses, to provide a safe atmosphere for both pedestrians and motor vehicle operators, and to provide order with regard to parking within limited space. 

“It is critical that everyone review this policy in order to understand their responsibilities and ensure they are adhering to the policy,” Higginbotham said.

As enrollment numbers continue to increase, parking spaces will become more limited and motor vehicle traffic on each campus will continue to increase.  He encourages students, faculty, administrators and staff to get their vehicles registered and to correctly place assigned decals on their lower back windshields as soon as possible. The decals, which never expire, are free to students and $10 for faculty. To register and receive a decal, visit the front office in the Smyrna Classroom Building.

Motlow Smyrna adds a temporary parking lot for the fall semester.

The Motlow State Public Safety Department is responsible for enforcement of the Parking and Traffic policy.  Officers of the Motlow State Public Safety Department will be monitoring parking and traffic on campuses to ensure all vehicles are properly decaled and parked in the right place.  Motlow State Community College requires the registration of vehicles and/or the issuance of permits on campus for effective enforcement of campus traffic and/or parking regulations.  Everyone should pay close attention to assigned parking spaces, such as spaces marked for “Handicap” parking, “Faculty/Staff” parking, “Student” parking, and “Visitor” parking.  Students, faculty, staff and visitors must park only in the appropriately designated areas.  Students, faculty or staff, should never park in “Visitor” parking.

“Do not park on any grassy areas unless signs indicate it is allowed,” he added. “Violators of our Parking and Traffic policy will be ticketed.”

Higginbotham noted that the old hang tag-style parking permits, which were hung on rearview mirrors, are no longer allowed and must be replaced immediately with a current parking permit decal.  If one has a hang-style parking permit, it must be removed immediately and discarded. Citations will be issued for vehicles that do not have the Motlow parking permit decal in the correct location. 

The entire Parking and Traffic policy can be viewed at http://www.mscc.edu/policies/docs/5-10-08-00-parking-taffic.pdf.