Safety Intervention and Involuntary Withdrawal Policy

Effective August 12, 2024

I.  Overview 

Pratt Institute is dedicated to maintaining a safe learning environment, ensuring that all students feel secure while working towards the Institute’s mission and goals. The safety of every individual within the community is highly valued. The Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT), a multidisciplinary team of administrators, was established to enhance community safety. This team focuses on collaborative, coordinated, and thoughtful approaches to prevent, identify, assess, intervene in, and manage situations that threaten or jeopardize the safety, security, and well-being of the campus community and its members. This policy will be applied by BIT or other designated Pratt representatives in response to any such situation.

II. Purpose of and Criteria for Safety Intervention and External Evaluations 

The procedures for a Safety Intervention and External Evaluation described below establish a fact-based investigative and analytical process for intervening with and assessing the risk presented by students who:

• Pose a credible substantial risk of harm to self, individuals within the Institute, or to the Institute community as a whole, or
• Substantially impede the lawful activities, the educational process, or the proper activities or functions of other members of the Institute community.

Student conduct, judicial, academic, or other proceedings may continue while a student is subject to intervention or involuntary withdrawal under this policy or may be held in abeyance if deemed necessary and appropriate at the discretion of the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students or other designated Pratt representative. 

III. Interim Safety Intervention or Involuntary Withdrawal

An immediate interim involuntary withdrawal may be implemented when there is an immediate risk of harm to an individual or the Institute community as a whole or serious disruption of Institute academic activities or other operations, in the professional judgment of the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, or designee(s), and considering all reasonably available relevant information.  Interim involuntary withdrawal is a preliminary action taken to protect the health and safety of the Institute community and is not a penalty.  A student subject to immediate interim involuntary withdrawal may be removed from Institute residences if deemed necessary for the health and safety of the individual, fellow students or other members of the Pratt community. 

A student withdrawn on an interim basis will be notified of the justification for the interim withdrawal in writing.  The student may contest the interim withdrawal in a meeting with the Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students, to be held, in person or virtually, as soon as reasonably possible to discuss the need for an immediate interim withdrawal.  After this meeting, the Assistant Vice President or designee may continue or cancel the interim involuntary withdrawal, and will notify the student in writing of the decision and reasons therefore.

If the interim involuntary withdrawal is canceled, the procedures described in this policy regarding Safety Intervention and Involuntary Withdrawal may still proceed. 

An interim involuntary withdrawal may remain in effect until a final decision is made under the procedures outlined in this policy, if necessary and appropriate.

IV. Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT)

The BIT is chaired and convened by the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students or their designee. It is responsible for reviewing all presented information and evaluating whether students meet the criteria for safety intervention and/or Involuntary Withdrawal.

The BIT consists of members from the following offices:

• Residential Life
• Health Services
• Counseling Services
• Learning Access Center (LAC)
• International Affairs
• Legal Affairs
• Campus Safety
• Student Advocacy and Support
• Academic Affairs/Office of the Provost

The composition of the team for each particular case will depend upon the specific circumstances.  Other members may be added at the discretion of the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students or their designee, if necessary for a full consideration of the case. In addition to evaluating whether students meet the criteria for Safety Intervention and/or Involuntary Withdrawal, the BIT may also act as a resource, consultant, or advisor to any academic department or program in determining whether an individual is qualified to perform the essential functions of an academic program, and/or to provide other guidance regarding an individual student’s access to the Institute’s educational opportunities.  

V. Safety Intervention and Involuntary Withdrawal Process

Serious concerns that a student may pose a risk of harm to self or others or a significant disruption of Institute activities or operations should be reported to Campus Safety and Student Affairs. 

In cases of emergency, please immediately contact the Campus Safety office and/or the local police department . 

The reported information will be reviewed as soon as practicable but no later than within 48 hours by the CARE Team, an interdisciplinary administrative committee (similar representation as the aforementioned BIT Team).  All reports made pursuant to this policy will be handled confidentially, in compliance  with applicable laws, regulations, and policies. 

Following review,the Director of Student Support and Advocacy/Chair of the CARE Team or designee may refer the matter to the Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students, for consideration whether  intervention and/or involuntary withdrawal are appropriate pursuant to this policy, in consultation with BIT.  The following factors will be considered to determine if the student meets the criteria outlined in Section II above, based on a review of all available relevant information, including medical or mental health evaluations: the nature, duration, and severity of the risk; the probability that potential injury and/or harm will occur; the impact of the student’s behavior on others; and whether reasonable modifications of policies, practices or procedures significantly mitigate the risk.

As part of this individualized assessment, the student may be required to undergo an evaluation, including a medical or psychological evaluation, by a member of our health or  counseling teams and/or an independent external and objective health professional retained by the institute, if appropriate and necessary. 

In addition, any medical or other relevant information submitted by the student, including but not limited to a medical or psychological evaluation by a health professional of the student’s choice will be considered.

If a student is subject to an involuntary withdrawal according to this policy, to the extent appropriate and practicable, conditions for return and/or readmission may be specified in writing by the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students or designee.

The student will be provided with:

a. a written statement providing a detailed explanation of the reasons for intervention or involuntary withdrawal and the information relied upon, and

b. the opportunity to review the evaluations relied upon by the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students or their designee.

All decisions made regarding a student being withdrawn will be in consultation with members of the Office of the Provost in Academic Affairs. 

VI. Appeal of Intervention and/or Involuntary Withdrawal

A student subject to an involuntarily withdrawal pursuant to this policy may make a written request to the Vice President for Student Affairs or their designee for an informal proceeding to review the determination.  Any such appeal must be submitted to the Vice President for Student Affairs within three (3) business days of the written determination.

The Vice President for Student Affairs or their designee will meet with the student  to provide them an opportunity to present their case opposing the involuntary withdrawal, based on this policy. 

The student will be provided with

a. a written statement providing a detailed explanation of the reasons for intervention or involuntary withdrawal and the information relied upon, and

b. the opportunity to review the evaluations relied upon by the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students or their designee.

The student may have a representative of their choice to assist them in the appeal meeting. Following the appeal, the Vice President for Student Affairs or designee shall determine whether to (a) uphold the temporary withdrawal, (b) reinstate the student, or (c) reinstate the student subject to specified conditions that may include, without limitation, participation in an ongoing health treatment program, acceptance of and compliance with a behavioral contract, a housing relocation, reduced course load, any combination thereof, or other suitable conditions, as deemed appropriate.  

VII. Return to Campus 

A student seeking to return to campus after an involuntary withdrawal shall contact the Director for Student Support and Advocacy in advance of their planned return.  The student must provide evidence of their compliance with conditions of the involuntary withdrawal, if any, and may also present any relevant documentation or information that the student believes supports their request for return.  If the involuntary withdrawal is based on a medical and/or psychological evaluation, then the student will need to provide evidence of an evaluation supporting the student’s return.  The Institute may require the student to undergo a medical or psychological evaluation either by a member of the Institute health or counseling staff or by an independent external and objective health professional retained by the Institute, if appropriate and necessary.

The Director for Student Support and Advocacy or designee for the campus will review the request for return or readmission as follows:

a. review and investigate compliance with the conditions of return or readmission, if any;

b. consult with the appropriate academic unit to determine whether the student is eligible for return or readmission based upon the student’s academic record and the readmission policies and practices of the academic unit;

c. consult with appropriate members of the BIT and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students;

d. consider any additional information or documentation presented by the student in support of return or readmission; and

e. meet with the student.

 A student denied readmission pursuant to this policy may make a written request to the Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students or designee for an informal hearing to review the readmission or no-return determination.  The informal proceeding to review the readmission or return determination will follow the same procedures outlined in Section VI of this policy. 

There may be instances where active conduct cases may be pending and need to be adjudicated separately or outside this process.