Office of Student Affairs

Student-Centered: Through collaborative partnerships and comprehensive programs and services, we offer higher education with a holistic approach.

Integrity: Providing transparent communication while encouraging honesty, personal responsibility, and fairness.

Respect: Treating each student with courtesy and care – customer service.

Excellence: We strive to provide a quality educational opportunity.

1. 1. Providing access for equal educational opportunities and ensuring gender equity
   2. Act as a strong advocate for the rights of the student while providing necessary resources
   3. Campus Climate Survey and T9 Training (“Student Empower”)
   4. Provide fair and impartial adjudication, disciplinary, and grievance proceedings
   5. Promoting the health and well-being of all students
   6. Encouraging our students through positive affirmation
   7. Professionalism and ethical behavior at all levels
   8. Building a diverse and inclusive community of students
   9. Creating opportunities for personal growth and development

For more information, please refer to the current CFCC Catalog and Student Handbook

Overview & Purpose

Cape Fear Community College is committed to providing the best possible learning and working environment that is free of discrimination, harassment and/or sexual violence. By establishing a Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) at CFCC, formal lines of communication will be clear, and efforts will be strengthened during heightened security threats at all college campuses and sites. The BIT will provide a college-wide, integrated approach to addressing extraordinary discipline and/or safety issues on campus. The ongoing development and coordination of a team of CFCC administrators to handle crisis intervention situations will ultimately reinforce the college’s overall safety and security infrastructure.

Composition of Team Members

• Campus Safety Coordinator
• Dean, Student Support Services
• Dean, Student Affairs
• Vice President, Human Resources & College Safety
• Vice President, Academic Affairs
• Vice President, Economic & Workforce Development
• Vice President, Student Services

Other staff or faculty members, may be consulted as specific situations warrant. If a conflict of interest occurs, or the appearance of a conflict of interest arises for any team members, the member will recuse themselves.

Functions

• Assess level of risk and concern
• Identify early warning signs
• Offer recommendations
• Support – Intervene – Advise
• Track patterns and trends
• Prevent reoccurrence
• Promote safety to prevent campus violence
• Provide appropriate updates to the individuals involved in threats under assessment

BIT Notification (Convening)

The BIT team will meet to discuss ongoing issues, trends, or specific cases that require additional monitoring or action. For any threatening behavior from a student, faculty, staff, and/or community member that may constitute a clear and present danger to any individual’s physical and emotional well-being, the team will convene to discuss the threat in its entirety and determine measures to de-escalate the threat. Any member of the BIT team may convene this meeting if he or she feels there is a “High Risk” or “Active Threat,” as defined below. If the threat is determined to pose an immediate risk to any individual, the person posing a threat will be escorted off campus. The team will then proceed with a formal investigation of the circumstances of the danger.

Assessment of Risk (see NaBita Threat Assessment Tool)

Low Risk
Person/situation does not appear to pose a threat of violence or self-harm at this time, nor is there evidence of significant disruption to the college community. The case may warrant some intervention and monitoring (i.e., referral, mental health evaluation, counseling, and/or external resources) to minimize escalation. The BIT should document appropriate steps to mitigate and ensure the individual is taking reasonable steps to rectify the specific concern or safety risk. This category also includes students or employees who are no longer affiliated with the college (Inactive Status), and thus cannot be monitored. The team can close the case without a management or assessment plan, following appropriate documentation. Individuals placed on Inactive Status will remain on record and can be moved back to active status if warranted.

High Risk
Person/situation appears to pose a threat of self-harm or physical violence. This requires the BIT to develop and implement an immediate management plan. Each case will warrant intervention and/or external assessment. The BIT will ensure the appropriate steps are taken to help mitigate the situation and document all actions taken. The BIT should develop a monitoring plan to ensure the individual is taking reasonable steps to rectify the specific concern or safety risk.

Active Threat
Person/situation appears to pose a clear and immediate threat of serious violence toward self or others. The BIT should immediately notify law enforcement to take appropriate action. Once such emergency actions have taken place, the BIT shall then develop and implement a management plan in anticipation of the person’s release or potential return to campus.

Classification / Risk factors may include:

• Violent behavior;
• Health or safety risk that negatively affects a community member (student, employee, or visitor);
• Ominous obsession with violent themes;
• Excessive damage to College property or premises;
• Allusions to violence against self or others;
• Aggression, intimidation, or hostile behavior;
• Persistent inappropriate anger or conflict;
• Threat or Possession of firearms or other weapons on college property, or at college-sponsored events;
• Intent to inflict serious injury or harm to oneself or others;
• Assault and/or combative behavior;
• Severe inappropriate behavior that negates a positive teaching and learning environment;

Recommendations by the BIT

Once the BIT has concluded its investigation, the team will prepare a written summary report that outlines its findings. These findings may include (and are not limited to):

• An opinion as to whether the threat under investigation posed or poses a credible danger to the safety and welfare of any individuals; threats determined by the team to represent credible dangers will be reported to law enforcement by the Dean of Student Affairs and/or the Campus Safety Coordinator.
• A BIT Action Plan, if recommended, that may include, but is not limited to the following: 1) anger management counseling 2) psychological counseling 3) professional psychological evaluation/assessment 4) waiver from the student allowing the release of the student’s school records to local mental health authorities and/or law enforcement 5) establishing a regular reporting/check-in system with the Dean of Student Affairs 6) suspension or expulsion, and 7) campus ban and/or No Trespass Order.

A copy of the BIT summary report with recommendations shall be included in the student’s permanent record or the employee’s personnel file. To the extent appropriate to the situation, the team will notify the individuals subject to the threat under investigation of the steps to mitigate the danger.

Reporting
Members of the campus community should immediately contact local law enforcement (911) in the event of any emergency. All reports of potential threatening behavior shall be directly forwarded to the Campus Security Coordinator or their designee. Any members of the campus community that are aware of conduct that may constitute threatening behavior, or pose a threat to the college community, should notify any of the following individuals:

• Campus Safety Coordinator;
• Law Enforcement;
• Security Officer;
• Dean of Student Affairs;
• Any member of the College’s Human Resources staff;
• Any member of the BIT;
• Any CFCC Responsible Employee.

Students, employees, and visitors may also submit a CFCC Incident Report (for students) or a CFCC Incident Report (for employees/visitors) .

The Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) and Threat Assessment Policy applies to all students, employees, and visitors of Cape Fear Community College. As college policies and procedures may not apply to non-college affiliated persons outside of college property, the threat protocols can be used to assess the threat of non-college persons with appropriate criminal and/or “no trespass” sanctions applied. It is the responsibility of all students and employees to familiarize themselves and to comply with this policy and its procedures and any related policies and procedures herein. Related policies and procedures include, but are not limited to, the CFCC Emergency Management and Safety Plan, the Student Code of Conduct, or the applicable policy and procedure within the CFCC Employee Handbook.

Due to specific implications with appropriate local, state, and federal law, Department of Education (Title IX, FERPA, etc.), and specific privacy laws, circumstances or situations on campus that involve conduct or behavior that constitutes an “imminent threat” may not be disclosed due to confidentiality considerations.

Title IX (9) of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities, which receive Federal financial assistance. Title IX states that:

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” – U.S. Department of Education

Cape Fear Community College is required to comply with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. In compliance with The Department of Education, CFCC prohibits sex discrimination and harassment in all operations of the College and will take immediate and effective steps to respond appropriately.

The Dean of Student Affairs at CFCC serves as the College’s Title IX Coordinator and has primary responsibility for coordinating the College’s efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in all the operations of this College, as well as retaliation for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by Title IX. Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX may be referred to CFCC’s Title IX Coordinator or to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. CFCC’s Title IX Coordinator is Robert McGee, whose office is located at the downtown Wilmington Campus, Union Station Building, Room U-146. This office can be contacted by phone at 910-362-7191 or by email at rmcgee@cfcc.edu .

Code of Conduct / Title IX

Cape Fear Community College’s Title IX Coordinator is Robert McGee, Dean of Student Affairs, whose office is located at the downtown Wilmington campus, 411 North Front Street, in the Union Station Building, 1st floor, Room U-146. The Title IX Coordinator may be contacted Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by phone at 910-362-7191 or by email at rmcgee@cfcc.edu

Counseling

Counseling Services are available and confidential conferences can be arranged if students are experiencing social or personal difficulties. Counselors will discuss concerns, provide needed guidance and make community referrals when appropriate and may be contacted at the following campus locations:

Union Station Building, 910-362-7017
North Campus, McKeithan Center, 910-362-7523

Campus Safety

Campus Safety is located on Front Street, A building, and is available by phone at 910-362-7855 . College Resource Officers (CRO) and Campus Security are available 24/7. View the Cape Fear Community College Annual Security Report on the Campus Safety page. For an emergency, please Dial 911.

Human Resources

For CFCC employees and concerns related to employment, the human resource office is located at the downtown Wilmington campus, 411 North Front Street, in the Union Station Building, 2nd floor, Room U-299. The Director of Human Resources may be contacted Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by phone at 910-362-7542 or by email at lriepe@cfcc.edu .

Lost and Found

Please see Campus Safety for these services.

Community Partners & Resources

New Hanover Regional Medical Center , area medical facilities are available at (910) 343-7799.

Coastal Horizons Centers, Inc., 613 Shipyard Boulevard, Suite 106, Wilmington, NC 28412, 910-216-6080 .

The Rape Crisis Center of Coastal Horizons Center, Inc. , offers FREE and CONFIDENTIAL services to victims of sexual abuse and assault and their friends, families, and loved ones. You can call the Rape Crisis Center New Hanover at 910-392-7460 and/or the Rape Crisis Center Brunswick at 910-754-7949 .

Domestic Violence Shelter Services / Wilmington, NC is located at located at 2901 Market Street, Wilmington, NC. From I-40 continue onto College Road and then turn right on Market. From the east or west follow Highway 17 which becomes Market. Contact: 910-343-0703 (24-hour hotline with advocates available to assist individuals.).

National Domestic Violence Hotline provides confidential support by highly-trained advocates available 24/7 to talk confidentially with anyone experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information, or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship, 1-800-799-7233 National Sexual Assault Online Hotline provides live help for sexual assault victims and their friends and families. The service is free, confidential and secure, 1-800-656-4673

Local Law Enforcement Agencies, Wilmington City Police, 910-343-3600 or New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office, 910-341-4200

If you experience sexual misconduct, discrimination, harassment, and/or violence, you have rights and you have options. Title IX and CFCC resources exist to help you get the assistance you need. Whether you are a student, faculty, staff, or guest, you have the right to file a complaint through the college and/or explore options to address your concerns.

Any person (student, faculty, staff, or guest) who believes that they have been subject to sexual misconduct, discrimination, harassment, and any other violation to the CFCC Code of Conduct at the college may file a formal complaint using the online complaint form. In the event of an emergency, please Dial 911.

File a Complaint