Dealing with Discipline Problems in the Classroom

Our job as teachers is to set rules for classroom conduct which promote the kind of environment in which learning can most effectively occur.  In doing so, we need to establish rules that are reasonably necessary for the maintenance of an intellectually welcoming, professional, and emotionally and physically safe climate.  The students in your class have a right to expect, and you have the obligation to provide, such a positive learning environment.   You must be reasonable in your expectations, and firm, fair, and prudent in enforcing your rules. 

One of the best ways to avoid problems is to make clear in your syllabus the kind of behavior you expect.  For some general guidelines, which you should feel free to augment with your own reasonable classroom expectations, see page 31 of the Student Handbook for the official Student Code of Conduct, particularly part B.2.:  “Speech and Related Behavior.”  Your syllabus should provide a succinct summary of what you do and don’t expect students to do in class, and during your first few weeks of class, you should be quick to model and emphasize for students your firm intent to foster reasonable, appropriate, and professional behavior.  As always, pre-emptive examples, guidance and prevention are far better than frustrated over-reaction, which is what you may get if things go unaddressed.  If you are unsure as to whether your expectations are “reasonable”, please discuss them with your chair, Dean, and/or your experienced colleagues.

If you find that a student is not meeting your behavior standards, you should immediately, but calmly and gently, briefly remind the student (and, if appropriate, the whole class) of your standards, and of how this behavior is not meeting them.  Emphasize that the behavior is impeding the ability of other students to learn; this fosters student awareness of the communal nature of the classroom experience.  (Students are often quite oblivious, and genuinely unaware that their behavior, especially low-level chatter, or even whispering, is affecting others negatively.)  If this does not fully remedy the situation, you should again ask the student violating your rules of conduct to stop, but also to confer with you after class (when you can delve more deeply into the student’s behavior problems—treat this conference as an educational opportunity for both you and the student.) 

If, after this second request, the student still fails to behave appropriately (either in the current class, or in a subsequent class, after your conference), you have a right to tell him that he must leave the class immediately to go speak to the Dean of Students in Room 2270. (If the Dean of Students is not available, your division Dean may be an appropriate substitute.)  Inform the student that he may not return to class until the two of you have spoken with the Dean—and then, as soon as possible, contact the Dean of Students at x1745 yourself, to discuss the situation.  Usually, a Dean's involvement puts an end to the problem, as it lets the students see that you're serious about not tolerating disruption in your classroom.  But it is imperative that you immediately document in writing the student’s behavior, and any further incidents or conversations that you have with him. 

If a student refuses to leave the classroom when requested; or if he insists, against your wishes, on attending the next class without having talked to the Dean; or if any unsafe or potentially dangerous situation occurs, immediately contact Public Safety.  There is a phone in most classrooms, or you can find a nearby faculty office—dial O for operator and ask for Public Safety.  

If any situation is immediately threatening or dangerous to anyone’s safety, dismiss the class at once, get them away from the danger, and call Public Safety right away.  Again, document in writing what has happened.  Such situations are very rare, but have occurred.

Usually, the first time a student is asked by you to talk to the Dean of Students, it is treated as an “informal” discussion, and you can expect to be contacted by Student Affairs about the incident, most often with a recommendation that the student is contrite and should be let back in to your class.  If you haven’t heard from them before the next class, call Student Affairs yourself at x1745 before class meets.  But if, in subsequent classes, a re-admitted student persists in problem behavior, it’s important to remember that you do not have the right to permanently dismiss the student from your class all by yourself.  He or she is entitled to due process, so you must now follow the College’s formal process for student discipline violations. 

At this point--when behavior problems have recurred after an informal discussion with the Dean--you should tell the student (after class, if possible) that you are going to file a formal Code of Conduct Complaint. (Forms for this are available on OCCSHARE in the forms folder.)  Tell the student that this means they may not return to class, and will be contacted by the Vice President for Student Affairs or the Dean of Students.  Send the VP for Student Affairs the Code of Conduct Complaint (and talk to her as well), and then she will send a letter to the student indicating the complaint has been filed, place a restriction on the student’s account, and begin an investigation into the matter.  The Dean of Students or VP for Student Affairs will then help you deal with the rest of the student discipline process, which is outlined on pages 32-35 of the Student Handbook. 

Copyright © 2001 Oakton Community College. Last update 1/28/2006.

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