Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management
Introduction
Behavioral threat assessments are a fact-based, investigative approach to determine how capable a person may be to carry out a threat of violence. These assessments are conducted by the university's Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) Team, who are trained in conducting fact-based threat assessments and coordinating support services for persons exhibiting, or being affected by, behaviors of concern. The process from intake through assessment is standardized to the greatest extent possible in order to ensure a thorough, fair, and fact-based process for all persons involved.
A fact-based, behavioral threat assessment process considers warning behaviors in conjunction with known risk and protective factors, in to help determine a level of concern, which guides threat management actions.
All areas of the campus community are required to cooperate with requests from the BTAM Team relative to successfully monitoring any threatening behavior.
Submit BTAM Referral Form
Principles of behavioral threat assessment and management
Principles of behavioral threat assessment and management
- The safety of the university community is the primary focus of the Behavioral Threat Assessment Teams (BTAT) and a shared concern of all members of the community.
- BTAT are not a substitute for an emergency response to an active or imminent threat to the welfare, health, or safety of the university community.
- Coordination, collaboration, and effective information sharing is critical to violence prevention, threat identification, assessment, and management.
- A fact-based, analytical approach will guide the process of the teams.
- The teams will establish or utilize existing collaborative relationships with local, state, and federal agencies and other local and institutional resources, as necessary, to expedite assessment and intervention with individuals whose behavior may present a threat.
- The teams will treat all persons fairly, with dignity and respect.
- The teams will address and manage impact to individuals, groups, and the community.
What BTAM is (and is not)
| BTAM IS | BTAM IS NOT |
|---|---|
| A proactive, prevention-focused process to identify and manage concerning behavior | A replacement for emergency response (call 911/UICPD for imminent threats) |
| Used for non-imminent concerns about potential violence or harm | Used for active or immediate emergencies |
| A fact-based, analytical assessment approach | A disciplinary or punitive process |
| Focused on behaviors of concern and patterns over time | Focused on single incidents without context |
| A multidisciplinary team (Human Resources, Dean of Students, Access and Equity, Preparedness and Response, Counseling Center, University Health Services, UIC Police, Office of the Provost, Health Affairs, etc.) | One office acting alone or in isolation |
| Designed to assess risk and coordinate support for intervention strategies | Only about “removing” or “punishing” individuals |
| A process to support individuals and protect the community | Only focused on the person of concern (ignores community impact) |
| A way to consult, collaborate, and share information appropriately | A siloed or confidential black box with no coordination |
| A process that may include referrals, monitoring, and coordinated response plans | A surveillance or intelligence-gathering operation |
| A structured way to guide decision-making using risk and protective factors | Based on biases, intuition, profiling, or assumptions |
BTAM Team
Team Membership
The Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) Team is designed to address any behavior that raises non-imminent (non-emergency) concerns that a person or situation may pose a danger to the safety of the campus. UIC BTAM Team establishes a set of common-sense behavioral thresholds, and when the team is in possession of information that an individual has crossed one of these thresholds, university personnel respond with one or more strategies, which may include, but is not limited to:
- Fact-finding meetings between university professionals and individuals exhibiting behaviors of concern.
- Fact-finding meetings with individual(s) who identified and referred/reported concerning behaviors to university officials, and with others who may have information regarding a subject or situation.
- Internal consultations and ad-hoc meetings among university professionals to assess and address the incident/situation.
- Application of policies and protocols designed to address the incident/situation.
- Coordination of UIC BTAM Team to monitor and oversee the university’s response to these situations.
Varying thresholds and responses may apply, depending on the UIC status/affiliation of a subject (e.g., current or former student or employee; indirectly affiliated or unaffiliated individuals).
The BTAM Team consists of the following members:
- Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources
- Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
- Associate Vice Chancellor, Health Sciences Academic Affairs
- Campus Legal Counsel
- Chief of Staff, Office of the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
- Chief of Police, UIC Police Department
- Director, Office for Access and Equity
- Director, Threat Management and Prevention
- Director, University Health Services
- Executive Director, UIC Counseling Center
Responsibilities
- Receiving and reviewing reports of concerning, non-imminent behavior that may pose a threat to campus safety or of targeted violence
- Conducting structured, evidence-informed threat assessments and risk monitoring using standardized processes
- Developing, implementing, and coordinating individualized management and intervention strategies that prioritize support and prevention
- Coordinating timely and appropriate information sharing across relevant Colleges/units
- Participating in standing, ad hoc, and urgent case review meetings
- Engaging in training, exercises, and professional development to maintain readiness and consistency
- Leveraging data, case tracking, and feedback loops to inform decision-making, identify trends, and support continuous program improvement
Oversight
The Campus Violence Prevention Committee (CVPC) provides oversight to the BTAM Team. The BTAM Team report to the CVPC once in the fall and once in the spring semesters. The CVPC will be notified when, in the judgment of BTAM Team, a high concern or significant emergency involving a threat of violence or act of violence poses a significant or imminent threat to the welfare, health, or safety of the university community (i.e., a person/situation poses a Priority 1 or Priority 2 Concern, as described in the Level of Concern Standardized Response Chart). Upon notification to the CVPC, the CVPC may assume the role of the Emergency Operations Policy Group and exercise their authority and discretion to activate the Emergency Operations Plan as necessary.
