Managing Disruptions

Disruptions can happen, whether in the face-to-face classroom or in the online environment. When they do, it can be difficult to know how to handle them and what tools and resources are available to us. Fortunately, several guides have been produced by University units that focus on providing answers and suggestions:

  • Conduct Information for Faculty and Staff - An important collection of resources and information provided by the Office of Student Conduct
  • Responding to Student Behavior in the Classroom - Guidance and information regarding how you might manage conduct issues in your classes provided by the Design, Media, and Technology Subcommittee of the Penn State Online Coordinating Council in consultation with the Office of General Counsel and several University offices including: Student Conduct, OSC Committee for Looking at the Code from an Online Perspective, Student Care and Advocacy, Behavior Threat Management Team, and Penn State World Campus.
  • Classroom Disruption Protocols: Guidelines for Faculty and Academic Units - A set of recommended protocols for the management of classroom challenges as they increasingly present at Penn State and other colleges across the nation.

  • The Red Folder Initiative - The Red Folder is a quick reference guide for recognizing, responding to, and referring distressed students. A different Red Folder has been created for each Penn State campus to reflect the unique resources available to each location's community.

  • Classroom and Syllabus Guidelines for Instructors Related to COVID-19 - Evolving guidance from the University to help instructors maintain a safe classroom environment with COVID-19 requirements