Threat Assessment Team (TAT) Mission Statement

The Threat Assessment Team is dedicated to a proactive, coordinated and planned approach to the identification, prevention, assessment, management and reduction of interpersonal and behavioral threats to the safety and wellbeing of Metropolitan Campus students, faculty, staff and visitors.

Goals/Objectives:

The Team meets regularly to discuss issues relating to violence, security and potential threats directed at students, faculty and staff at the Metropolitan Campus.  The TAT has adopted a “Systems Analysis” working model involving increased awareness, measurement, prioritization, needs assessment, causal evaluation, target hardening and early intervention.  It is a proactive, coordinated and planned approach to deal with the complexities and volatility of violence & threats.  Key objectives of the TAT are to identify, assess, manage, reduce and educate faculty, staff and students to the risk of interpersonal violence.

TAT Members:

Joe Kiernan (Provost), Rich Panicucci (Assistant Provost), Dave Miles (Director of  Public Safety), Dr. Jim Kenny (School of Criminal Justice), Cathy Love (Director, Career Development Center), Dr. Judith Kauffman (School of Psychology), Joan Leder (Petrocelli College), Kathy Azzaro (Psychological Counselor/Substance Abuse Education), Michele McCroy Heins (Dean of Students),  David Langford (Director of Athletics), Dr. Alice Mills (Co-Director Student Counseling and Psychological Services), Rachel Friend (Director, Center for Academic Student Services), Rose D’Ambrosio (University Director, Human Resources), Gail Lemaire (University Risk Manager), Ann DeMeskey (Director of Human Resources Administrator), Olivia Whitman (Assistant Director International Student Services), Stephanie Ulrich (Director Psychological Services).

TAT Committees:

Four committees have been created to meet regularly and address issues prioritized by the TAT.  Each is chaired by a TAT member who reports on committee activities during the TAT meeting.  The Alcohol Prevention Committee (Co-Chairs: Kathy Azzaro, Stephanie Ulrich) is recommending strategies that address factors relating to alcohol abuse and societal/campus culture and socialization.  The Relational Violence Committee (Chair: Joan Leder) is acting on problems relating to sexual assault, dating violence & stalking.  The Threatening Behaviors Committee (Co-Chairs: Rachel Friend, Olivia Whitman) is developing programs dealing with Threat Education, cultural awareness/global partners & violence and threat management training.  The Mental Health Committee (Chair: Alice Mills) is developing educational programs and distributing information on trends in campus mental health.

Accomplishments of TAT & Committees

• Created a forum to regularly discuss developing threats and interventions that affect students, faculty and staff at the Metropolitan Campus.
• Developed and distributed Threat Response Protocol.
• Sponsored Safe Spring Break Party.
• Provided funding and contributed to Thrive 365 Wellness Fair.
• Secured a grant from Target Stores for Relational Violence Committee initiatives to design, produce and distribute Survival Guides.
• Developed and distributed Relational Violence Survival Guide.  This provides information and contact numbers for stalking, sexual assault and dating violence.
• Provided funding and support for the Yellow Dress Presentation.  This program addressed sexual assault issues.
• Recommended the hiring of the FDU Substance Abuse Counselor.
• Supplied funding and planning support for Lollanobooza.  This is an event that promotes alcohol- free fun for students, faculty, staff & families while pulling together different groups of the college community via a country-fair-like atmosphere with food, music, games, booths, activities & prizes.
• Purchased and installed pamphlet holders in public rest rooms to educate the campus community on key issues relating safety issues and personal wellness.
• Purchased and distributed information on dating violence, date rape, and the warning signs of abusive relationships.
• Conducted focus groups on attitudes toward dating violence.
• Developed a Grant Proposal to secure funding from the U.S. Dept. of Justice to Prevent Violence to Women on Campus.
• Researching issues relating to sexual assault: the extent, attitudes, getting victims to seek help, causal factors, high risk victims & offenders.
• Brainstormed & prioritized key causal FDU factors relating to alcohol abuse.
• Collected statistical information on national & FDU alcohol use & student attitudes.
• Developed anti-alcohol education that was presented to students, organizations and campus leaders.
• Distributed anti-alcohol information.
• Conducted focus group interviews with student groups relating to alcohol use.
• Purchased and installed alcohol awareness posters and glass enclosed bulletin boards.
• Created and distributed a faculty survey involving aggressive classroom behaviors and support needs.  The data will be used to develop training for new faculty & adjuncts.
• Supported & coordinated interventions involving high risk individuals.
• Provided funding for Mental Health Programs.
• Purchased books, pamphlets and other education materials regarding stress, family issues and student wellness.
• Supported development of awareness/programs involving cultural perceptions & violence and alliance building.
• Recommended installation of stops in Northpointe windows so windows could be opened only 6-8 inches.
• Established partnerships and project coordination with criminal justice, mental health, sexual assault, domestic violence agencies/professionals in the university community.
• Recommended extended hours for the cantina in Knight Club.
• Made recommendations to Human Resources involving violence, threats and domestic violence training.  Submitted contributions to the Workplace Violence WEB Course.
• Supplied funding for T-Shirts for Safe Spring Break Event.
• Sponsored counselor to attend training for National Organization for Victims’ Assistance Seminar.
• Developed and distributed Sexual Assault Assessment Survey.
• Established Global Partners Peer Mentoring Program.
• Created and distributed Respect Zone poster.
• Purchased dating violence & sexual assault videos and established a video library available to faculty, staff and students.
• Duplicated and distributed brochures on stalking, domestic violence, sexual assault and recovery.
• Promoted and supported: “Take Back the Night”
• Developed partnerships with professional, educational institutions throughout the State of New Jersey.
• Developed a handout for students: “How to Help a Distressed Friend”.
• Distributed the pamphlets: “How to Approach a Professor for Help” and “How to Refer a Distressed Student” (for faculty and staff).
• Purchased and distributed: “College of the Overwhelmed: The Campus Mental Health Crisis and What to Do About It”.