Handling Classroom Disruption: General Guidance

The University of Pittsburgh acknowledges and promotes the principle that dialogue across difference is often essential to the educational process, the production of knowledge, and the development of civically engaged students. Students can, and often do, express their perspectives and views—including those that differ from the views of other students and their instructors—in ways that are appropriate and constructive in the context of established course goals, and which contribute to the learning environment.

There are also instances in which students may express their views in inappropriate ways which violate established norms of productive discussion and classroom engagement, or which introduce topics not immediately relevant to stated course goals. Most of these instances may be addressed through a range of effective pedagogical strategies, such as an instructors’ redirection of discussion toward course goals, a reminder of a course’s established norms of productive discussion and classroom engagement, a brief pause of a class activity for everyone to take a breath before resuming with lowered tensions, etc. In most cases it is advisable to adopt these strategies when possible and appropriate.  

The scenarios below, developed in collaboration with the University Senate, are intended to provide guidance for instructors in the event that a situation disrupts a classroom so significantly that swift and specific action must be taken, or if there is an act of violence or a threat of imminent harm.  However, many situations do not rise to this level and may instead be constructive learning opportunities. It is up to the instructor to determine whether activities or incidents are interfering with classroom learning.

Regardless of the most effective tactic for immediately resolving the incident, any incident involving potential bias, discrimination or harassment should be reported to the Office of Civil Rights. Reporting the incident ensures that any policy violations can be reviewed, addressed and resolved, and that impacted students can receive supportive resources.

In general, these strategies can be helpful across a variety of courses:

• Prior to any specific activity or incident:
  To foster discourse and learning, it can be helpful for instructors to set expectations regarding course goals and dialogue in the classroom and norms of productive discussion and classroom engagement, and to endeavor to cultivate student-student, student-content, and student-instructor connections.
  
  The Teaching in a Time of Conflict resource from the University Center for Teaching and Learning provides additional information for instructors and the Teaching Center can be consulted on how to plan for approaching disruption.
   
• During an activity or incident:
  Take inventory before acting. Ask: Is the expression connected to the course content? Will it provide opportunities for constructive dialogue or discourse?  If so, attempt to use the incident as a teaching moment, assuming there is no immediate threat of harm.
   
• After an activity or incident:
  Check in with students. Work with students to develop a plan for moving forward, if appropriate. Ensure students are aware of support resources. In incidents where students feel they have experienced discrimination or harassment, they should be directed to the Pitt Concern Connection and the University’s Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, where they can report the incident and receive support resources as necessary.
  
  Depending on the incident, it may be appropriate for the instructor to touch base with the department chair, or relevant departmental/program leader(s), to share information about the specific issue or needs for support.

Scenarios related to classroom disruptions.

1. A demonstration starts in a classroom and disrupts learning (e.g., students chanting or shouting). 
   • How should the instructor respond?
     • Tell the demonstrating students that Pitt has a policy about the time, place, and manner of demonstration and protests, and that “No demonstration shall obstruct or disrupt activity related to the University’s educational process, including, but not limited to, activity occurring in classrooms.” (Full guidelines here – link to revised demonstration guidelines on free speech site.)
     • If such a statement does not result in change, inform the involved student(s) that they are not acting in accordance with Pitt’s policy and ask them to leave.
     • If student(s) do leave, it could be useful to inform your department chair or appropriate administrator, Student Conduct and Public Safety of the incident for their awareness.
     • If there is no movement to leave and the disruption continues, a decision of whether to continue class should be made by the instructor, see below for additional information. 
     • Following the incident, instructors may wish to check in with their students, as described above.
   • At what point should the instructor cancel class?
     • If it is impossible to hold class due to noise or similar concerns, class should be dismissed, and the instructor should determine an appropriate method to make up missed course material.
     • If the situation is escalating, such as a potential confrontation, act of violence or a threat of imminent harm, Public Safety should be advised prior, or at least simultaneously to, the instructor’s decision to adjourn. Instructors should note that panic buttons are available in almost all classrooms.
     • A description of the activity or incident that prompted class cancellation should be shared with your department chair or appropriate administrator.
   • Should there be a Student Code of Conduct referral?
     • If the student(s) involved in the situation are identifiable, and if they are disrupting the opportunity for others to learn and refusing to cease the activity, then they should be referred. If a conduct hearing occurs, the instructor may be asked to participate in the hearing process.
     • If the student(s) involved in the situation are not identifiable, it is still useful to make a referral so that the Student Conduct team can be aware of incidents that occur within the Pitt community.
     • Consulting is always available to instructors by contacting deanofstudents@pitt.edu.
   • What if it involves someone who is not registered for the class?
     • The individual should be asked to depart. The individual (whether a Pitt affiliate or not) does not belong in the class, since classes are generally open only to enrolled students. The instructor should alert Public Safety simultaneously or first before attempting to dismiss the individual.
2. A protest is happening outside the classroom and is interfering with the learning environment.
   • How should the instructor respond?
     • As a reminder, if the protest is not disrupting the learning environment, class can continue. If the protest is significant enough that it is interrupting the learning environment, Public Safety should be alerted. The instructor can say that they are reaching out for guidance and attempt to continue the class. Public Safety can then arrive, assess and address the situation. The instructor should not attempt to interact with protesters outside the classroom.
   • At what point should the faculty member cancel class?
     • If it is impossible to hold class due to noise or similar concerns, class should be dismissed, and the instructor should determine an appropriate method to make up missed course material.
     • If there is a safety concern due to the protest outside the classroom, the instructor may dismiss class but give students the option to stay in the classroom until the protest has been cleared.
   • Should there be a Student Code of Conduct referral?
     • If the student(s) involved in the situation are identifiable, and if they are disrupting the opportunity for others to learn and refusing to cease the activity, then they should be referred. If a conduct hearing occurs, the instructor may be asked to participate in the hearing process.
     • If the student(s) involved in the situation are not identifiable, it is still useful to make a referral so that the Student Conduct team can be aware of incidents that occur within the Pitt community.
     • Consulting is always available to instructors by contacting deanofstudents@pitt.edu.

Reminders for faculty and instructors:

• Public Safety should be called when there is a threat of imminent harm or there has been an act of violence. In those situations, instructors should note that panic buttons are available in almost all classrooms. A video explains the use of the panic buttons.
• For various reasons, University facilities or emergency officials may have to temporarily close buildings. In the event of a building closure, notifications may be communicated through email, building signage, on Public Safety and University social media channels, or through other methods as time and circumstances permit. Pitt community members can subscribe for alerts.
• You should always keep your Pitt ID card on your person, as buildings and campus spaces may require a Pitt ID to enter in the event a building restriction is of the type that you are required to show an ID card to enter.