Violence Prevention and Response Procedures

The procedure for dealing with incidents of violence at Bergen is as follows:

Minor incidents such as argument, verbal assault, use of profanity or any incident short of physical confrontation are primarily handled through referral from faculty or Public Safety officers to the Vice President of Student Services. The follow-up to such incidents may involve referral to the Counseling Center or a community agency (which provides anger management, psychiatric or medical screening). In those incidents where a student has been previously sanctioned for disruptive behavior, the student may be placed on disciplinary probation or suspension. Serious incidents involving sexual harassment, physical violence or destruction of property are immediately referred to Public Safety. In those instances where there is evidence of imminent danger, Public Safety will contact the Paramus Police Department for assistance.

Counseling Center

Counselors at the Counseling Center are available for walk-in, appointments, and crisis intervention. The Center offers workshops including those on anger management, conflict resolution, stress management, and healthy relationship building.

Programs have been presented on topics including date rape, teaching respect, ethics and tolerance. Support groups have been offered for students.

The College has relationships with community resources such as the Bergen Regional Medical Center, Alternatives to Domestic Violence, and the Bergen Rape Crisis Center.

Wellness Center

The Wellness Center offers a program on stress reduction and violence prevention. The Wellness Center sponsors an annual anti-violence awareness day known nationally as "Take back the Night" which features discussions, panels, and guest speakers. Participants include representatives from the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Shelter Our Sisters, Alternatives to Domestic Violence, and the Bergen County Rape Crisis Center.

The Office of Specialized Services, serving students with disabilities, also provides special support to intervene with students who experience the need for support and intervention with learning problems and issues related to inappropriate or disruptive behaviors in the classroom