Some organizations have formed crisis management teams comprised of both hourly workers and supervisors to conduct risk assessments, develop action plans, and perform crisis interventions. Reports from Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois acknowledged that some students, staff, and faculty did not want to return to the buildings where the violence occurred. Consider the following scenario: As your professor is passing back an exam paper, the person across the aisle from you crumbles her exam before she throws it at him, runs toward the door, and screams, “That was the worst exam I've ever had. I could kick your butt!” as she storms from the room.

a. Are you concerned that this might be a crisis situation—akin to an employee going “postal” in the workplace—waiting to happen? If so, what would you do? Why?

b. Should the university have a policy that would prohibit this student from returning to class? Why or why not?

c. Review your student handbook or code of conduct. Does your school have a policy and POA (plan of action) to cover incidents like this one? If so, do you think it is adequate to cover incidents like this one? If not, what recommendation would you make to improve the policy?

d. If your school does not have a policy to cover incidents like this, your mission is to develop a strategy to ensure that one is in place within the next three months. What plans would you develop to accomplish this assignment?