When Egos Collide: Managing partnerships between Campus Police Departments,

Residence Life Professionals, and Counseling Centers

Private, Faith-Based 4-year Institution

4,800 Undergraduate Students

Approximately 2200 Residential Students

Average 24 ACT, relatively expensive institution

The Counseling Center, ACU Police Department, and Department of Residence Life Education and Housing reside within the Division of Student Affairs.

The Counseling Center

• Our mission is to facilitate personal growth through a holistic approach that enhances emotional and relational well-being, through guidance, education, and wise counsel to the ACU community while promoting a spirit of respect and integrity in partnership with the mission of Abilene Christian University

• 6 Full-Time counselors, 1 admin., and 5 clinical students

• We average about 4000 scheduled appointment a year and see an average of 425 students a year.

• Depression and Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorders, Adjustment Issues, Eating Disorders, Relational Issues, Addictions, Suicide

ACU Police Department

• ACUPD is a full service, fully functional campus law enforcement agency providing 24/7/365 professional police services to the ACU campus, community, and ACU area residents.

• ACUPD officers are all fully licensed, certified and commissioned State of Texas Peace Officers under applicable Texas statutes.

• A total of 26 employees, including: Chief of Police, Administrative Lieutenant, 2 Shift Supervisory Sergeants, 1 Criminal Investigator, 11 Patrol Officers.

• ACUPD responds to an average of 5,000 calls for service each year. Calls range from routine service oriented calls such as building access issues, motorist assists (jump-starts, vehicle unlocks), and also include traditional police calls dealing with a broad range of criminal offenses ranging from theft, burglary, credit card fraud, assault, sexual assault, automobile accidents, etc.

Residence Life Education & Housing

Residence Life Education & Housing

• The mission of RLEH is to support ACU’s mission by offering intentional, Christ-centered living and learning communities that provide opportunities for student learning, student success, and authentic relationships in excellent residential facilities.

• Approximately 2200 residential students

• 10 Full-Time Residence Life employees

• Bachelors minimum, most hold Masters Degrees in psychology, education, organizational conflict resolution, HR, etc.

• Majority under the age of 30

• Tasked with community development, incident response, student success, clean facilities, etc.

• The mission of RLEH is to support ACU’s mission by offering intentional, Christ-centered living and learning communities that provide opportunities for student learning, student success, and authentic relationships in excellent residential facilities.

• Approximately 2200 residential students

• 10 Full-Time Residence Life employees

• Bachelors minimum, most hold Masters Degrees in psychology, education, organizational conflict resolution, HR, etc.

• Majority under the age of 30

• Tasked with community development, incident response, student success, clean facilities, etc.

Medicated

Sexually AbusedOnly Child Entitled

Religious Identity

ValedictorianSexual Identity

Athlete

Insecure Mental HealthSelf-Harm

Academically Underprepared

Genius

Financially StrugglingFamily Pressures

Big DreamsScared

Hopeful

Excited

1st Gen.

Their Life Before College

Mental Health

Abuse CyclesRoommatesSpiritual Identity

AddictionFamily Support

Time ManagementInsecure

Overwhelmed

Self-HarmAcademic Challenges

Diversity

Broke Relationship Cycles

Big DreamsScared

Excited

Sexual Identity

Their Life In College

And They All Live Here

•Who is in charge here?

We represent three distinctive professional departments, all requiring different professional qualifications, different (and at times competing) missions, years of experience, etc.

We are tasked with the well-being of the campus, often times responding to campus during and after hours, including on-site crisis intervention.

Culture of Communication & Connection

Campus Partnerships

Group Discussion:

Exploring Campus Partnerships

The Naked Worshiper

Case Study #1

How we handled this situation on our campus

What are barriers on your campus that would have made this challenging?

Psychosis on the way out...and then back

in... Case Study #2

How we handled this situation on our campus

What are barriers on your campus that would have made this challenging?

Managing the Ego Collision

Recognition that this conflict is inevitable: Not a confrontation free-environment

Managing through collegiality and relationships

Hall Adoption Program

The Simple Power of the Meal

Balancing the care of community (i.e. family, faith-components, reputation and mission ) with the legal/duty of care responsibilities towards the student / individual rights

SOC / SOS

Residence Life Educational Programming

ACU PD + Abilene PD partnerships.

Take Away’s Culture of Being Pro-active

Processes for Response

Culture of Communication

Don’t forget the Hugs and Kisses

Culture of Positive validation / personal and professional respect

Importance of the Post-Event Debrief

Tendency to group organizational structures financially as opposed to programatically

Ability to balance self-deprecation vs. professional standing (Willingness to be collegial and professional ~MASH Unit)

Questions

Group Discussion

Questions

Institutional Specific Scenarios