Student Affairs Newsblog

Get to Know MTU’s Early Intervention Team

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What is the Early Intervention Team?

The Early Intervention Team, also known as EIT, is responsible for reviewing and screening potential at-risk students and critical situations. The Early Intervention Team uses evidence-based strategies to identify early indicators of potential risks and harms to self and others. Through their efforts, the team can help at-risk students before they experience crisis.

Who are Students of Concern?

Some examples of students of concern include, but are not limited to, students who:

  • show extreme change in behavior (from their typical baseline),
  • are dealing with the death of a family member or friend,
  • are alleged to have engaged in significant violations of the Student Code of Community Conduct or serious criminal behavior,
  • are victims of a crime, or
  • show cause or concern indicating potential harm to self or others.

How Do I Make a Report?

Anyone can report a student of concern to the Early Intervention Team in the following ways:

Call 911 or Public Safety for concerns of immediate threats.

What Happens When I Make a Report?

The Early Intervention Team, made up of professional staff from across campus, examines and evaluates the reported concern using an evidence-based risk rubric from the National Association for Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment (NABITA). Professional staff will engage with the student, following NABITA’s recommended intervention guidelines. EIT quickly evaluates students who are in danger of harming themselves or others. Additionally, the team often refers students to Michigan Tech and community services. After the initial evaluation, the team will discreetly monitor the student’s progress in multiple areas. EIT may contact individuals who report a student of concern for additional information. However, confidentiality often limits the type of information that EIT can relay back to the original reporter.

Who is on the Early Intervention Team?

  • Laura Putwen, assistant dean of community conduct (chair)
  • Alexandra Putwen, director, Residence Education
  • Anna McClatchy, assistant dean of student success and director, Waino Wahtera Center for Student Success
  • Brian Cadwell, director and chief of police, Public Safety and Police Services
  • Crystal McLeod, director, Center for Student Mental Health and Well-being
  • Christian Montesinos, director, International Programs and Services
  • Jodie Filpus-Paakola, Title IX coordinator
  • Kellie Raffaelli, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students
  • Laura Bulleit, vice president for student affairs
  • Tiffany Jaeger, manager of student outreach and retention

To learn how to identify students of concern, when it is appropriate to report, and more, you can request a presentation for your department or staff by emailing the Early Intervention Team at eit@mtu.edu.