SOCAT

Overview

The Students of Concern Assistance Team (SOCAT) serves as the university's Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) — an interdisciplinary group of professionals that reviews reports of students exhibiting concerning, disruptive, or distressed behaviors that may impact their well-being or the campus community. 

SOCAT assesses referrals, evaluates potential risks, and collaborates with Student Outreach & Support (SOS) and other campus partners to develop coordinated intervention and support strategies. The team also monitors patterns of concerning behavior, identifies emerging trends, and works proactively to promote student success, safety, and well-being across the university community.

Mission

SOCAT continuously assess, analyzes, monitors, and responds to the behavioral concerns of students in an effort to ensure individual and campus-wide safety.

Vision

SOCAT is concerned with the wellbeing of all students and is committed to creating an environment that is safe for learning and development.

What SOCAT does

  • Makes recommendations to USF officials on appropriate action consistent with University policies and procedures.
  • Coordinates the campus response to distressing, disruptive, or potentially harmful student situations.
  • Collaborate with campus partners to develop specific strategies to manage distressing, disruptive, or potentially harmful student behavior with regard to the safety and rights of others.
  • Minimizes the impact of disruptive behavior on the community.
  • Shares educational need-to-know information with campus partners to ensure continuity of support for a student-in-need of support.

SOCAT is an interdisciplinary committee made up of membership representation from across the USF community. 

SOCAT Membership

Core Departments
Dean of Students
Counseling Center
Student Health Services
Student Outreach & Support
Student Conduct and Ethical Development
University Police

Housing and Residential Education
Graduate Studies

Student Accessibility Services

Undergraduate Studies

The following departments consult with SOCAT as needed:

    • Title IX
    • Office of Veteran Success
    • Academic Affairs
    • USF World 
    • Center for Victim Advocacy & Violence Prevention
    • Athletics

Each USF campus has its own SOCAT committee that seeks to determine the level of concern and intensity of intervention needed to best assist each referred student.