Campus Safety and Emergency Management
Campus Safety and Emergency Management / Behavioral Evaluation and Threat Assessment (BETA)

Behavioral Evaluation and Threat Assessment (BETA)

If you need to report a threat, please contact Campus Safety
Salem: 503-370-6911; Portland: 503-621-2061

What is Threat Assessment?

Threats are communications or indications of intent to harm others or disrupt the safety and security of a campus. Threats can be communicated directly to intended individuals or indirectly through third parties. They may also be expressed in private or public statements, such as in journals or on social media.

The Threat Assessment process is designed to identify and address threatening or concerning behaviors before they lead to harm.

The threat assessment process focuses on actions, communications, and specific circumstances that might suggest that an individual intends to engage in violence and is preparing for that event.

Willamette’s Behavioral Evaluation and Threat Assessment process is an extension of the University CARE response as it relates to students. The BETA Team should be notified when a concerning report or threat is received.

Reporting Behavioral Incidents or Threats

We depend on the campus community to report information about behaviors and incidents that may put the safety of members of the community at risk.

Any immediate threat to safety contact 911 or Campus Safety
Salem: 503-370-6911; Portland: 503-621-2061

To report a non-emergency threat:

  1. Submit a community concern / incident report; or
  2. Contact the Office of Student Affairs: Salem / Portland: 503-370-6447.

When to Report

General well-being or academic concerns that are not threatening should be reported via the CARE report.

Behaviors that should be reported to BETA include but are not limited to:

  • Threats of harming others or the community
  • Threatening words or actions toward faculty, students, staff or university operations
  • Social media posts or journals that are threatening or concerning
  • Extreme aggression toward others
  • Written or verbal statements that convey intentions to harm self or others
  • Knowledge of an individual(s) possessing a weapon(s) on campus

BETA Team

Members of the Threat Assessment Team includes:

  • The Office of Student Affairs
  • Campus Safety and Emergency Management 
  • Bishop Wellness Center
  • Provost Office
  • Residence Life and Housing
  • Risk Management
  • Human Resources

Other university members may be included depending on the report.

BETA Team Responsibilities

  1. Consultwith members of the Willamette community about concerning behaviors, perceived threats, or disruptions of university operations.
  2. Review and maintain records of reported concerns that may be harmful and/or disruptive to the Willamette community.
  3. Perform assessment of riskand develop a support plan, within existing university policies and resources, to mitigate risk and support individuals impacted
  4. Provide follow-up and recommendations, to assist with managing potentially harmful or disruptive behavior.
  5. Educate the Willamette community on the Behavior Evaluation and Threat Assessment (BETA) process and how to identify and report behaviors of concern.

Approach to Behavioral Evaluation and Threat Assessment

The team uses the Salem-Keizer Threat Assessment System for each threat assessment. This approach uses a set of protocols and safety planning procedures assisted by the Marion County Threat Advisory Team, a collaborative team of schools, law enforcement, public mental health, the judiciary and juvenile corrections to promote safe school environments.