Published on: January 5, 2026
A NABITA Tip of the Week by Aaron Austin, Ed.D., M.Ed.
When discussing campus Behavioral Intervention Teams (BITs), we often think of departments like Student Affairs, Counseling Services, Campus Safety/Police, and Academic Affairs. However, if your institution has residential housing, then Housing/Residence Life should be on your BIT.
While the exact structure of a BIT varies depending on an institution’s size and needs, housing should form a foundational part of most teams. It should be an inner circle member at a minimum and considered for core membership when a large percentage of students live on campus. According to NABITA’s 2024 State of the Field Survey, 81.2% of respondents at predominantly residential schools have housing and residence life represented on their core or inner team.
As a former Residence Life professional, I can assure you that many concerns on the BIT’s radar emerge or escalate in residence halls. Their perspective is crucial for assessing risks and coordinating effective interventions. Housing staff have a deep, fluid relationship with the BIT because they often live and work closely with students, making them valuable sources of behavioral data and natural partners in interventions.
Here’s why this interdependent relationship is essential and why housing professionals must understand their critical role in BIT operations.
A Two-Way Street
Residence life often serves as the front line of student support, observation, and early intervention. Students confide in their resident assistants (RAs). Roommates report concerns. Staff members notice when a student hasn’t left their room for days or has stopped going to the dining hall. This proximity to students enables housing staff to continually gather behavioral data and make referrals to the BIT, which is crucial for BITs to make informed, accurate risk assessments and to deliver timely interventions.
Effective information exchange is a two-way street. Housing staff should not be viewed merely as a source of data for the BIT; they also require timely updates, context, and actionable steps from the BIT, especially when tasked with implementing intervention plans or serving in an on-call capacity. On-call staff can use information from a BIT to gain context and respond more effectively to after-hours incidents. Information may include the student’s current interventions, the name of their case manager, or any other referrals received. Two-way communication improves student support by fostering deeper conversations, enabling ongoing data collection, and ensuring meaningful interventions.
For example, a student might raise concerns with an academic advisor, prompting a BIT referral. If that student lives on campus, it’s vital to loop in housing staff. They can observe the student’s day-to-day behavior and provide on-the-ground support. What is their RA seeing? What support systems are already in place? Are current interventions making an impact? By fostering open, two-way communication, housing and BIT can work in tandem to provide holistic support, ensuring students receive the care and attention they need.
Housing Staff, Know the Value You Bring
We cannot overstate this: housing professionals should recognize and embrace the value they bring to the BIT. Too often, we see BITs where housing is represented by someone far removed from day-to-day student interactions, usually the Director of Housing or the Dean of Students, who has housing within their supervisory responsibilities. They may technically oversee housing, but they don’t know who is skipping class because of a tough breakup or who hasn’t left their room in a week.
Ideally, the BIT’s housing representative is embedded in the “residence life” area of the housing operation, with a clear line of communication to staff who know students by name. That proximity allows for context, nuance, and specificity, which is exactly the kind of detail that helps BITs assess risk accurately and respond effectively.
Role in NABITA’s Three Stages
NABITA’s Standards for BITs identify three stages of support: gather information, assess risk, and implement interventions. Housing plays a role in all three stages.
- Gather Data: This is where housing shines. From conduct reports to RA observations to access to information (e.g., meal plans or laundry usage), housing is a treasure trove of insights.
- Assess Risk: Housing offers a unique perspective in BIT meetings. They can help weigh in on observable behaviors and assess risk alongside the rest of the team.
- Deploy Interventions: A BIT doesn’t exist to “fix” problems. It assesses risk and coordinates the most appropriate interventions, which often involve housing staff to initiate or activate them.
Understanding the Feedback Mechanism
All levels of the housing staff must understand the cooperative relationship they have with the BIT. Put simply, when housing submits a referral to the BIT, it shouldn’t always be thought of as a handoff. Often, it serves as an alert or a means to initiate the feedback mechanism within the institution. It lets the team know what has been observed.
When the relationship and processes aren’t explained, we often hear…
- “I referred the student to the BIT. Why am I being asked to follow up?”
That’s how integrated teams function. A BIT’s job is to ensure holistic safety and well-being. The follow-up may need to come from the housing representative, especially if they have the necessary student relationship or proximity required for a successful outcome.
- “This isn’t a BIT issue. It’s a housing matter.”
A common mistake is underestimating an issue and deciding it doesn’t need a BIT referral. The NABITA Risk Rubric provides an objective, consistent method for assessing risks, thereby minimizing bias. Even a simple housing issue can have broader implications, especially if mental health is involved. Don’t assume a problem is too small. Let the BIT decide.
Empowering Housing to Ask Questions and Act
A well-designed, effective BIT empowers housing staff not only to participate but also to understand how their work fits into the larger student support ecosystem. This means offering clear insight into how the BIT operates, the steps involved in risk assessment, and what happens after a referral is submitted. It also means preparing housing staff to re-engage when needed, whether to provide additional context, gather follow-up information, offer recommendations, or assist in implementing supportive interventions.
When housing staff fully understand this process, they become more confident and proactive in collaborating with the BIT. That confidence is critical to achieving better outcomes for students, particularly those facing complex or distressing situations.
Putting These Lessons Into Practice
Housing professionals, consider this: Do you know what happens after a BIT referral is submitted? Who from your team attends BIT meetings? Are they connected enough to student life to make an impact?
If your institution offers on-campus housing but it’s not represented on your BIT, it’s time to consider that gap. We often see this with newer teams or with teams that recognize substantial room for improvement, particularly those with housing departments that do not serve on their team. If you’re redesigning or refreshing your team, consider how you can give housing a seat at the table.
Collaboration is key. By working together, you can create a stronger, more unified support system for your entire campus community.
Want to strengthen the relationship between housing and your BIT? Schedule a consultation with the experts at TNG, NABITA’s parent consulting firm. We can help you build high-functioning teams that make a difference. Reach out to us at inquiry@tngconsulting.com.