Involuntary Withdrawal for Health or Safety Reasons

 

A student who poses a significant risk to the health or safety of him/herself or others, or substantially impedes educational process or activity for apparent medical, psychological, or behavioral reasons may be subjected to involuntary health or safety withdrawal by the College.

 

Criteria for Involuntary Health or Safety Withdrawal

A student will be subject to involuntary health or safety withdrawal if the student:

 

• poses a significant risk to the health or safety of him/herself or others; or
• substantially impedes educational process or activity for apparent medical, psychological, or behavioral reasons.

 

A student should not be subject to involuntary health or safety withdrawal under these procedures when judicial, academic or other responses are available and the student’s circumstances can best be addressed through those responses. When possible and appropriate, efforts should be made to persuade a student to withdraw voluntarily under applicable procedures with conditions for readmission before initiating the involuntary health or safety withdrawal process.

 

Interim Involuntary Health or Safety Withdrawal

If health or safety is an immediate concern, the College may take interim action to protect the well-being of the student and/or other members of the community. By interim involuntary health or safety withdrawal, the College may remove a student from any or all College premises when the Dean of Students (or his/her designee), after considering reasonably available information determines in his/her judgment that a threat of significant risk to self or others exists. Interim involuntary health or safety withdrawal is a preliminary action taken to protect the health and safety of the student withdrawn, or of others, and is not a penalty. Students subject to interim involuntary health or safety withdrawal immediately proceed to the involuntary health or safety withdrawal process.

 

Behavioral Assessment and Response Team

The College has established the Behavioral Assessment and Response Team (“BART”) whose duties include assisting in evaluating whether students meet the criteria for involuntary health or safety withdrawal. BART includes representatives from the Office of the Dean of Students, Health Services, Psychological Counseling Services, Residential Education and Housing, Campus Police, and Academic Affairs. Other members may be added at the discretion of the Vice President for Student Affairs or his/her designee. The members of the team to review a particular case will depend upon the specific circumstances; however, an appropriate health professional and representatives of the Office of the Dean of Students and Academic Affairs must participate in any review.

 

Involuntary Health or Safety Withdrawal Process

Any member of the College community who has reason to believe that a student may meet the criteria for involuntary health or safety withdrawal may contact the Dean of Students or his/her designee to request an informal review. Upon review, the Dean of Students or his/her designee may recommend that a student be withdrawn for health or safety reasons under the criteria set forth above. If the student does not agree to withdraw voluntarily, the Dean of Students or his/her designee will consult with BART, which will complete review of the recommendation within five (5) working days of receipt.

 

Prior to review of the recommendation for involuntary health or safety withdrawal by BART, the student will ordinarily be required to undergo a medical and/or psychological evaluation at the College’s expense by a health professional designated by the College. The evaluation will be provided to BART and other administrators involved under this policy and the student will sign any releases deemed necessary. A student who refuses to undergo an evaluation or to provide any release of requested information for BART consideration may be subject to interim involuntary health or safety withdrawal and/or disciplinary action.

 

If consultation with BART supports the decision to withdraw the student, the student may voluntarily withdraw by the deadline communicated to the student or the College will involuntarily withdraw the student. Conditions for readmission will be specified in writing.

 

During the Involuntary Health or Safety Withdrawal process, a representative of the College may contact the student’s parents or legal guardians, if deemed appropriate.

 

Appeal of Involuntary Health or Safety Withdrawal

A student who is involuntarily withdrawn under this policy may submit a written request to the Vice President for Student Affairs for an informal proceeding to review the decision. To be timely, any such appeal must be received by the Vice President for Student Affairs within three (3) business days of the notification of the Dean of Students or his/her designee to involuntarily withdraw the student. The student may request that the Office of Records & Registration notify his/her instructors of his/her absence from classes.

 

The Vice President for Student Affairs or his/her designee shall conduct the informal proceeding within seven (7) working days of receipt of the written appeal. The student will be provided with all the following:

 

• the opportunity to review any psychological or medical evaluations relied upon by the Dean of Students or his/her designee;
• a written statement providing a detailed explanation of the reasons for involuntary health or safety withdrawal and the information relied upon; and
• the opportunity to be assisted by an appropriate advisor, which may include a parent/legal guardian, a health professional of the student’s choice, or legal counsel.

 

At the conclusion of the informal proceeding, the Vice President for Student Affairs or his/her designee shall determine whether to (a) uphold the withdrawal; (b) reinstate the student; or (c) reinstate the student subject to specified conditions that may include, without limitation, participation in an ongoing treatment program, acceptance of and compliance with a behavioral contract, a housing relocation, reduced course load or any combination thereof. The Vice President for Student Affairs or his/her designee may also modify the conditions of readmission. The decision of the Vice President for Student Affairs or his/her designee shall be final.

 

Readmission

A student who has been withdrawn under this procedure (voluntarily or involuntarily) and who wishes to be considered for readmission must contact the Dean of Students or his/her designee and provide appropriate documentation to comply with the conditions of readmission.

 

The Dean of Students or his/her designee will review the request for readmission as follows:

 

• review and investigate compliance with the conditions of readmission;
• consult with appropriate members of the Behavioral Assessment and Response Team; and
• meet with the student.

 

The Dean of Students or his/her designee will recommend to the Office of Admissions whether, in the judgment of the Dean of Students or his/her designee, the student should be readmitted. The Office of Admissions will make the final decision regarding readmission.

 

Passed by Board of Trustees:  July 8, 2008