2007 - 2008 Student Handbook

HEALTH OR PSYCHOLOGICAL EMERGENCIES
 

When a student’s health or psychological status results in behavior or a condition that poses a serious threat of imminent danger or injury to self or others, a threat of serious disruption to the educational process, or a threat of significant destruction of property, the College will take prompt action to protect the student and the community. The following steps may be taken:

1. The student may be required to consult with personnel from the College’s Counseling Center or Student Health Center, or Campus Security or other qualified provider approved by the Dean of Student Affairs to assess the seriousness and immediacy of the threat and to attempt to resolve the emergency situation.  The provider conducting this intervention shall make recommendations to the Dean of Student Affairs.

2. If the emergency situation persists or if the provider conducting the intervention described in Paragraph 1 so advises, the Dean of Student Affairs or person designated by the Dean of Student Affairs may contact parents or guardians who will be instructed that the student must leave campus until a determination is made that it is safe for the student to return.  If consultation with parents is not possible, referral for emergency medical or psychological services will be made.

3. In order to return to campus following a health and/or psychological emergency as described above, the student may be required to communicate with personnel from the College’s Counseling Services or Student Health Center (as specified by the Dean of Student Affairs), or another qualified provider approved by the Dean of Student Affairs. The purpose of this meeting is to ascertain whether the student is able to meet the demands of college enrollment and is fit to continue as a member of the college community. The student may be required to sign a release permitting the College counselor, nurse, physician, or Dean of Student Affairs to consult with any relevant health care providers who have served the student subsequent to and in connection with the emergency incident. The student may be required to present documentation from other relevant health care providers who treated the student subsequent to and in connection with the emergency incident.

4. The personnel from Counseling Services or Health Services or other qualified provider approved by the Dean of Student Affairs may recommend to the Dean of Student Affairs or designee whether the student will be permitted to return to campus and what conditions (e.g., continued treatment) the student is required to meet in order to maintain enrollment.

5. The Dean of Student Affairs or designee will determine whether the student may return to campus unconditionally, whether the student may return to campus with conditions, or that mandatory withdrawal is warranted in order to protect the well-being of the student an/or community.  The student will be notified of this determination in writing.

6. The student has the opportunity to appeal the decision of the Dean of Student Affairs or designee to the President of the College within 2 days of the receipt of the written notice of mandatory withdrawal. The appeal should be in the form of a letter. To resolve the appeal, the President may appoint a special advisory committee to conduct an informal hearing with the student, family, and counseling or health care providers.  The Advisory Committee will make a recommendation to the President on the merits of the appeal.  The President shall issue a final, unappealable decision as to whether the student may return to campus unconditionally, whether the student may return to campus with conditions, or that mandatory withdrawal is warranted in order to protect the well-being of the student an/or community.

7. To be readmitted following a mandatory health or psychological withdrawal, the student must receive approval from the Dean of Student Affairs. The Dean of Student Affairs may consult with the student, his/her health care providers, and College health care or counseling personnel to determine whether the student is able to meet the demands of the College environment.

The procedures listed above do not preclude sanctions in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct or other College policy.