Medical withdrawal may be an appropriate response to a sudden and catastrophic medical condition or accident that prevents a student from completing the quarter’s work. The medical withdrawal policy is not intended to apply in situations of chronic or ongoing medical, emotional, or psychological distress. To the extent that University policy applies in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, a student with a chronic or ongoing medical, emotional, or psychological condition may apply to the Coordinator of Disability Services for an appropriate accommodation, which may or may not include complete withdrawal from school.
Students granted medical withdrawal may return to class at the beginning of the term following the date on which their health care provider certifies their readiness for the academic environment. Health care providers may also stipulate conditions under which re-enrollment will be permitted; the student must meet such conditions and any continuing conditions set by a health care provider. The Vice President for Student Affairs will review the documentation of readiness for classes with either the Director of Counseling, Director of Health Services, or the Disabilities Services Coordinator, which ever is appropriate, and a decision will be made whether or not to allow registration.
An emergency administrative withdrawal may be an appropriate response to a sudden and catastrophic incident in a student’s life that prevents a student from completing the quarter’s work. These rare cases would include family or personal emergencies of a traumatic nature that would severely impede a student’s ability to remain enrolled (e.g., family death, home destruction by natural disaster or fire). The emergency administrative withdrawal policy is not intended to apply in situations of chronic or ongoing medical, emotional, or psychological distress nor in cases covered by the medical withdrawal.
Students granted an emergency administrative withdrawal may return to class at the beginning of the term following the date on which their health care provider certifies their readiness for the academic environment. Health care providers may also stipulate conditions under which re-enrollment will be permitted; the student must meet such conditions and any continuing conditions set by a health care provider. The Vice President for Student Affairs will review the documentation of readiness for classes with the Director of Counseling or Health services, which ever is appropriate, and a decision will be made whether or not to allow registration.
In order to protect the health and safety of all members of the University community, and to ensure an optimal learning and teaching environment, it may become necessary at times to withdraw students on an involuntary basis who are suffering from medical or mental health disorders. The standards and procedures that will be followed in such cases are documented below.
1. A student will be subject to involuntary withdrawal from Eastern Oregon University (EOU) or from campus housing if it is determined that the student is suffering from a medical or mental disorder, and, as a result of the medical or mental disorder, engages in or threatens to engage in behavior that:
a) poses a danger of causing physical harm to self or others, or
b) may result in significant property damage, or
c) directly and substantially impedes the educational processes of the University.
2. These standards do not preclude removal from EOU, or campus housing, in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the EOU Housing Contract, or the EOU Student Code of Conduct, hereafter referred to as the Code of Conduct.
3. If the Vice President for Student Affairs (VPSA) reasonably believes that the student may meet the criteria set forth in point one of this document, the VPSA may refer a student for evaluation by an independent licensed psychiatrist, licensed psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, licensed psychiatric nurse practitioner, licensed nurse practitioner or other medical doctor (if for non-psychiatric conditions) approved by the University. In approving evaluators, the VPSA will consider competence to perform this task. If the approved evaluator is chosen by the VPSA, the University will pay any costs associated with it. If the student chooses the approved evaluator, the student will be responsible for those costs.
4. Students referred for evaluation in accordance with point 3 of this document shall be so informed in writing, either by personal delivery or by certified mail, and shall be given a copy of these standards and procedures. The letter will include a reference to the student’s right of Due Process to appear personally before the VPSA in order to challenge the necessity of the evaluation. The evaluation must be completed within five working days from the date of the referral letter, unless an extension is granted by the VPSA in writing.
5. The student must provide the name and contact information of the alternate evaluator selected by the student to the VPSA, and must sign a Release of Information Form in the VPSA’s office that authorizes the University to share appropriate background information with the provider, and will authorize the exchange of information with the VPSA and the Director of Counseling, Director of Student Health, and the Disabilities Services Coordinator on a need to know basis.
6. Upon completion of the evaluation, the assessment professional will submit a report which documents the nature of any substantial threat which the individual poses to self, others, college property, or the educational processes of the institution. The professional must also provide a recommendation concerning the necessity for medical leave for the student. This form will be submitted to the VPSA within 48 hours.
7. Upon review of this form, the VPSA will submit all relevant information to either the Director of Counseling Services (for mental health disorders) or the Director of the Student Health Services (for health related disorders) at EOU. This Director will review the information, along with other third-party information (e.g., from roommate, family, faculty/staff, etc.), and will provide a recommendation to the VPSA regarding the necessity for medical leave and the basis for this recommendation. The Director involved may also recommend further evaluation as appropriate.
8. Any pending disciplinary action may be withheld until the evaluation is completed, at the discretion of the VPSA.
9. A student who fails to complete the evaluation in accordance with these standards and procedures may be withdrawn from EOU on an interim basis as set forth in points 10-12 of this document, referred for disciplinary action, or both.
10. An interim withdrawal may be implemented immediately if a student fails to complete an evaluation or if the VPSA suspects that a student may be suffering from a medical or mental disorder (only if in non-compliance), and the student's behavior poses an imminent danger of:
a) causing physical harm to self or others, or
b) resulting in significant property damage, or
c) directly and substantially impeding the educational processes of the University.
11. A student subject to interim withdrawal shall be given written notice of the withdrawal either by personal delivery or by certified mail, and shall be given a copy of these standards and procedures. The student shall then be given an opportunity to appear personally before the VPSA, or a designee, within five working days from the effective date of the interim withdrawal, in order to review the following issues only:
A student subject to interim withdrawal may be assisted during the personal appearance before the VPSA by a family member, a medical or mental health professional, and/or an EOU faculty/staff member. Furthermore, legal counsel may accompany a student, but the role of counsel will be limited to providing legal advice to the student. Students will be expected to speak for themselves whenever possible.
12. The VPSA will evaluate all relevant information obtained during the student’s personal appearance, and do one of the following within five working days:
The student will remain medically/administratively withdrawn on an interim basis pending one of the above mentioned decisions, but will be allowed to return to campus for the personal appearance, or for other necessary purposes, as authorized in writing by the Vice President of Student Affairs.
Students may appeal an Emergency or Involuntary Withdrawal decision by following the guidelines set forth for Appeals (OAR 579-040-0030) in the EOU Student Code of Conduct. The Student Code of Conduct can be found at http://www.eou.edu/saffairs/handbook/index.html.
Reasonable deviations from these procedures will not invalidate a decision or proceeding unless significant prejudice to a student may result.
Eastern Oregon University has established protocols for informal assessments. These informal assessments are made through the Vice President for Student Affairs and Director of Residence Life. In general, the student is asked to attend a certain number of sessions in order to make sure that the student is safe and not a threat to themselves or the community. It is a voluntary action on the student’s part.
Approval information:
11/30/06 – Approved by the Assembly Student Affairs Committee
The goal of an assessment is two fold: (1) to informally assess the danger to the student or community, and (2) to introduce the student to the Counseling Center and encourage their participation in sorting out difficulties they are experiencing.