Martin Luther College — Involuntary Medical Withdrawal Policy

 

Policy Statement

Standards For Withdrawal

  1. A student will be subject to involuntary medical withdrawal from Martin Luther College by the Vice President for Student Life or his designee* if it is determined, after consultation with the Counseling Services utilized by the college, that the student is suffering from a psychological or medical disorder and,

(a) engages in behavior which poses a danger of causing, or threatening to cause, physical harm to self or others; or

(b) engages in behavior which poses a danger of causing, or threatening to cause, emotional harm to self or others; or

(c) engages in behavior which poses a danger of causing, or threatening to cause, significant property damage; or

(d) engages in behavior which substantially impedes or disrupts, or threatens to impede or disrupt, the lawful activities of others.

Referral For Evaluation

  1. The Vice President for Student Life may refer a student for evaluation by a physician or psychologist or psychiatrist, or for drug testing, if he believes that the student may meet the criteria set forth in #1 above.
  2. Students referred for evaluation in accordance with #2 above shall be notified either personally or in writing by the Vice President for Student Life, and shall be notified of these standards and procedures. The evaluation must be begun and completed within the timetable established by the Vice President for Student Life, and must be made available to the Vice President for Student Life.
  3. Any pending disciplinary action may be withheld until the evaluation is completed, at the discretion of the Vice President for Student Life.
  4. A student who fails to complete the evaluation in accordance with these standards and procedures may be withdrawn on an interim basis, as set forth in #6 – 7 below, or referred for disciplinary action, or both.

Involuntary Withdrawal and Appeal

  1. An interim involuntary medical withdrawal may be implemented immediately if a student fails to begin and to complete an evaluation or fails to make the evaluation available to the Dean, as provided by #2-3 of these standards and procedures. Also, an interim involuntary medical withdrawal may be implemented immediately if the Vice President for Student Life believes that the student’s behavior poses an imminent danger of what is indicated in (a) – (d) in #1 above.

An interim involuntary medical withdrawal will continue until the prescribed evaluation (cf. #2 – 5 above) is completed in preparation for #7 below.

  1. A student who has completed the evaluation referenced in #2 above, and who is subsequently subject to an involuntary medical withdrawal, shall be given written notice of the withdrawal either personally or by 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 Vice President for Student Life, within two business days from the effective date of the withdrawal, in order to review the following issues only:

(a) the reliability of the information concerning the student’s behavior;

(b) whether or not the student has completed an evaluation in accordance with these standards and procedures; and

(c) whether or not the student’s behavior, in the judgment of the Vice President for Student Life, poses any of the dangers mentioned in #1 above.

The Vice President for Student Life will make the final decision regarding withdrawal.

A student subject to withdrawal may be assisted in the proceeding specified in this section by a family member, a licensed physician or psychologist, or a member of the faculty, staff, or student body of Martin Luther College, or by any other person chosen by the student. Students who have been involuntarily withdrawn are required to leave campus within 48 hours unless otherwise informed by the Vice President for Student Life.

Students withdrawn for medical reasons must receive approval from the Vice President for Student Life in order to qualify for readmission. The student seeking readmission is required to provide corroborating evidence from an appropriate medical professional that the student’s health allows him/her to apply for readmission.

The standards contained in this document do not preclude a student’s removal from the College or its residences in accordance with other College rules or regulations or code of conduct.

 

Definitions

* Wherever reference is made to the Vice President for Student Life, it implies “or his/her designee.”