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emergency health and safety policy

The growth and development of students at The University of North Carolina at Pembroke is central to our goal of maintaining an environment conducive to student learning, academic achievement, individual responsibility, and respect for the rights and privileges of others. One aspect of this mission includes the availability of counseling, health services, academic support programs, and policies to foster good mental and physical health.

Purpose
The objective of this Emergency Health and Safety Policy was developed in an attempt to safeguard the welfare of the individual and the community.

Addressing Behavior and Emergencies
Occasionally, a student’s health condition manifests itself in such a way that it must be addressed by the University. At times, emergency situations occur which require immediate response and important aftercare. UNCP student support services may not be equipped to work with students in ongoing crises or who are in need of intensive monitoring for health or psychological reasons. The Emergency Health and Safety (EHS) Committee may meet to determine what role, if any, student support services may need to take to assure the health and safety of a student or the University community. In an appropriate procedural system there may sometimes be a necessity to make an initial determination without a committee hearing; as the risk of harm increases, so does the need for immediate action. Emergency situations may include:

• Acute change in physical health;
• Destructive, threatening, or other disruptive behavior;
• Drug and alcohol abuse;
• Eating disorders;
• Any health problem that points to possible imminent danger, foreseeable danger to oneself, or another member of the University community.

In some cases, this will result in a hospitalization, or the student leaving campus for a period of time. To the extent allowed by law, any UNCP employee assisting the student with his/her medical emergency that falls within this policy shall contact the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs or his/ her designee. The Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs will convene the EHS Committee to determine the student’s transition back into the University community. The EHS Committee is composed of the following members: Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs; Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; Director of Counseling and Testing, Director of Student Health Services; Director of Disability Support Services; and the Chief Housing Officer, if the student resides on campus. Depending on the emergency, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs may appoint other advisors to the committee. In these emergency situations, the University reserves the right to do any or all of the following:

• Consult with and refer the student to a healthcare facility or provider (University’s Counseling and Testing Center, Student Health Services, an area hospital, or a licensed mental health or healthcare professional) for a mental health or other medical evaluation. The cost for any off-campus referral will be at the expense of the student.
• Medically suspend the student from campus, including on-campus housing, until a full medical evaluation is completed and the documentation of the evaluation is forwarded to the designee assigned by the EHS Committee. The designee will then provide the recommendations from the treating professional to the EHS Committee for approval of the student’s return to campus. Note: Absences for medical reasons are not excused automatically. Students are urged to submit documentation immediately.
• Require the student to sign appropriate release forms allowing designated staff at UNCP to consult clinician(s) serving the student for the purpose of evaluating the student’s ability to function in the University community.
• Refer the student to the University judicial process if the student’s behavior has violated any rules, policies or procedures.

All requirements outlined, in writing, by the EHS Committee will be sent certified mail to the student’s home address.

Involving Essential Parties
In some circumstances, UNCP may notify the parents of the student and appropriate University officials, including academic deans and faculty, due to the potentially serious nature of the situation.

Returning to Campus After Treatment
A student who has been hospitalized or has left the campus due to a health emergency, which falls with in this policy, may be allowed to return to the University (and/or campus housing) if s/he agrees to take steps that will satisfy the EHS committee’s concern that a health emergency no longer exists and a treatment plan for continuing good health is in place.

• Prior to returning to campus, the student may be required to meet with the EHS committee’s designated healthcare professional following release from a healthcare facility for a medical emergency. The student may be required to provide the designated healthcare professional any results of medical assessments that were made or requested by the EHS committee, and any other supporting documentation, which provides the current clinician’s assessment of the student’s ability to return to the University as a fully functional citizen.
• The healthcare professional will assess information provided and make a recommendation to the EHS Committee. The EHS Committee reserves the right to make a determination as to whether or not the student will be permitted to return to campus. The EHS Committee will assess whether the student can be provided UNCP services as a means of support to permit his/her participation in classes, educational programs and activities, without causing an undue hardship or presenting a direct threat to the health or safety of other members of the University community.
• Where applicable, approval of the student’s return to campus includes on campus housing. The student’s on-campus housing status may be revoked if the student’s behavior is found to be a severe disruption to the community, in violation of Housing regulations, or the University’s Code of Conduct.
• The University reserves the right to require the student to comply with a University-monitored treatment plan recommended by a licensed health care professional as a condition of returning to the campus community. Review and/or follow up on the student’s required treatment plan may be assigned to a University designee assigned by the EHS Committee.
• Upon submission to and evaluation of requested documents by the EHS Committee, the student has the right to appear before and be heard by the EHS Committee in person. This is subject to any limitations that may be needed as reflected in the treatment documents. If the student wishes to appear for a hearing before the EHS Committee, s/he would have forty-eight (48) hours from the date of written notification of EHS Committee involvement.

The EHS Committee can decide to medically withdraw a student. Any student who does not follow through with the assessment process, from the initial meeting through the recommendations given, may be administratively withdrawn from classes and required to leave the campus immediately.

Medical Suspension
A medical suspension is a temporary time period that a student is suspended from attending all classes. A suspension may occur upon hospitalization or during a medical evaluation period. Students who are medically suspended for any health reasons may not participate in any University activities, attend classes, reside or visit on-campus student housing, and may not come on campus except to attend a meeting or hearing related to his/her case. The student must leave campus immediately at the end of the meeting or hearing. Persons who schedule a meeting with such a student shall notify the campus police, in advance, of the time and place of the meeting. If a student is in need of personal items from his/her residential room and can not personally return to campus, the student’s designated person may assist in obtaining the items. Once medically suspended, a student must be reviewed by the EHS Committee to lift the suspension or proceed with a medical withdrawal.

Medical Withdrawals
Medical withdrawals may be given for students who are judged to be incapable of functioning adequately as a student, i.e., experiencing health problems of such severity that there is need for immediate treatment or care that is beyond the scope of what may be provided at the University. The student is subject to the Refund Policy as stated in the Student Handbook. If a residential student is unable to officially check out of student housing, the student’s designee must assist with the checkout procedure.

Voluntary Medical Withdrawal
Any student considering a medical withdrawal should be given a copy of the written criteria. If the student accepts, s/he signs a statement acknowledging that h/she is required to:

1. Remain out of school for a suggested period of time;
2. Agree to receive treatment from a licensed professional who is a specialist (not related to the student) in the area of impairment and who is willing to address the concerns which necessitated the withdrawal;
3. Provide written documentation on letterhead from the licensed professional of having undergone professional treatment along with prognosis and recommended treatment plan when requesting to return to UNCP;
4. Meet with the EHS Committee designee prior to being allowed to return,
5. Sign the agreement, which will also be signed by the EHS designee and the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs or his/her designee.

The student receives “W”s on his/her transcript without any record of having left for medical reasons. Once the statement is signed, the person is no longer considered a student and must immediately leave campus and/or officially checkout of on-campus student housing. The withdrawal form, indicating that the student has been approved for a medical withdrawal, is sent to the UNCP Registrar.

Involuntary Medical Withdrawal
An involuntary medical withdrawal can be invoked when a student, is a danger to self or others, or exhibits behavior that is severe and disruptive to the community, and refuses treatment. The student will be reported to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, who will convene the EHS Committee. The Committee will recommend assessment and/or treatment conditions needed to establish protocol for the student’s clearance to reapply to UNCP.

Appeal Process
If the EHS Committee mandates the student’s medical withdrawal or imposes conditions on his/her remaining enrolled at the University, and the student believes that the outcome was unreasonable or that the procedures used were unfair, the student may appeal, in writing, to the Chancellor. Once notified of a change in status, the student has one business day to submit his/her appeal. The Chancellor (or his/her designee) will respond, in writing, to the student’s written appeal within one business day.

Reapplication Process
A former student who has been medically withdrawn under this policy and wishes to return must follow the University procedures for readmission. The student must adhere to all recommendations established by the Emergency Health and Safety Committee.

EHS Committee Procedure for Returning to UNCP

1. Meet with the designated EHS committee member to assist with transition and treatment plan.
2. Provide requested information established by the EHS Committee.
3. Comply with university monitored treatment plan.
4. Failure to comply may result in administrative withdrawal from the university.
5. Provide proof of on-going treatment, if required by the committee.
6. The EHS designee will recommend when termination of close follow-up is appropriate and seek approval from the committee.

Updated: Monday, June 4, 2007

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