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Dec 08, 2024
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2024-2025 Westminster College Student Handbook
Involuntary Administrative Withdrawal
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Emergency Removal
The College may remove a student from a College education program or activity on an emergency basis. This decision is made through a careful process described below and after the College undertakes an individualized safety and risk analysis, determines that the student poses an immediate threat to the physical health or safety of any individual, and provides the student with notice and an opportunity to challenge the decision immediately following the removal. Emergency removal of a student may be warranted following a similar assessment that finds the student is suffering from a severe psychological problem and, as a result of the problem, engages or threatens to engage in behavior that:
- poses a danger of causing harm to self or others; and/or
- disrupts the peace and orderliness of the campus or causes property damage on campus; and/or
- directly and substantially impedes the lawful activities of others.
Procedures
- The Student Affairs administrator assigned to Student Conduct (Responsible Administrator) will be responsible for determining when a student will be removed from the College on an emergency basis related to violations of the Student Code of Conduct.
- The Title IX Coordinator (Responsible Administrator) will be responsible for determining when a student will be removed from the College on an emergency basis related to violations of the Sexual Misconduct Policy.
- The Vice President for Student Affairs (Responsible Administrator) will be responsible for determining when a student will be removed from the College on an emergency basis because of a severe psychological problem.
- In determining the length of time a student should be removed on an emergency basis, the Vice President for Student Affairs may require the student to be evaluated by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist chosen by the College and at the student’s expense. If the Vice President for Student Affairs requires that a student be evaluated, the student shall be informed of the requirement, in writing, by the Vice President for Student Affairs. The evaluation must be completed within five business days of the date on which the student is notified of the requirement, unless an extension is granted by the Vice President for Student Affairs. After receiving the evaluation, the Vice President for Student Affairs will decide within two business days whether a withdrawal or leave of absence of the student from the College is appropriate. The Vice President for Student Affairs will convey the decision in writing to the student. (NOTE: The Vice President for Student Affairs is not required to obtain an outside evaluation to administratively withdraw a student.)
- A student who has been removed on an emergency basis shall be given written notice of the withdrawal by the Responsible Administrator.
- A student who has been withdrawn on an emergency basis will be given an opportunity to appear before the Responsible Administrator within two business days from the date of the written notification of the emergency removal. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss only the following issues:
- The reliability of the information received by the responsible administrator concerning the student’s behavior;
- Whether the student’s behavior poses a danger of causing imminent and serious harm to self or others, property damage on campus, disruption of the peace and orderliness of the campus or impediment of the lawful activities of others.
- A student who has been withdrawn on an emergency basis may be assisted in the meeting by an adviser of their choice, who may be, but is not required to be an attorney. The role of the advisor is to support the student through the process and not to talk on behalf of the student.
- After meeting with the student and receiving and reviewing all relevant information, the Responsible Administrator will decide within two business days whether the potential risk of harm is such that the emergency removal should be applied for the duration of the associated grievance process, should be made permanent or permit the student to return to the College. Grievance procedures for student conduct and sexual misconduct must be conducted to provide students the appropriate due process. The decision will be conveyed to the student in writing.
Appeals Process for Administrative Leave of Absence or Withdrawal
Students who are placed on administrative leave of absence or administratively withdrawn may request an appointment with the President of the College after all the leave of absence or withdrawal procedures outlined above have been completed. The President reserves the right to alter any decisions made.
Right to Petition for Readmission Following Administrative Withdrawal or Disciplinary Suspension
A student who has been suspended because of a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and/or the Sexual Misconduct Policy may petition for readmission. The petition must be in writing and directed to the Vice President for Student Affairs. Such petition may not be filed before the expiration of one-half of the suspension period. The Vice President for Student Affairs shall determine whether such petitions will be granted or denied. Students who are dismissed from the College as a sanction of the Student Conduct or Sexual Misconduct grievance proceedings are not eligible to petition for readmission.
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