Administrative Withdrawal for Non-Academic Reasons

Updated: 9/24/06

The University may require a student to take an administrative withdrawal if there is sufficient evidence that the student is engaging, is likely to engage, in behavior that represents a real danger of harm to self or others, or substantially disrupts the learning environment and activities of the campus community. There are limits to the University’s ability to care for students with serious physical or psychological conditions and the University reserves the right to decide, in certain circumstances, when it cannot provide educational or other services to a particular student.

These policies and procedures do not take the place of disciplinary action associated with a student’s behavior that is in violation of the student code of conduct. This policy is to be invoked in extraordinary circumstances, at the discretion of the Campus Director (acting on behalf of the Dean of Students), when the standard disciplinary system cannot be applied or is not appropriate. This policy may be invoked when a student is unable or unwilling to request a voluntary withdrawal.

Examples of extraordinary circumstances that are applicable to this policy include, but are not limited to: suicidal threat or attempt; eating disorders, including self-starvation and/or purging behavior; ongoing substance abuse or addiction; serious threats of harm to self or others; or bizarre or destructive behavior.

In most case, before a required administrative withdrawal is considered, the Campus Director (acting on behalf of the Dean of Students) will give the student the option to take a voluntary withdrawal.

In emergency situations, the University reserves the right to do any or all of the following:

• Consult with and refer the student to a mental and/or healthcare facility or provider (an area hospital, or 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

• Remove the student from campus until such time that a full mental health and/or medical evaluation is completed and the Campus Director (acting on behalf of the Dean of Students) approves the student’s return to campus.

• Require the student to sign appropriate release forms allowing designated staff at Webster University to consult clinician(s) serving the student.

• Refer the student to the University judicial process if the student’s behavior has violated any rules, policies or procedures

If a student experiences serious psychological difficulties that become chronic, dangerous, or excessively disruptive, the Campus Director (acting on behalf of the Dean of Students) may require the student to be assessed off-campus by an appropriate psychological provider. The purpose of this assessment is to assure:

1. The student is safe to return to campus and does not pose a threat to him/herself or others and is able to adequately care for him/herself.
2. The student is able to function both socially and academically and will not cause any disruption to the community or normal functioning of the University.

After receiving the written assessment, the Campus Director (acting on behalf of the Dean of Students) will make a decision about the student’s status, which may include the following options:

1. Immediate return to the campus, providing the student follows a plan for care with on- or off-campus providers. Failure to follow the plan will result in immediate withdrawal from the University.
2. Student’s return to campus deferred until additional assessment or treatment can be obtained.
3. Student’s return to campus deferred indefinitely due to significant and specific concerns about continued danger to self or others and/or disruption to the community.

There is no appeal to this policy since it is invoked only in extraordinary circumstances in response to immediate concerns.

• Returning to Campus After a Hospitalization
  Occasionally, a student’s psychological or physical condition manifests itself in such a way that it must be addressed. In some cases, this will result in a hospitalization, or the student leaving campus for a period of time. After the student is released from the hospital, the Campus Director (acting on behalf of the Dean of Students) must be involved with the student’s transition back into the University community.

A student who has been hospitalized, or has left the campus, due to a physical or psychiatric emergency, may be allowed to return to Webster University (and/or campus housing) if s/he agrees to take steps that will accommodate the needs of the student and the University community.

• Prior to returning to campus, the student must meet with the Campus Director (acting on behalf of the Dean of Students), following release from a health care facility for a mental health or medical emergency. The student must provide results of any mental health or medical assessments that were made and any other supporting documentation, which provides the clinician’s assessment of the student’s ability to return to the University. If a student chooses not to obtain an assessment, the Campus Director (acting on behalf of the Dean of Students) may ask the student to leave the University, or restrict the student’s access to educational programs and activities, services, and facilities.

• The Campus Director (acting on behalf of the Dean of Students) will assess information provided and reserves the right to make a determination as to whether or not the student will be permitted to return to campus. The University will assess whether the student can be reasonably accommodated to permit his/her participation in classes, educational programs and activities, including living in campus housing, without causing an undue hardship or presenting a direct threat to the health or safety of other members of the University community.

• The University reserves the right to require the student to comply with a University-monitored treatment plan recommended by a licensed health care or mental health professional as a condition of returning to the campus community. The student will be responsible for paying the costs of treatment, including the cost of the initial assessment.

Any student who does not follow through with the assessment process, from the initial meeting through the recommendations given, may be withdrawn from classes and required to leave the campus.

Involving Essential Parties

In some circumstances, Webster University reserves the right to notify the parents of the student and appropriate University officials, including academic deans and faculty, due to the potentially serious nature of the situation.

Modified April 2006