Administrative Medical Withdrawal Policy

A student who poses a significant danger of imminent or serious physical harm to him/herself or others and/or resents with a medical condition that renders him or her incapable of functioning in the academic environment will be withdrawn from the University, upon a review by appropriate University personnel.

Rationale:

1) To make a judicious decision that protects the health, safety, and welfare of the student and the University community;
2) To allow the student to leave school to undergo treatment;
3) To provide the University with an opportunity to evaluate the student's readiness to re-enroll when he or she requests to do so.

Background:

Over the past two years, meetings have taken place among several UNF departments in an effort to develop a policy that would safeguard students' privacy, avoid inappropriate punitive sanctions, and result in a more confidential and expeditious response in these situations. Currently, the only administrative avenues available to these students are the Student Conduct Code and the Course Withdrawal Policy, which are inadequate for dealing with the pressing academic, personal and legal concerns that these types of situations create for the student and the University. The policy was presented to the Provost and the members of the Academic Standards Committee, who made recommendations that were incorporated into the policy.

Procedures:

1. If a faculty or staff member encounters a student who appears to pose a danger of imminent harm to him/herself or others and/or presents with a medical condition that renders him/her incapable of functioning in the academic environment, that faculty or staff member should contact Campus Police at 620-2801. If the student is not in imminent danger, but appears to be in need of medical or psychiatric assistance, a referral should be made to Student Health Services (Robinson Center, Rm. 1501; tel: 620-2900) or the Counseling Center (Founder's Hall, Rm. 2068; tel: 620-2602). Faculty or staff may also bring a student to either office for immediate attention.

2. The student may be subject to an immediate temporary administrative withdrawal, pending a further determination. A student subject to such an administrative withdrawal shall be offered an opportunity to meet with the Vice President for Student Affairs or his/her designee.

3. Upon a review of all available documentation and consultation with the Director of Student Health, the Director of the Counseling Center and the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs or their respective designees, the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Dean of the appropriate college and the Provost will make a decision regarding administrative withdrawal from all classes and conditions for re-enrollment.

4. The Vice President for Student Affairs or his/her designee will complete the Administrative Medical Withdrawal Form and a Fee Petition Form and will furnish the student with the following: a) notice of intent to withdraw the student from all classes, issue trespass after warning, and/or remove him/her from University Housing, stating the reasons for these actions; b) information regarding his/her eligibility to be considered for a fee refund; c) an advisor designated by the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs; d) an opportunity to appeal the decision by presenting relevant information to the Office of the Vice President for consideration.

5. A letter from the Provost and the Vice President for Student Affairs will stipulate the conditions for re-enrollment (including length of academic leave) and that the student will be blocked from re-enrollment until those conditions are met. The University reserves the right to require appropriate documentation, including, but not limited to, a report from a medical provider and other evidence of compliance with re-enrollment conditions.

6. The Office of Records and Registration will place a notation on the student's record indicating a registration hold for medical reasons. This hold will require that the student contact the Vice President for Student Affairs before re-enrollment. A notation of "W" will be put on the student's transcript for all courses from which the student is administratively withdrawn.

7. If appropriate, copies of the Medical Withdrawal Request Form will be hand-delivered to the following offices: Financial Aid, Veterans Affairs, Athletics, International Student Affairs, University Housing, and Academic Advising. These offices will provide the student with information regarding the impact of the withdrawal on his/her current and future status, as well as avenues of appeal.

8. The Office of Records and Registration will notify the student's instructors that he/she has been withdrawn. When appropriate, the student's Fee Petition Form and supportive documentation are submitted for consideration of fee reimbursement by the Fees Committee. Upon completion of this process, a letter is sent to the student by the Committee.

9. Invoking this policy does not mean that the student will necessarily be exempt from regular disciplinary action according to the University Code of Conduct.

10. The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs will contact the Office of Records and Registration to lift the hold on the student's registration upon appropriate completion of re-enrollment conditions.