Responsible Administrator(s):
Responsible Office(s):
Originally Issued: December 2005

Statement of Purpose

In keeping with the UNLV Student Conduct Code, each member of the University shares responsibility for maintaining conditions conducive to achieving the UNLV's goals. Further, the University holds students responsible for their own actions (UNLV Student Conduct Code, Purpose Statement, 2004). From time to time, however, the University faces situations requiring an immediate response involving students because their behavior poses a significant danger to others in the University and/or themselves. To address these situations and to fulfill the University's role in providing a safe campus, UNLV established the Health Withdrawal Policy and Procedures.

Entities Affected by this Policy

All academic units, libraries,and/or units with teaching and research faculty.

Who Should Read this Policy

Administrators, academic faculty, staff and students who would be affected by this policy.

Policy

Aside from the disciplinary action that may be taken under the UNLV Student Conduct Code, the University reserves the right to request or require a student to withdraw from the University if it is determined that such student suffers from a psychological or medical disorder and as an apparent result of that disorder the student:

  1. Engages, or threatens to engage, in behavior which poses a danger of causing physical harm to self or others, and/or
  2. Engages, or threatens to engage, in behavior which interferes with the educational process or lawful activities of other members of the University, and/or
  3. Engages, or threatens to engage, in behavior which interferes with the orderly operation of the University, and/or
  4. Demonstrates an inability to provide for personal needs (e.g., nourishment, shelter) such that there is a reasonable possibility that serious physical harm or death may occur within a short period of time.

Procedures

lnterim Suspension

The President or designee may order the immediate suspension of a student for an interim period of time when there is cause to believe the student endangers self or the health, safety, or welfare of the University community or endangers its property (See Emergency Clause, UNLV Student Conduct Code).The student will remain on such interim suspension pending resolution of the situation pursuant to these procedures.

Voluntary Withdrawal

A student may requests voluntary withdrawal for psychological or medical reasons from the Director of Student Conduct and Campus Housing on the following basis:

  1. The documented presence of a classifiable disorder of sufficient severity to prevent the student from completing all of their academic courses.
  2. The student must submit a recommendation for withdrawal from an appropriately licensed health care professional.
  3. The student must execute a release of information form (request and authorization to exchange information) so that all designated officials may exchange information in order to reach a decision under these procedures.
  4. A student's petition for voluntary withdrawal shall be reviewed by the Psychological and Medical Withdrawal Advisory Team. A recommendation regarding the voluntary withdrawal request and a draft set of conditions for readmission, if applicable, shall be forwarded to the Director of Student Conduct and Campus Housing for a recommendation to the Vice President for Student Life who will make a decision whether to approve.
  5. If the Director of Student Conduct and Campus Housing, on the recommendation of the Psychological and Medical Withdrawal Advisory Team, determines that there is reason to believe that the student meets one or more of the criteria for psychological or medical withdrawal, the Director may permit, upon approval of the Vice President for Student Life, the student to voluntarily withdraw from the University and waive the University's right to further proceedings under the Student Conduct Code.
  6. During the initial review or subsequently, the case may be reviewed by the Psychological and Medical Withdrawal Advisory Team to recommend conditions for readmission to be forwarded to the Director of Student Conduct and Campus Housing for a recommendation to the Vice President for Student Life for approval or disapproval.
  7. It shall be the responsibility of the student to contact their academic advisor, Student Financial Services, the Office of International Students and Scholars (if applicable), and any other appropriate university or other advisor, including legal counsel, to obtain information concerning the effect of the requested voluntary withdrawal on their degree program, student loan(s), immigration status, etc., since all consequences thereof shall be the sole responsibility of the requesting student.
Involuntary Withdrawal
  1. The Director of Student Conduct and Campus Housing, in consultation with the Psychological and Medical Withdrawal Advisory Team, will determine whether the student's dangerous behavior appears to be primarily attributable to a psychological or medical disorder as described in the policy.
  2. The student may be referred for a mandatory evaluation at Student Counseling and Psychological Services or a community mental health provider selected by the University.
  3. The student will be asked to execute a release of information form (request and authorization to exchange information) so that all designated officials may exchange information in order to reach decisions regarding the evaluation and to delay, modify, or waive any disciplinary proceedings.
  4. Such evaluation must be completed within five (5) calendar days from the issuance of a referral letter, unless an extension is issued, in writing, by the Director of Student Conduct and Campus Housing. Any evaluation shall be reviewed by the Psychological and Medical Withdrawal Advisory Team.
  5. The student shall be informed of a mandatory referral for evaluation in writing, and shall also be provided with a copy of the policy and procedures.
  6. Pending disciplinary action may be stayed pending completion of the evaluation and until a determination is made as to imposition of an involuntary withdrawal.
  7. A recommendation regarding involuntary withdrawal and conditions for readmission, if appropriate, will be forwarded to the Vice President for Student Life for approval, disapproval, or modification.
    1. Should the Vice President for Student Life determine that there is no threat to the safety of self or others, no inability to provide for personal needs that may lead to serious physical harm or death within a short period of time, no threat to University property, to the lawful activities of others, or to the educational processes and orderly operations of the University, there will be no further action under this policy. Other actions may be pursued under the UNLV Student Conduct Code as determined by the University.
    2. Should the Vice President for Student Life determine that it is in the best interest of the student and/or the University community that the student be involuntarily withdrawn from the university for psychological or medical reasons, the student shall be informed in writing of this decision, the basis for it, and given written notice of the student's right to administrative review.
    3. Upon a written request from the student, the Vice President for Student Life or designee will convene a hearing per the UNLV Student Conduct Code to administratively review the involuntary withdrawal.
  8. Upon request of the student, reasonable efforts will be made to refer the student for appropriate mental health or medical services in the community.
  9. The change in enrollment status or restricted access will remain in effect until a final decision has been made pursuant to the UNLV Student Conduct Code unless, before a final decision is made, the President, the Vice President of Student Life or designee determines that the reasons for imposing the interim withdrawal no longer exist.

Effect on Academic Status

A notation of "Health Withdrawal" will appear on the student's transcript for all classes taken during the semester for any student voluntarily or involuntarily withdrawn pursuant to this policy. An administrative hold will be placed on the student's academic record to prevent any unauthorized reenrollment by the student.

Effect on Housing Status

If the student is living in the residence halls, his/her contract will be voided and a refund shall be issued based on the per diem rate for the unused portion of the semester. The amount of the refund shall be determined as of the date the student removes all belongings, surrenders the room key, and officially checks out of the assigned residence hall.

Refunds

All refunds will be made in accordance with otherwise applicable departmental and University policies and procedures.

Readmission

A student wishing to be considered for readmission should contact the Director of Student Conduct and Campus Housing according to the written conditions for readmission. It is the student's responsibility to provide the required paperwork documentation regarding compliance with any conditions and/or sufficient improvement to allow readmission. The petition for readmission and supporting documentation will be reviewed by the Psychological and Medical Withdrawal Advisory Team. A recommendation will be forwarded to the Vice President for Student Life. The student must also meet any readmission requirements of their academic college or school.

Psychological and Medical Withdrawal Advisory Team Membership

Standing members of the Psychological and Medical Withdrawal Advisory Team shall include the Assistant Vice President for Student Wellness and the Student Counseling and Psychological Services Staff Psychiatrist. Other members may be added, or these members may be deleted or replaced at the discretion of the Vice President for Student Life.