Ohio Administrative Code › Title 3342 - Kent State University › Chapter 3342-4 - University Policies › Section 3342-4-02.5 - Administrative policy regarding voluntary and involuntary withdrawal for health reasons

Current through all regulations passed and filed through July 1, 2024
(A)
			 Purpose. When a health emergency or condition renders a student's continued
			 participation in university academics, programs, or services impossible,
			 impractical or unsafe to any member of the university community, the following
			 rules shall apply. The senior vice president for
			 student life is responsible for the administration of this
			 rule.
(B) Voluntary withdrawal
			 procedure. A student who decides to withdraw from the university for health
			 reasons shall follow the office of the university registrar's general
			 procedures for withdrawal or petition for exception to registration, as
			 appropriate. Graduate students may also consider utilizing the "leave of
			 absence for graduate students" procedure found in rule
			 3342-3-01.12 of the
			 Administrative Code, if applicable. The associate vice president for student
			 life
			 and dean of students (hereinafter referred to as the "dean of students"),
			 student ombuds, or regional campus director of enrollment management and
			 student services may provide guidance to the student to assist with this
			 process upon request.
(C)
			 Involuntary withdrawal procedure.
(1)
			 Individualized assessment. When the dean of students is made aware that a
			 health emergency or condition renders a student's continued participation in
			 university academics, programs, or services impossible, impractical or unsafe
			 to any member of the university community, the dean of students shall consult,
			 review and consider appropriate recommendations and any applicable supporting
			 documentation. This may include recommendations and documentation of the
			 following, as applicable: the student's recent treating health care
			 professional(s) (if available and with necessary permissions); university
			 health care professional(s); the care team; the student (if available); and,
			 when necessary and in accordance with rule
			 3342-5-08.101 of the
			 Administrative Code, the student's parent or guardian. The dean of students may
			 also consult other applicable resources as appropriate.
(2) Interim action. Depending upon the
			 urgency and severity of the health emergency, an interim action may be
			 necessary while the individualized assessment is ongoing. When the dean of
			 students has reasonable cause to believe that a student may pose a risk to the
			 safety or well-being of anyone in the university community, the student may be
			 issued an interim action. Interim actions may include but are not limited to:
			 restriction from specific campus facilities or locations; restriction from
			 facilitating or participating in student organization business or activities;
			 suspension of student status; etc. An interim action shall remain in effect
			 until removed or altered by the dean of students or as the result of this
			 policy's process. A student may appeal an interim action in writing to the
			 senior vice president for student
			 life.
			 Failure to comply with an interim action may result in a referral to the office
			 of student conduct and/or the Kent state university police
			 department.
(3) Alternatives
			 considered. During the assessment process above, alternatives to involuntary
			 withdrawal shall be considered. Such alternatives may include, but are not
			 limited to, voluntary withdrawal, reasonable accommodations to any known
			 disabilities, or behavioral contracts.
(4) Notice of withdrawal. If, as a result of
			 the assessment in paragraph (C)(1) of this rule, the dean of students decides
			 that involuntary withdrawal is appropriate, the university shall withdraw the
			 student from all registered courses. The decision will be communicated to the
			 student in writing. The notice shall contain the terms of any interim actions
			 issued pursuant to paragraph (C)(2) of this rule.
(5) Appeal. A student may appeal a decision
			 for involuntary withdrawal in writing to the vice president for student affairs
			 within seven calendar days of receipt of the notice of involuntary withdraw
			 under this policy. The senior vice president for
			 student life, or designee (other than dean of students), will
			 review the appeal and any supporting documentation and provide a decision in
			 writing within seven calendar days. This is the final level of appeal. In the
			 event of extenuating circumstances and at the sole discretion of the
			 senior vice president for student
			 life,
			 the time period in which to submit such appeal may be extended.
(6) Tuition credits and fee adjustments. The
			 student may be eligible for tuition credit or fee adjustments, in accordance
			 with the policies established by the bursar's office and other relevant
			 departments (for example, residence services). The dean of students or their
			 designee may provide the student guidance with those processes.
(7) Return to University. A student wishing
			 to return to the university within one year of involuntary withdraw shall not
			 be required to reapply for admission through the admissions office. A student
			 wishing to return after more than one year of absence may be required to
			 reapply for admission to the university and/or program of study, in accordance
			 with any applicable registration and admission requirements of the program and
			 of the office of the university registrar. The student should contact the dean
			 of students at least thirty calendar days prior to the start of the term the
			 student intends to return to, in order to provide time to review the student's
			 request and determine eligibility for re-enrollment. The following procedure
			 shall be followed to determine whether the student shall be re-enrolled:
(a) Depending upon the nature and individual
			 circumstances of the involuntary withdrawal, the dean of students may require
			 one or more of the following in determining whether to approve a request to
			 return:
(i) Documentation from current,
			 relevant healthcare providers supporting the student's ability to return and be
			 successful at the university. The university may request the student's
			 permission to communicate with any relevant and current healthcare providers to
			 obtain this information. If no such information exists, or if information
			 provided is insufficient, the dean of students may ask the student to complete
			 an assessment with an on-campus health provider.
(ii) A statement from the student describing:
			 the student's experience away from the university, including any activities
			 undertaken while away; the student's current understanding of the factors that
			 led to the need for the leave, and the insights the student has gained from
			 treatment and time away; and how the student plans to ensure a successful
			 return to the university.
(iii) A
			 meeting with the student to review the student's plan for maintaining health
			 and safety while at the university, including recommendations for ongoing
			 treatment, reasonable accommodations, and campus support options, when
			 applicable.
(iv) Agreement to an
			 individually created ongoing plan for a successful return to the university,
			 created in consultation with the student and pursuant to review of the
			 information and materials listed above, as applicable.
(b) The dean of students shall consider the
			 information and materials presented in paragraph (C)(7)(a) of this rule. The
			 dean of students may also consult with the following, as applicable: the
			 student's recent treating health care professional(s) (if available and with
			 necessary permissions), university health care professional(s), the care team,
			 the student, and any other applicable resources as necessary. A student's
			 failure to comply with any of the dean of students' requests in paragraph
			 (C)(7)(a) of this rule may be considered when deciding whether to approve a
			 request to return to the university.
(c) The dean of students shall provide a
			 decision regarding the student's re-enrollment to the student in writing, no
			 more than seven calendar days after the request to return is received. If more
			 time is needed to consider the request, the student shall be notified of such
			 in writing. The appropriate university departments shall also be notified of
			 this decision.
(d) A student may
			 appeal a denial of their request to return under this rule in writing to the
			 senior vice president for student
			 life
			 within seven calendar days of receipt of the request to return. The
			 senior vice president for student
			 life
			 shall review the appeal and any supporting documentation and provide a decision
			 in writing within seven calendar days. This is the final level of
			 appeal.