A Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy and Procedure has been established for Midwestern University in order to appropriately serve the needs of faculty, staff, and students. This policy has been established to implement a drug-free workplace and academic environment consistent with federal and state law, including the terms and conditions whereby employees, students, volunteers, faculty, physicians, and other professionals may be disciplined for violation of these policies and tested for suspected use of an illegal drug or substance.
Marijuana is legal in Arizona and Illinois but illegal federally, so is considered an illegal substance in any form under the Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy. See the Marijuana, Medical and Recreational Use section in the Student Life Policies for additional details.
Midwestern University maintains a drug-free environment consistent with the principles of the Federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act and the Drug-Free Workplace Act. All offers of employment and enrollment of students are conditional on students abiding by Midwestern University's Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy.
As part of the Drug-Free Workplace policy, entering students must electronically sign and submit a statement to the Office of Student Services indicating that they are drug-free and that they agree to abide by Midwestern University’s Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy. The signing and submitting of this statement occurs as a part of each new student’s Orientation Program the week prior to the onset of classes. In addition, the Office of Student Services emails a notification to review the current Drug-Free and Substance Abuse Policy annually to all students.
The stated policies and procedures apply to all students at Midwestern University on campus, or at all facilities operated by the affiliated entities. The stated policies and procedures also apply to any student who is enrolled at another academic institution but rotating in a clinical service on the premises of a facility operated by MWU. The University reserves the right to evaluate any student if there is reasonable cause to suspect that they are abusing or are under the influence of illegal drugs/substances. A student is considered under the influence when their ability to perform usual tasks is diminished or impaired due to the apparent use of an illegal drug/substance, alcohol, or a combination thereof. Any student who attends a class or a clinical rotation under the influence of or who is suspected of abusing drugs will be required to undergo an immediate drug and/or alcohol screening in accordance with this policy. The University, in its sole discretion, will determine the method of the drug test. The method used for a drug test is a urine drug test. In some instances, a hair sample may be warranted. While the costs of these initial drug screenings are typically the responsibility of the appropriate college or the Office of the Dean of Students, transportation to an emergency room for those students who are exhibiting signs of physical/mental impairment will be the responsibility of the student.
If a student is found to have a positive drug screen and they are taking prescription drugs, they will be asked to provide documentation to the Medical Review Officer at the drug screen facility in the form of either a picture of the current prescription bottle, or a physician’s or pharmacist’s name and phone number where they can be contacted for verification. If, however, the student is found to have a positive drug screen without documentation of a legitimate prescription, they will be subjected to disciplinary action, which may include but is not limited to, removal from clinical rotations, immediate suspension, medical leave and/or future random drug screens. Although extreme cases may result in dismissal, it is the intention of Midwestern University to assist students with chemical dependencies by helping the student receive the appropriate counseling and treatment for their dependency (see the Counseling for Chemical Dependency section in Student Life Poilices).