The Office of Student Services has developed procedures to assist students and ensure appropriate care for any student who is impaired due to alcohol and/or drug dependency and abuse. Students who are chemical dependent can approach key personnel on campus to get assistance with their dependency and feel confident that the information they provide will remain confidential to only those individuals who need to be involved. Such personnel on campus may include program directors, faculty advisors, student counselors, college administrators, and the Dean of Students. The Academic Dean and Dean of Students are the primary individuals who will work with the student to ensure appropriate care. Clinical preceptors and/or Clinical Coordinators may also need to be notified, depending on the circumstances. Midwestern University cannot guarantee clinical rotations for students with chemical dependency issues. All costs involved with counseling/treatment programs for chemical dependency are the responsibility of the student.
An offer of counseling for chemical dependency is at the sole option of Midwestern University. MWU reserves the right to discipline a student, including dismissal from the university, for violations of its drug free workplace policy in accordance with the Student Handbook.
Procedures:
- If a student who is on campus or at a rotation site displays behavior that is indicative of intoxication, drug or substance abuse, the Office of Student Services should be contacted. The reporting faculty member, staff member or preceptor should provide written documentation of the incidents which led to the initiation of the report. Per University policy, the student may be subjected to an immediate drug screen at a facility designated by the Office of Student Services. The student should not be allowed to leave the premises unless the Office of Student Services, faculty member or the preceptor determines it is appropriate to call emergency services immediately at 911 to have the student taken to the closest emergency room. Transportation to an emergency room for those students who are exhibiting signs of physical/mental impairment will be the responsibility of the student. The student must sign a waiver permitting the release of the results of any drug/alcohol screen to the University. Refusal to sign the waiver will be considered as admission of a positive test. A diluted specimen result is also considered a positive test and an immediate retest will be required.
- If a student is determined to have a positive drug screen submitted as part of the requirements for a rotation, or in response to a drug screen that was administered because of reasonable cause, as stated above and in accordance to the above stated Drug-Free Workplace and Substance Abuse Policy, the procedure will be as follows.
- The student will be placed on leave or suspended until they have successfully tested negative through a drug screen and/or completed a chemical dependency evaluation from a provider approved by the University, as determined by the Dean of Students. The University is responsible for the cost of the chemical dependency evaluation. If the student is determined to have a chemical dependency, the student must complete a chemical dependency rehabilitation program that follows the recommendations in the evaluation. The cost of such a chemical dependency program is the responsibility of the student. In order for the student to return to classes/clinical rotations, the student will be required to develop a contractual arrangement with the chemical dependency rehabilitation program that includes random drug screens, and which allows for open communication with appropriate MWU administration. The student must submit a copy of the contractual arrangement as well as a letter from the chemical dependency program stating that the student is fit to return to full-time student status. Failure to comply with the stipulations of the chemical dependency program or failure to remain drug free will result in immediate suspension and possible dismissal. The University also reserves the right to discipline the student for violations of its drug free workplace policy in accordance with the Student Handbook.
- If it is determined that the student does not have a chemical dependency, but has violated the University's drug free policy, then the University reserves the right to randomly drug screen the student through the remainder of the student's tenure with MWU, at the student's expense, to verify that the student is abiding by University policy. The University also reserves the right to discipline the student for violations of its drug free workplace policy in accordance with the Student Handbook.