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Introduction
RIT
describes acceptable conduct in its publication, “Student
Rights and Responsibilities: A Handbook of Policies
and Procedures.” The regulations outlined in this policy
allow students to live and study in a supportive learning
environment, protecting the rights of the community
while respecting the rights of the individual. All students
should expect to carry on daily activities safely and
productively.
A.
Statement of Policy
The
university may place a student on an Involuntary Leave
of Absence, hereafter referred to as Involuntary LOA,
when the student is unwilling or unable to make a determination
to take a voluntary leave of absence, and when there
is evidence to suggest that:
1.
the student poses a significant danger
of imminent or serious harm to self or to others,
or to the property of the campus,
or
2
the student, although not posing the risk
of imminent or serious harm to self or others, impedes
the lawful activities of
other members of the campus community. Examples of
such behavior include being disruptive to the environment,or
having needs which exceed the level of care and supervision
that the university community can provide.
The
policy and procedures for initiating an Involuntary
LOA do not take the place of disciplinary actions (e.g.
suspension, dismissal, expulsion) that are in response
to violations of the RIT Code of Conduct.
An
Involuntary LOA can be imposed for no more than five
consecutive quarters, eight for part-time students,
including summer. If the stipulated conditions are not
achieved or complied with in this time period, the student
will have to reapply for admission in accordance with
the Institute's readmission procedures. The student's
transcript will be noted with “Leave of Absence” and
the effective date of the LOA.
B.
Procedures for Emergency Situation/Imminent Danger
Procedure:
- When
a student is identified as posing an immediate or
serious threat to harm him/herself and/or others,
Public Safety (and/or other law enforcement/emergency
response personnel) and appropriate designated RIT
administrators are contacted.
- Members
of the Student Behavior Consultation Team (SBCT),
in consultation with local law enforcement and/or
emergency response officials, if appropriate, evaluate
the situation, accessing any information available
to them at the time.
- If
student behavior is determined to be an immediate
or serious threat, the student is placed on ‘interim
LOA' by the Chairs of the SBCT, effective immediately.
- Interventions
to ensure the safety of the student and/or the community
will be implemented and referred for proper evaluation
and/or treatment, as indicated.
- The
student is notified in writing by the Chairs of SBCT
that an interim LOA is in place and of the restrictions
on his/her contact and interaction with members of
the community as a result of the LOA.
- The
student receives notification that the case is being
considered for referral for either a conduct hearing
and/or an Involuntary Leave review through SBCT.
- The
student is informed in writing of the conditions required
for requesting to return to RIT, the advisable or
minimum length of separation and the documentation
required to support consideration of return to school.
-
The
appeal process may be utilized to obtain reinstatement,
but the interim LOA persists until the appeal process
is completed.
C.
Procedures for Non-imminent Emergency Situations
Procedure:
- Members
of the SBCT evaluate the situation, accessing any
information available to them at the time. Possible
outcomes/recommendations of this meeting include:
•
Voluntary LOA
•
Involuntary LOA
• Remain
in school under specified conditions
• Referral
to campus or off campus service
2.
Within 24 hours of the meeting of the SBCT, the student
will be notified of a meeting
with
the Chairs of the SBCT to discuss
the outcome/recommendations. The student will be informed
of his/her rights (see #6 below).
3. The Chairs
of the SBCT meet with the student to review the decision
of the SBCT.
4. The student
will also be notified in writing of the conditions for
reentry in the event a
voluntary LOA is taken or an involuntary
LOA is imposed, or any conditions required for remaining
in school.
5. A student subject
to an Involuntary LOA is entitled to the following:
a.
Notice of intent to remove the student
pursuant to this policy stating the reasons for
the action.
b.
The opportunity to review and discuss
the information upon which the decision is being
made.
c.
The opportunity to present relevant information
on his/her own behalf (or by a health
professional working with the student, if the student
is not capable of self representation).
d.
The right to a non-legal advocate.
6. In the
event the student disagrees with the decision of the
SBCT, the student may
appeal
the finding.
The appeal must be made
in writing to the Vice President for Student Affairs
(or her/his designee), within three business days
after the date of the notification to the student
of the decision. The appeal notification must state
which of the following grounds are the basis for the
appeal and the reasons supporting this position. If
the decision of the SBCT is to place the student on
an Involuntary LOA, this Involuntary LOA will be in
effect during the appeal process.
7. An appeal of
an Involuntary LOA will be limited to the following
grounds:
a. To determine whether the process used
to impose the Involuntary Leave was in
accordance with the designated
procedures.
b. To determine whether the decision reached
was based on information and
situational
conditions that support the conclusion.
8. The findings
and recommendation of the Vice President for Student
Affairs will be
communicated
to the student and the Chairs
of SBCT along with any changes that will be made to
the original decision as an outcome of the appeal.
The written communication will be sent to the student
within ten working days after receiving the student's
written appeal. The Vice President for Student Affairs'
decision shall be final.
9. Upon being
placed on an Involuntary LOA, the student may no longer
attend
classes,
may
not be an active member of a student organization,
may no longer use Institute facilities, must vacate
Institute owned and affiliated housing, and may be
entitled to whatever refunds of tuition, fees, and
room and board charges as would be appropriate given
the timing of the LOA.
10. Students who are
on an Involuntary LOA will have a hold placed on their
records,
which
will prevent
them from being readmitted or reenrolled in the institution
until the conditions for re-admittance (which will
be spelled out in the letter to the student) have
been met. It is the responsibility of the student
to provide documentation of compliance with such conditions.
Readmission is at the discretion of RIT.
11. Students placed on an Involuntary
LOA have the following responsibilities:
a. Abide by the restrictions and recommendations
of the LOA as outlined in written notification.
b.
Meet all conditions outlined by RIT before
submitting request for re-admittance.
c.
When seeking re-admittance,
submit supporting documentation at least 3 weeks in
advance
of beginning of quarter plan to return.
d.
Permit (with appropriately signed release
of information) exchange of information between
designated RIT staff and mental or other health care
providers, in order to determine
a timely and acceptable return to college.
12. A student
who is not placed on an Involuntary LOA may be subject
to conditions to
continue
enrollment at the university. In such cases, the student
will be provided with a written summary of conditions
and must meet all conditions in order to maintain
student status. A student who fails to meet such conditions
will be subject to an Involuntary LOA by the Chairs
of the SBCT, or will be subject to charges through
the RIT Student Conduct Process for failure to comply.
May
5, 2000
Revised
April 8, 2009
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