VCOM College Catalog and Student Handbook

Students who become pregnant must inform the Associate Dean for Medical Education or the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs of the pregnancy before participating in at-risk environments such as anatomy laboratories, or environments where infectious diseases pose a risk. As new technology exists, students who use service animals for healthcare issues are generally required to transition to an alternate method of monitoring using that technology. In general, now that this technology exists, service animals are not used to support medical staff as the use of such animals may place an increased risk to the patient and/or do not meet the hospital requirements. Self-Identification of Disabilities as an Applicant VCOM applicants are expected to self-identify if they are unsure whether they meet the Technical Standards. VCOM does not discriminate on the basis of disability and assures that no adverse view of the applicant will be made if accommodations are requested for the student to meet Technical Standards. Applicants may freely question whether they meet the Technical Standards without repercussion. Applicants who, with assistance, can meet the Technical Standards for Admission and Successful Completion of the Osteopathic Program are encouraged to apply. The applicant who believes he/she may need accommodations must inquire about the Section 504 eligibility process to apply for accommodations for their disability through the Director for Student and Institutional Academic Success, who also serves as the Section 504 Campus Coordinator. Students should inquire and apply early as adequate documentation, including, but not limited to, psychometric testing, medical records, and prior educational records will be required, which often take time to obtain. Obtaining proper documentation is the student’s responsibility and all evaluations will be at the student’s expense. Students with disabilities must complete the VCOM Section 504 eligibility paperwork as a part of the process for applying for eligibility for accommodations, through the Director for Student and Institutional Academic Success, who also serves as the Section 504 Campus Coordinator. For those that are found eligible, VCOM makes reasonable accommodations including seating arrangement adjustments, visual or auditory aids, extended test taking times, small group testing environments, and other classroom or learning needs. For more information, see the “Assistance for Matriculated Students with Disabilities” section in this Catalog/Handbook . Applicants who require controlled substances and other prescribed medications that will result in a positive drug screen test must notify Clinical Affairs in advance of matriculation and submit documentation of the prescription and the need for the prescription from a physician. Students who require controlled substances and other prescribed medications after matriculation, which will result in a positive drug screen test, must notify Clinical Affairs immediately and submit documentation of the prescription and the need for the prescription from a physician. Certain clinical training environments may restrict students who have a positive drug screen test. Students must be able to meet mental health standards from the Technical Standards for Admission and Successful Completion of the Osteopathic Program. VCOM reserves the right to have the student re-evaluated for a disability if adequate prior evaluations have not been done, requiring further evaluation and testing. When this is required, it is at the student’s expense. Applicants who have questions regarding VCOM's assistance for a specific disability, please contact the Director for Student and Institutional Academic Success, who also serves as the Section 504 Campus Coordinator. Applications for accommodations are not considered retroactively. Students who must remediate a course or who are suspended or dismissed for failure in the curriculum or who are failing a course during a block/rotation in progress may not claim failure due to disability that has not been previously identified, documented, or considered by the Section 504 Committee.

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