VCOM Institutional Policy and Procedure Manual

VCOM Policy and Procedure

Policy #S003

In emergency situations, the Campus Dean (or designee), in the exercise of reasonable judgment, may bypass some or all of the above steps and considerations, in order to ensure campus safety or patient safety in the clinical sites, and/or the safety of other students. Nothing in this or other policies shall be construed to prevent VCOM from requiring students to, at all times, meet the College/program essential eligibility requirements and technical standards, and the policies and procedures that assure campus safety. The imposing of a MMLOA is an academic decision and is not a disciplinary action; however, separate disciplinary action may also occur as a result of a separate action by the student or an action from an underlying behavior of the student, pursuant to the College Catalog and Student Handbook. Individual Assessment Team In situations where there is a need for a student to have an individualized assessment, the Campus Dean (or designee) shall appoint members of an Individual Assessment Team (IAT) to perform such individualized assessment. The IAT shall include, if possible, the Vice Provost for Academic Planning, Institutional Effectiveness, and Accreditation; the Vice President for Institutional Policy and Administrative Law; the campus Director of Student and Institutional Academic Success; and two additional campus Associate Deans. The Campus Dean, within his/her discretion, may appoint different or additional members as the circumstances may require. 2.1 Decision of the Campus Dean If VCOM decides to impose a MMLOA, the Campus Dean (or designee) will advise the student, via official VCOM email, followed by a letter delivered via certified mail and verbally by the appropriate administrator, of the leave and duration of the leave, any restrictions from coming on campus or entering a clinical site, and available grievance procedures should the student wish to challenge the decision. VCOM shall document the decision, as well as the underlying facts, assessments and determinations. Appeal Process Upon receiving written notification from the Campus Dean, the student, within seven (7) calendar days, may appeal the Campus Dean’s decision to the Provost. The Provost has discretionary power to affirm, modify, or remand the decision. The appeal must be in writing and be based upon new, relevant, and material information that was not available to the Campus Dean. After receiving the written appeal, the Provost will consider the request and will notify the student, in writing, of his/her decision generally within 14 calendar days of receiving the written appeal. However, the decision may take 30 days or longer depending upon the investigation of the case. The Provost reserves the right to obtain outside legal opinions on the review and the decisions that have been made, and to delay decision until such time that Counsel has responded. The decision of the Provost is final. 3. MANDATORY MEDICAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE REINSTATEMENT PROCEDURES VCOM students who have been on MMLOA must first seek approval from the Campus Dean (or designee) in order to submit an Application for Reinstatement. The Campus Dean will then alert the student to all documentation required to reapply for a reinstatement, which may include additional 2.3 The IAT shall convene as soon as possible to conduct the assessment and provide a written report to the Campus Dean within seven (7) days of the conclusion of the assessment. 2.2

VCOM Mandatory Medical Leave of Absence Policy and Procedures

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