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Policies & Procedures Table of Contents

Student Rights and Conduct

Student Involuntary Withdrawal Policy  - 3C17

Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is committed to the safety, health and well-being of the campus community. The University recognizes that students may experience situations that significantly limit their ability to function successfully or safely in their role as students. In such circumstances, students should consider requesting a medical leave of absence. A medical leave of absence permits students to take a break from the University and their studies, so that they may address the issues that led to the need for the leave and later return to the University with an enhanced opportunity to achieve their educational goals. More information related to how to pursue a medical leave of absence can be found here . Students will be given the option to take a voluntary leave of absence before a decision is made with respect to an involuntary withdrawal. If the Dean of Students or their designee receives a credible report that a student poses a significant risk to the health and safety of the campus community, the Dean of Students or designee will initiate an individualized review of the student's risk and may take interim action. If, after review, the Dean of Students or designee determines that the student poses a significant risk to the health and safety of the campus community that cannot be reduced through voluntary measures, the Dean of Students or designee may separate the student from the University and its facilities using this procedure.

  1. Involuntary Withdrawal

    Requiring a student to take a leave of absence is rare and only happens when current medical knowledge and/or the best available objective evidence indicates to the Dean of Students or their designee (hereinafter, Dean of Students) that there is a significant risk to the student’s health or safety or the health or safety of others, or the student’s behavior severely disrupts the University environment, and no reasonable accommodations can adequately reduce that risk or disruption.

    Consistent with SIUE’s Non-Discrimination Policy, SIUE prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of any type of disability or any other characteristic protected by applicable law in the administration of the University’s programs and activities. SIUE offers a range of resources, support services and accommodations to address the physical and mental health needs of students. However, on rare occasions, a student’s needs may require a level of care that exceeds the care the University can appropriately provide. Where current knowledge about the individual’s circumstances and/or the best available objective evidence indicates that a student poses a significant risk to the health or safety of a member of the University community; where a student is unable or unwilling to carry out substantial self-care obligations and poses a significant risk to their own safety not based on mere speculation, stereotypes, or generalizations; or where a student’s behavior severely disrupts the University environment and the student does not want to take a voluntary leave, the Dean of Students has the authority to withdraw the student from the University involuntarily. Before placing any student on an involuntary withdrawal, SIUE will conduct an individualized assessment, consulting with the Behavioral Intervention Team, to determine if there are reasonable accommodations that would permit the student to continue to participate in the University community without taking a leave of absence.

    The Dean of Students may be notified about a student who may meet the criteria of an involuntary withdrawal from a variety of sources, including, but not limited to, the student, the student’s academic advisor, University Housing staff, an academic department, or a member of the Behavioral Intervention Team. If the Dean of Students deems it appropriate, these procedures will be initiated.
    1. Procedures for Withdrawing a Student from the University Involuntarily
      1. The Dean of Students will issue a notice to the student in writing that an involuntary withdrawal is under consideration. The written notice will include the reason(s) why the student is being considered for an involuntary withdrawal, contact information for ACCESS, which can provide information about accommodations, and a copy of this policy.
      2. The Dean of Students will consider potential accommodations and/or modifications that could remove the need for an involuntary withdrawal, such as the option to take a medical leave of absence, academic accommodations, housing and dining accommodations, and reasonable modifications to University policies, rules, and regulations.
      3. The student may be asked to execute a Medical Release Authorization Form providing SIUE personnel temporary authority to communicate with the student’s healthcare provider(s) regarding issues relevant and appropriate to the consideration of an involuntary withdrawal, when there is a need for the University to have those communications as part of the interactive process and individualized assessment. If a student refuses to execute a Medical Release Authorization Form or to respond within the timeframe set by the Dean of Students, the Dean may proceed with the assessment based on information in the Dean’s possession at the time.
      4. The Dean of Students will also confer, as feasible and when appropriate in a particular matter, with individuals regarding the need for an involuntary withdrawal. Although each case will vary, conferring individuals could include:
        1. Member(s) of the Behavioral Intervention Team;
        2. College or School Deans, or Deans Office Staff;
        3. Faculty members;
        4. Academic advisors;
        5. With appropriate authorization, representatives from Health Service or Counseling Services;
        6. With appropriate authorization, the student’s treatment provider(s) or other health care professionals;
        7. With appropriate authorization, a representative from ACCESS; and/or
        8. Such other individuals as may be appropriate in an individual matter.
      5. Particular attention will be paid to the criteria for withdrawing a student from the University involuntarily, specifically:
        1. whether current knowledge about the individual’s circumstances and/or the best available objective evidence indicates that a student poses a significant risk to the health or safety of a member of the University community;
        2. whether a student is unable or unwilling to carry out substantial self-care obligations and poses a significant risk to their own safety not based on mere speculation, stereotypes, or generalizations; and/or
        3. whether a student’s behavior severely disrupts the University environment.
      6. The Dean of Students will give significant weight to the opinion of the student’s treatment provider(s), including those identified by the student, regarding the student’s ability to function academically and safely at the University with or without reasonable accommodations. If the Dean of Students determines that the information provided by the treatment provider(s) is incomplete, requires further explanation or clarification, or is inconsistent with other information in the student’s record, the Dean of Students, with proper authorization, will contact the treatment provider(s) to obtain additional information. In certain circumstances, the University may require the student to undergo an additional evaluation by an independent and objective professional designated by SIUE, if the Dean of Students believes it will facilitate a more informed decision.
      7. Following these consultations and based on a review of the relevant documentation and information available, the Dean of Students will make a decision as to whether the student should be placed on an involuntary withdrawal and will provide written notice of this decision to the student. The written notice of decision will include information about the student’s right to appeal and to reasonable accommodations during the appeal process. The review and notice of decision under this policy should be done in a reasonably timely manner. Where students have been asked to remain away from the University while the review is underway, every effort will be made by the Dean of Students to reach a decision within one week, provided the student responds in a timely manner to requests for information and, if appropriate, evaluation.
        1. If an involuntary withdrawal is imposed. The written notice of decision to the student will set forth the basis for the decision and a timeframe for when the student must leave the University and when they may be eligible to return to the University, and the conditions and/or requirements the student will need to satisfy to be eligible for return. The written notice will also inform the student of their right to reasonable accommodations in the return process and will provide contact information for ACCESS, Counseling Services, and Health Services. The length of the leave will be determined on an individual basis.
        2. If an involuntary withdrawal is not imposed. The Dean of Students may impose reasonable interim measures and/or requirements under which the student is allowed to remain at the University.
      8. Within one week of receiving the decision of the Dean of Students, the student may submit an appeal of the decision in writing to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs or the Vice Chancellor’s designee, who may not be the Dean of Students. The written request for appeal must specify the particular substantive and/or procedural basis for the appeal and must be made on grounds other than general dissatisfaction with the decision of the Dean of Students. The review by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs or the Vice Chancellor’s designee will be limited to the following considerations:
        1. Were the proper facts and criteria brought to bear on the decision?
        2. Is there any new information not previously available to the student that may change the outcome of the decision-making process?
        3. Were there any procedural irregularities that materially affected the outcome of the matter to the detriment of the appellant?
        4. Given the proper facts, criteria, and procedures, was the decision a reasonable one?
    2. Implications of an Involuntary Withdrawal
      1. Student status. Students on an involuntary withdrawal generally retain their admitted student status; however, they are not registered and, therefore, do not have the rights and privileges of registered students.
      2. Housing. Consistent with SIUE’s policies and procedures, students assigned to a University residence are subject to the terms of the University Housing Contract. Students who leave the University before the end of a term may be eligible to receive refunds of portions of their housing charges. Eligibility criteria for refunds are set forth in the Housing Cancellation Form, which is found on the University Housing Forms website.
      3. Effective date(s) of leave. A student must leave the University within the timeframe set forth by the Dean of Students. The leave will remain in effect until (1) it is determined after an individualized assessment that the student is able to return to the University with or without reasonable accommodations and (2) the student has complied with any University requirements applicable to all students returning from a leave and all of the conditions mandated by the Dean of Students and/or the Vice Chancellor.
      4. Notification. At any time during a student’s withdrawal  from the University, the Dean of Students may notify a student’s parent, guardian, emergency contact, or other individual, consistent with applicable law, if notification is deemed appropriate.
      5. Association with the University while withdrawn. Unless expressly permitted by the Dean of Students in writing, students on an involuntary withdrawal are not permitted to be present at the University and are not permitted to engage in any University-related activities, including on-campus employment.
      6. Coursework taken while withdrawn. Consistent with SIUE’s policies and procedures, academic credit for work done elsewhere may be allowed towards a SIUE degree. Students should refer to the Course Equivalency Guide and consult with the Registrar’s Office Transfer Center prior to taking any coursework while involuntarily withdrawn.
      7. Tuition and fees. Consistent with SIUE’s policies and procedures, students who leave the University before the end of a term may be eligible to receive refunds of portions of their tuition. See the Tuition Refund Policy page for a schedule of refunds.
      8. Meal Plan. Consistent with SIUE policies and procedures, a meal plan refund is based on the date when a student moves out of University residence and is approved under conditions as specified in the Housing Contract. Students with questions about residential meal plan refunds should contact the Central Housing Office.
      9. Visa Status. International students (F-1 and J-1 Visa holders) placed on an involuntary withdraw must speak with International Student and Scholar Services regarding their visa status.
  2. Request for Return
    1. For general requirements applicable to all students returning to SIUE after a leave of absence, undergraduate students should refer to the Returning Students website. Graduate students should consult with their academic department and the Graduate School. In addition to the general requirements all students must meet when returning to SIUE after a leave of absence, as well as any conditions mandated by the Dean of Students and/or the Vice Chancellor for return from an involuntary withdrawal as outlined below in section II.C, students seeking to return from an involuntary withdrawal for reasons of personal or community health and safety may be required to submit additional documentation related to the factors set forth in section I.A.5 as part of an individualized assessment. ACCESS will work with the students to provide reasonable accommodations in the return process as necessary and appropriate.
    2. A student must make a written request to the Dean of Students to return to the University. Generally, a student will not be allowed to return until one full semester has elapsed or until the leave period in the involuntary withdrawal notification has elapsed and all conditions and/or requirements are met.
    3. The Dean of Students may require the student to provide evidence that the student, with or without reasonable accommodations, has sufficiently addressed the issues that previously established the criteria for imposing an involuntary withdrawal as set forth in section I.A.6, above. The Dean of Students may also ask, confer with, or seek information from others to assist in making the determination. The information sought may include:
      1. At the student’s discretion, documentation of efforts by the student to address the issues that led to the leave;
      2. With appropriate authorization, release of academic records to inform treating clinicians;
      3. With appropriate authorization, release of treatment information to the extent necessary to determine if the student has sufficiently reduced the risk or disruption that led to the need for the involuntary withdrawal;
      4. With appropriate authorization, consultation with Health Service or Counseling Services to the extent necessary to determine if the student has sufficiently reduced the risk or disruption that led to the need for the involuntary withdrawal.
    4. All returning students must meet the essential eligibility requirements and any technical standards of the University and, if applicable, the relevant school or department, with or without reasonable accommodations. If the Dean of Students is not satisfied that the student is ready to return to the University, the student will be notified in writing of the decision, including the reason for the decision, within a reasonable time after the student has submitted a request for return and required documentation.
    5. A student not permitted to return may appeal the decision to the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs following the procedure in section I.A.8.
  3. Scope of the Policy and Relationship to Other University Policies

    An involuntary withdrawal is an administrative process; it is not a disciplinary process. This policy and these procedures are not intended to be punitive and do not take the place of disciplinary actions that are in response to violations of SIUE’s Student Code of Conduct or other policies or directives, nor do they preclude the removal or dismissal of students from the University or University-related programs as a result of violations of other University policies or school or departmental protocols. This policy does not limit the University’s ability to place enrollment holds on students for reasons beyond the scope of this policy, and nothing in this policy relieves a student of any financial obligations to the University that were in place at the time the involuntary withdrawal was imposed.

    Nothing in this policy limits the power of the University to take administrative action to ensure the safety of the SIUE community. In exceptional circumstances, where the health or well-being of any person may be seriously affected, where physical safety is seriously threatened, or where the ability of the University to carry out its essential operations is seriously threatened or impaired, the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee, may summarily suspend, dismiss, or bar any person from the University or University-related programs. In all such cases, actions taken will be reviewed promptly, typically within one week, by the appropriate University authority.

    In situations involving an imminent or ongoing threat of harm to the student or any other member of the University community, the Dean of Students, in the exercise of their reasonable judgment, and in consultation with the Behavioral Intervention Team, may require a student to be immediately prohibited from entering SIUE’s campus or facilities utilized for University programs or activities while the individualized assessment and review described in section I.A. are taking place. Such students will receive the written notice described in section I.A.2 as quickly as possible.

  4. Requests for Reasonable Accommodation

    SIUE is committed to providing equal access to all participants in University processes, including students with disabilities. Students with disabilities should contact ACCESS to request accommodations. Information about the support services ACCESS provides, types of accommodations offered, and appropriate documentation for accommodations, can be found on the ACCESS website.
  5. Related Resources

    As noted herein, students placed on an involuntary withdrawal may have additional conditions and/or requirements they must meet prior to returning to the University, in addition to any University requirements applicable to all students returning from a leave.

    • Undergraduate Students should consult the Returning Students web page for generally applicable deadlines, information and resources.
    • Graduate Students should consult with the Graduate School and their department for generally applicable deadlines, information and resources.

Students who are placed on an involuntary leave of absence may want to consult with the following offices, where appropriate:

Resources will be available to assist all students who are placed on an involuntary withdrawal with their questions about the process to return and resume their studies and life at SIUE.


Approved by Chancellor effective 10/24/23
This policy was issued on October 25, 2023.
Document Reference: 3C17
Origin: OC 10/24/23

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