Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1984 [PAGE 404]

EXTRACTED TEXT FROM PAGE:

1983]

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

395

On motion of Mr. Madden, this degree was authorized as recommended.

Authorization for the Involuntary W i t h d r a w a l of Students for Psychiatric Reasons (6) Officers at both the Urbana-Champaign and the Chicago campuses must deal occasionally with individual students who exhibit sufficient mental disorder that they should be withdrawn involuntarily from the campus. Under present policies, involuntary withdrawal is limited to two situations: (1) failure to achieve academically at the level stipulated by the college in which the student is enrolled; or (2) on the authority of a senate committee on student discipline. For a student who exhibits severe emotional stress, existing procedures often are not sufficient. Indeed, addressing such situations through the machinery of student conduct and discipline or academic withdrawal may distort the problem, and may not provide the basic human concern required for the individual. Moreover, there are instances where the individual or family cannot be persuaded that the student should withdraw voluntarily. Accordingly, authority is requested, under the conditions and procedures specified in the following statement, to act administratively to withdraw a student involuntarily for psychiatric reasons. The policy statement, including procedural guidelines, has been developed to enable administrative officers, in consultation with qualified mental health professionals, to take appropriate action in a manner which respects both the rights of the individual and the needs of the campus community. T h e chancellors at Urbana-Champaign and Chicago have recommended that such authority as described be granted. I concur and recommend the adoption of the following statement of policy and procedures under which such authority would be exercised. O n m o t i o n of M r . M a d d e n , these r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s w e r e a p p r o v e d . Policy and Procedures: Involuntary Withdrawal of Students for Psychiatric Reasons A student will be subject to withdrawal for psychiatric reasons if the director of the health center (or service) concludes, on the basis of clear and convincing evidence, that the student is suffering from a mental disorder as defined by the current American Psychiatric Association diagnostic manual or its equivalent; and, as a result of the mental disorder, engages, or threatens to engage, in behavior which: (a) poses a significant danger of causing harm to the student or to others; or (b) substantially impedes the lawful activities of other members of the campus community. Whenever a student refuses to be withdrawn by the director, he or she may refer the matter to the dean of students. The dean, or designee, may then implement an interim, mandatory psychiatric withdrawal, the equivalent of an immediate suspension, if the dean determines that the student is suffering from a mental disorder and if the student's behavior: (a) poses a significant danger of causing harm to the student or to others; or (b) substantially impedes the lawful activities of other members of the campus community. A student withdrawn on an interim basis shall be given an opportunity to appear before the dean within 36 hours from the date of the interim withdrawal, in order to discuss the following issues: (1) the reliability of the information concerning the student's behavior; and/or (2) whether the student's behavior poses a significant danger of causing harm to self or others, or substantially impedes the lawful activities of other members of the campus community.