FI. Emotionally Disturbed Students

GENERAL

This procedure outlines how student personnel will deal with a student displaying emotionally disturbed behavior.

PURPOSE

Occasionally, it is necessary that offices or professional staff members become involved in cases with an emotionally disturbed student. Normally, cases involving behavior in violation of the Code of Student Conduct will be administratively handled in accordance with the College Discipline Procedure (Reference Section FF). However, if the student lacks the capacity to respond to the charges or is not aware of the nature or wrongfulness of his/her act, it is necessary to have operating policies and procedures to guide staff members’ decisions and actions.

REVIEW

This student affairs policy/procedure will be reviewed by February 15 of each year by the South Plains Student Crisis Committee with recommendations for revisions presented to the Dean of Students/Student Life by March 1.

POLICY/ PROCEDURE

South Plains College provides counseling and referral for students displaying emotional problems or abnormal behaviors. Personnel of all departments of the college should refer students displaying abnormal behavior(s) or emotional problems to the Counseling Center for referral. The Counseling Center will maintain a tracking system on all students referred.

DEFINITIONS

1. Abnormal behaviors are overt actions, omissions to act, or verbal or written statements, which would not be consistent with the actions or statements of a reasonable, prudent person under similar circumstances.

2. Emotional problems include, but are not limited to, behaviors resulting from possible physical, drug related, or psychological disorders which may pose a potential harm to the physical well-being of the student or others, and/or cause significant disruptive activity to the normal functions of the college.

3. A student displaying emotional behavior is interpreted to include, but not be limited to, a student exhibiting any of the behaviors described above.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

1. In dealing with students behaving in an emotionally disturbed manner, there may be instances that are dangerous to the student or others. Various South Plains College staff may come into contact with this situation. If the situation appears to be life-threatening or dangerous to others, it is recommended that the South Plains College Security be called. If for some reason South Plains College Security are not available, call the Levelland Police. Either may be reached by dialing 894-6164, which is the Levelland Police radio dispatcher. The police will determine if the student must be restrained or hospitalized. Immediately after the police are called, please contact the Dean of Students, Dean of Student Life, or Vice President for Student Affairs.

2. A representative of the Dean of Students/Student Life office should contact the student's parents, spouse, or guardian to inform them of the circumstances and encourage them to come to the hospital if possible.

3. If it is determined by the attending physician that the student does not require hospitalization, the student will be released from hospital care. It may still be important to inform the parents, spouse or guardian.

SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE CRISIS TEAM

The Committee consists of the Vice President for Student Affairs, Dean of Students, Dean of Student Life, Student Health Nurse, and a designated member of the counseling staff. This committee will meet when such incidents occur and consider action on an individual basis. Actions by the committee may include:

a. Students who may pose a threat to themselves or others may be temporarily suspended and required to obtain psychological counseling. South Plains College is not financially responsible for this counseling. In order to be readmitted, the student must furnish to the committee a mental health evaluation from the attending psychologist.

b. The student will be afforded a hearing with the crisis team. The committee will consider whether the student will be allowed to remain enrolled or be suspended. If the student fails to seek counseling and furnish the mental health evaluation, the committee may elect to administratively withdraw him/her.

c. If the student chooses to re-apply for admission at a later date, admission is still contingent upon a mental health evaluation, and approval of the South Plains College Crisis Team.

NON- EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

1. The Dean of Student/Student Life Office should be notified in any instance where a student demonstrates abnormal or emotional problem behaviors. The Dean of Student/Student Life will call a meeting of the South Plains College Crisis Team to discuss the student's behavior and emotional well-being. Assistance in the evaluation may also be sought by referring the student to a psychologist or psychiatrist for a mental health evaluation (at the student's expense).

2. If it is deemed in the best interest of the student and/or the South Plains College community that the student be withdrawn from the college, every withdrawal effort will be made to facilitate the student's voluntary withdrawal for health reasons and it is determined that the student's emotional health is disruptive to normal college functions, and/or presents a threat of harm or bodily injury to him/herself or others, the Dean of Students/Student Life may recommend that the student be temporarily suspended from the college.

HEARING

1. The student will be temporarily suspended until a hearing can be held to determine whether the suspension should be sustained until certain medical conditions for reinstatement are met. This hearing will be called by the Vice President for Student Affairs, and will include the student and/or student's guardian, and the South Plains College Crisis Team (as defined previously). The hearing will include: (1) adequate notice to the student that he/she may be subject to involuntary withdrawal; (2) an opportunity for the student, at his/her own expense, to submit an evaluation by a mental health professional of their choice; (3) an opportunity for the student to examine and discuss the mental health evaluation; and (4) an opportunity for the student to be accompanied by a representative of his/her choice (for advice and counsel only). If it is determined at this hearing that the student should not be reinstated at that time, the Crisis Team will determine the conditions necessary for the reinstatement of the student of the college at a later time. A letter will be sent to the student and/or guardian by the Dean of Students reiterating the reasons for the involuntary withdrawal, as well as the conditions for reinstatement.

2. The student may return to the college after the conditions as outlined in the hearing and follow-up letter have been met.

READMISSION PROCEDURES AND APPEALS

1. A student who has had a registration hold placed on his/her readmission for health reasons must request readmission clearance from the Dean of Students/Student Life office at least three weeks prior to the first day of classes of the semester in which the student wishes to re-enroll. The student may be required by that office to submit medical evidence supportive of his/her present health and emotional ability to function properly in a college environment. The Dean of Students/Student Life shall evaluate the student's request and supporting evidence. Primary consideration will be given to the satisfying of all conditions specified at the time of suspension or withdrawal for the readmission of the student to South Plains College. If approval is granted by the Dean of Students/Student Life for the removal of the registration hold, the student must then complete the regular readmission procedures required by the Office of Admissions.

2. If approval for readmission is not granted by the Dean of Students/Student Life, the student may appeal that decision to the Vice President for Student Affairs. The appeal must be made in writing within five college working days of the date the student was notified by the Dean of Students/Student Life that his/her request for readmission was denied.

3. The Vice President for Student Affairs will inform the student that he/she is entitled to a hearing to be held within five college days, if at all possible. The appeals committee will consist of the South Plains College Student Crisis Team chaired by the Vice President for Student Affairs. Following the hearing, the Committee shall either sustain the decision of the Dean of Students/Student Life, or shall overrule the decision and allow the student to reenroll at South Plains College. The Dean of Students/Student Life shall notify all parties of this decision in writing within three college working days following the completion of the hearing.