Mental and Physical Health Emergency Policy

The growth and development of students at the University of Southern Indiana is central to our goal of maintaining an environment conducive to student learning, academic achievement, individual responsibility, and respect for the rights and privileges of others. One aspect of our mission includes the availability of counseling, health services, educational programs and policies to foster good mental and physical health.

It is the policy of the University to confront and address any behavior that threatens the health and safety of the University community.

Protocol for Addressing Threatening and Disruptive Behavior

The University requires all students to develop and maintain high standards of scholarship and conduct. The Student Rights and Responsibilities: a Code of Student Behavior is the guiding document for University community standards and outlines all rights and responsibilities afforded to students. Violations of the Code or “bad behavior” should be consistently confronted, addressed and reported to the Dean of Students.

There are times when a student’s psychological or physical condition rises to the level of an emergency, and manifests itself in a way that must be addressed immediately. When University faculty, staff and students become aware of behavior which poses a threat to self or others, infringes on the rights of others, or impedes the operation of the University, it is imperative to call campus security: from a campus phone (7777) or from off campus or a cell phone 464-1845. The responding USI officer(s) will seek assistance from emergency services as needed and notify personal deemed appropriate.

It may be necessary for the Dean of Students (or designee) to inform the student of the consequences of unacceptable behavior, and assists the student through the emergency. If a situation involves threatening and or disruptive behavior the Dean of Students (or designee) must be involved with the student’s transition back into the University community. In those circumstances the Dean of Students (or designee,) in consultation with and appropriate University and community resources, may do any of the following:

Require the student to sign release forms allowing consultation with past or present clinicians/medical personnel who treated the student.
Emergency Suspend the student from campus and/or campus housing, until such time that the Protocol for Returning to Campus is completed.
Consult and refer the student to a community-based mental health facility or medical provider for a psychological (DSM-IV-TR criteria) and/or medical evaluation to determine the feasibility of the student’s return to campus. The cost for any community referral will be at the expense of the student.
Refer the student for conduct adjudication if the student’s behavior has violated University rules, policies or procedures.
Consult with and refer the student to the University Counseling Center or the Student Health Center as appropriate.

Emergency Exception to Confidentiality

When a student is engaged in behavior which poses a threat to self or others, infringes on the rights of others, or impedes the operation of the University, the Dean of Students (or designee) reserves the right to notify the student’s parents and appropriate University officials of information necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other persons.

Protocol for Returning to Campus

If a student leaves campus due to an emergency resulting from behavior which poses a threat to self or others, infringes on the rights of others, or impedes the operation of the University, the Dean of Students (or designee) will assist the student in completing the following process, prior to the student’s return to campus:

The student must meet with the Dean of Students (or designee) following release from a healthcare provider, and provide results of any mental health (DSM-IV-TR criteria) or medical assessments and any other supporting documentation, including the clinician’s/physician’s recommendations regarding the student’s ability to return to the classroom and the residential community.
The Dean of Students (or designee) will review information provided by the student and reserves the right to make a determination as to whether or not the student will be permitted to return to campus. The Dean of Students (or designee) may consult with the student’s professors and appropriate University and community resources to determine whether the student can be reasonably accommodated to permit the student’s participation in classes, academic and co-curricular activities. An assessment will also be made regarding the student’s ability to live in campus housing.
The Dean of Students (or designee) reserves the right to require the student to comply with a University-monitored treatment/behavioral plan recommended by a mental health/health care professional, as a condition of returning to the campus community.
When it is determined by the Dean of Students (or designee) that the student is not following through with the established treatment/behavioral plan, or if the measures prove ineffective, the student’s status with the University will be reassessed.