PROPOSED RULES
Original Notice.
Preproposal statement of inquiry was filed as WSR 09-05-016.
Title of Rule and Other Identifying Information: Required and emergency medical leave of absence.
Hearing Location(s): The Evergreen State College, Library Building, Room 2205, 2700 Evergreen Parkway N.W., Olympia, WA 98505, on May 28, 2009, at 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Date of Intended Adoption: June 5, 2009.
Submit Written Comments to: Wendy Endress, The Evergreen State College, Library 3009, Olympia, WA 98505, e-mail endressw@evergreen.edu, fax (360) 867-6886, by May 27, 2009.
Assistance for Persons with Disabilities: Contact Wendy Endress by May 27, 2009, TTY (360) 867-6834 or (360) 867-6291.
Purpose of the Proposal and Its Anticipated Effects, Including Any Changes in Existing Rules: This rule would permit the college to require a student to withdraw from the college if it is determined that due to a physical illness or a mental, emotional, or psychological condition, the student is unable to continue without significant risk of harm to the student, to others, or disruption of college activities.
Reasons Supporting Proposal: The proposed rule is intended to protect the welfare of students attending The Evergreen State College.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 28B.40.120.
Rule is not necessitated by federal law, federal or state court decision.
Name of Proponent: The Evergreen State College, public.
Name of Agency Personnel Responsible for Drafting: John Carmichael, The Evergreen State College, Library 3200, Olympia, WA 98505, (360) 867-5100; Implementation and Enforcement: Phyllis Lane, The Evergreen State College, Library 2153, Olympia, WA 98505, (360) 867-6035
No small business economic impact statement has been prepared under chapter 19.85 RCW. The proposed rule imposes no costs on small businesses as defined by chapter 19.85 RCW.
A cost-benefit analysis is not required under RCW 34.05.328. The Evergreen State College is not among the agencies required to prepare a cost-benefit analysis as specified in RCW 34.05.328.
April 21, 2009
J. P. Carmichael
Rules Coordinator
OTS-2275.2
REQUIRED AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE
(a) Is engaging in, or is threatening to engage in, behavior that poses a significant danger of causing substantial harm to the health, safety or welfare of the student or others; or
(b) The student's behavior has resulted in substantial harm to the health, safety, or welfare of the student, or others and the behavior continues, or there is a risk the behavior will continue, posing a significant danger of causing substantial harm to the health, safety, or welfare of the student or others; or
(c) The student's behavior has resulted in significant disruption of the teaching, learning or administrative activities of other members of the campus community and the behavior continues, or there is a risk the behavior will continue, with the likely result of such behavior substantially impeding the education processes or proper activities or functions of the college and its personnel.
(2) In determining whether to require a student to take a medical leave of absence, the dean shall consult with the director of health and counseling services, or the director's designee (hereinafter collectively referred to as "director of health and counseling services") and, where possible, other persons who can provide relevant information about a student's condition.
(3) Prior to the dean requiring a student to take a medical leave of absence, the student shall be provided an opportunity to present information about his or her circumstances, where reasonably possible, to the dean. A student waives their opportunity to provide information if he or she is unwilling or unable to meet with the dean in a timely manner.
(4) The dean shall issue the required medical leave of absence in writing to the student. The written notice shall include the effective date of the leave, the reasons for requiring the leave, the conditions for reenrollment, and any restrictions imposed on the student's access to the campus or college-sponsored activities.
(5) The required medical leave of absence shall be effective twenty-one days after it is served on the student, unless the student files a timely written appeal of the dean's decision as set forth in these rules. Service of the dean's decision shall be complete upon deposit in the United States mail to the student, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the student at the last known address on file with the registrar's office, or by personal service on the student.
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(a) Affirm the dean's decision;
(b) Affirm the dean's decision but alter the disposition from imposition of a required medical leave of absence to conditional enrollment under specified directives; or
(c) Reverse the dean's decision allowing the student to remain enrolled without restriction.
(2) The review board's decision shall be in writing and served on the student within seven business days of the hearing. Service of the decision shall be effective upon deposit in the United States mail to the student, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the student at the last known address on file with the registrar's office, or by personal service on the student.
(3) The review board shall be composed of at least three members drawn from a pool of academic deans and staff members not reporting to the dean who have been identified by the president. The president shall select one of the members to act as the chair at the hearing.
(4) The vice-president shall notify the student in writing of the time, date, and location of the hearing.
(5) The review board shall conduct the hearing according to the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW.
(6) The chair of the review board may order the hearing closed to public observation as necessary to protect from disclosure medical or educational records held to be confidential under state or federal law.
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(a) The student is engaging in, or threatening to engage in, behavior that poses a significant danger of causing imminent and substantial harm to the health, safety, or welfare of the student, or others; or
(b) The student's behavior has resulted in substantial harm to the health, safety, or welfare of the student, or others and the behavior continues, or there is a risk the behavior will continue, posing a significant danger of causing imminent and substantial harm to the health, safety, or welfare of the student, or others; or
(c) The student's behavior has resulted in significant disruption of the teaching, learning or administrative activities of other members of the campus community and the behavior continues, or there is a risk the behavior will continue, with the likely result of such behavior imminently and substantially impeding the education processes or proper activities or functions of the college and its personnel.
(2) A decision by the dean requiring a student to take an emergency medical leave of absence shall be in writing and served on the student. The decision shall set forth the reasons for requiring the leave, and as appropriate, any restrictions imposed on the student's access to the campus or college-sponsored activities. Service of the decision shall be effective upon deposit in the United States mail to the student, postage prepaid and properly addressed to the student at the last known address on file with the registrar's office, or by personal service on the student.
(3) A student subject to an emergency medical leave of absence shall be provided a hearing before the vice-president to appeal the dean's decision. The hearing shall occur within three business days of the student being served with the dean's decision imposing the emergency medical leave of absence unless a student elects to waive his or her right to a hearing. Except as otherwise provided herein, the process for conducting the hearing before the vice-president shall be as per the Administrative Procedure Act, chapter 34.05 RCW.
(4) An emergency medical leave of absence shall take effect immediately and remain in effect until the review board's decision is issued regarding an appeal of a required medical leave of absence, unless the dean decides that the reasons for the emergency medical leave of absence no longer exist.
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(2) The dean shall consult with the director of health and counseling prior to determining if the student may reenroll.
(3) The dean shall notify the student in writing of the decision and the conditions associated with the approval or denial for reenrollment.
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