'Removing Suicidal Students from Campus: The Significance of Recent Changes in Federal Policy,' Nov. 21

Thursday, Nov. 21, 9-10:30 a.m. Student Union, Lyla Richards Conference Room

Should suicidal students stay on campus or should they go? If they stay, how should a school address suicidal behavior on campus? If they go, under what circumstances can they return?

The Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) made significant changes in policy that leave colleges and universities in a catch-22 when managing suicidal students on campus or addressing requests for re-entry from students who continue to struggle with active suicidal thoughts. Remove these students from campus through a forced medical withdrawal and face an ADA lawsuit for discrimination against the student. Leave the student on campus struggling with suicidal ideations and get sued for not having the services available to adequately treat the student's medical condition. Found under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the revised regulation now deems it unlawful to involuntarily separate, suspend or expel a student on the basis of self-harmful or suicidal behaviors. As suicide continues to be a leading cause of death among U.S. college students ages 18-24, this new regulation leaves schools and administrators struggling with some important questions regarding both institutional legal risk and student safety.

This webinar will present a variety of creative solutions that aim to reduce institutional legal risk and increase student safety. The presenters will discuss how to address suicidal and self-harm behaviors on campus through the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT), counseling services and the student conduct office. They will also address critical do's and don'ts when working with sensitive students in crisis situations. Participants will learn:

• To address the issues of suicide, self-harm and delusional/psychotic behavior through counseling, conduct and administrative interventions;
• The importance of addressing behavior through case management, team meetings and parental involvement;
• How to pursue an involuntary medical withdrawal with a student through tuition refunds, incompletes and housing refunds;
• When to pursue inpatient hospital admissions, partial day treatment and off-campus counseling referrals; and
• How to discuss these changes with the campus community, frustrated parents and students while respecting FERPA and privileged communication.

This 90-minute webinar is hosted by the Dean of Students Office.

November Archive