To withdraw from Bridgewater College at any time during a semester, a student must first confer with the associate dean for academic affairs who will provide a form requiring the signatures of appropriate college personnel. Confidential written documentation in support of a medical withdrawal must be provided by a physician or other certified health care provider to the associate dean for academic affairs. A student called to active military service is responsible for providing a copy of the appropriate military orders. A student who fails to withdraw properly may forfeit his or her residence hall and room key deposit, will receive failing grades in all currently enrolled courses and may be ineligible for a refund as described in the refund policy section.
Policy for Required Administrative Withdrawal
A. Student Conduct. Bridgewater College is committed to the wellbeing and safety of its community members and the integrity of its learning environment. Admission to the Bridgewater College community carries with it certain expectations concerning personal conduct. The College may require a student to take an administrative withdrawal if there is sufficient evidence that the student is engaging in or is likely to or threatens to engage in behavior that:
i. presents a significant risk of physical or emotional harm to members of the campus community that cannot be eliminated or reduced by reasonable accommodation
ii. substantially disrupts the learning environment or activities of the campus community;
iii. directly and substantially impedes the lawful activities of other members of the campus community or the College’s regular operations;
iv. may cause significant property damage;
v. demonstrates an inability or unwillingness to adequately care for oneself (e.g., nourishment);
vi. demonstrates disregard for College policies, minimal academic motivation (e.g., excessive absences), or an attitude inconsistent with reasonable expectations of a member of an academic community; or
vii. demonstrates that the student is not otherwise qualified to participate in College programs or activities, with or without reasonable accommodation, including but not limited to a determination that the student requires a level of treatment and care which the College cannot provide to support the student’s continued enrollment and presence on campus.
Any of the above circumstances will support a required administrative withdrawal when based on a reasonable, individualized assessment of the current available information, in consultation with qualified professionals, as appropriate.
This policy and associated procedures do not take the place of sanctions associated with a student’s behavior that is in violation of College policies, standards, or regulations. This policy is to be invoked in circumstances in which, at the discretion of the director of student conduct and restorative practices, in consultation with the associate and assistant deans of students or designee, the conduct board process cannot be used or is not appropriate, or the student is unable or unwilling to request a voluntary withdrawal and the director of student conduct and restorative practices, in consultation with the associate and assistant deans of students or designee deems a withdrawal necessary to protect the health and safety of the campus community or the integrity of the learning environment and campus programs and activities.
B. Consideration of Information. Upon learning of a student’s behavior that may support a required administrative withdrawal, the associate and assistant deans of students or designee will notify the student that a required administrative withdrawal is under consideration and will issue an Administrative Request in order to afford the student an opportunity to discuss the behavior and circumstances. The Administrative Request is a meeting with an associate or assistant dean or designee where student attendance is mandatory. The associate and assistant deans of students or designee will discuss with the student the implications of a required administrative withdrawal and the relevant procedures, and will provide the student with a copy of this policy. Whenever possible and appropriate, the associate and assistant deans of students or designee will encourage the student to take a voluntary withdrawal from the College. The associate and assistant deans of students or designee may involve a parent, guardian, or spouse in this process, either with the student’s consent or, when she/he deems it appropriate and in the student’s best interest to do so, in accordance with the College’s policy on the privacy of student education records.
The associate and assistant deans of students or designee, as appropriate and feasible, also may confer with College officials, or others as appropriate to the circumstances, regarding the need for a required administrative withdrawal under this policy. The associate and assistant deans of students or designee may require an evaluation of the student’s behavior and any relevant physical/mental conditions by an appropriate health professional if the assistant dean or designee believes that an evaluation will facilitate an informed decision. This evaluation may be done by the College’s student health services and/or the counseling center, or by outside health professionals, including the student’s treating health professional(s), as indicated and appropriate in the associate and assistant deans of students’ or designee’s judgment.
C. Imminent Threat. In cases involving an imminent threat to health or safety, the associate and assistant deans of students or designee has the discretion to take immediate action to remove the student from campus pending receipt and review of all relevant information.
D. Opportunity to Provide Information. Prior to the final decision by the associate and assistant deans of students or designee, and as appropriate, the student will be provided the opportunity to fully and completely discuss her/his situation, provide to the associate and assistant deans of students or designee all information she/he deems relevant, and review and comment on all documents, information, and statements considered by the associate and assistant deans of students or designee regarding the proposed decision, unless the associate and assistant deans of students or designee reasonably believes that the student’s review of certain documents, information, and statements would be detrimental to the student’s condition or treatment. The student may submit an independent professional physical/mental health review for consideration by the associate and assistant deans of students or designee.
E. Decision on Withdrawal. Following these consultations and the review of all relevant information available, the associate and assistant deans of students or designee will make a decision regarding a required administrative withdrawal. At any time prior to the associate and assistant deans of students’ or designee’s decision, the student may choose to take a voluntary withdrawal.
1. Administrative Withdrawal Required. If the associate and assistant deans of students or designee determines that a required administrative withdrawal is warranted, following an individualized assessment of the current available information and consultation with qualified professionals, as appropriate, the associate and assistant deans of students or designee will give the student written notice of the determination, including the beginning date of the withdrawal and the steps that the student must take to request readmission. The associate and assistant deans of students’ or designee’s decision to require an administrative withdrawal may be appealed as provided in Paragraph F of this policy. The student must leave campus within the time frame established by the associate and assistant deans of students or designee in the withdrawal notice. During the duration of the withdrawal, the student may visit the campus only with prior written authorization from the associate and assistant deans of students or designee. The associate and assistant deans of students or designee may notify a parent, guardian, or spouse of the withdrawal, either with the student’s consent or, when she/he deems it appropriate and in the student’s best interest to do so, in accordance with the College’s policy on the privacy of student education records
2. Administrative Withdrawal Not Required. If an administrative withdrawal is not required, the associate and assistant deans of students or designee will notify the student of the decision, and may impose specific conditions and/or requirements for the student to remain enrolled and present at the College, after an individualized assessment of the student’s situation. One of the requirements may be a behavioral contract. Non-compliance with such conditions/requirements will result in reconsideration of a required administrative withdrawal from the College. The associate and assistant deans of students or designee may notify a parent, guardian, or spouse of the specific conditions and requirements for the student’s continued enrollment, either with the student’s consent or, when she/he deems it appropriate and in the student’s best interest to do so, in accordance with the College’s policy on the privacy of student education records.
F. Appeal. A student may appeal a decision by the associate dean or designee made pursuant to Paragraph E of this policy to the vice president for student life and dean of students (“Dean”), or designee. At the discretion of the associate and assistant deans of students or designee, the decision may remain in effect during the appeal. A student who wishes to appeal must do so in a writing delivered to the Dean or designee within three (3) business days following receipt of the decision from the associate and assistant deans of students or designee. The written appeal must state specifically why the student believes the decision is not warranted under the circumstances. The review by the Dean or designee shall be limited to whether proper College procedures were followed and whether the decision is supported by the record. After reviewing the written appeal and record, the Dean or designee may meet with the student and consult with the associate and assistant deans of students or designee and/or other College officials before reaching a decision. The Dean or designee may: (a) affirm the decision; (b) modify the decision; (c) remand the matter back to the associate dean or designee for further proceedings or consideration; or (d) reverse the decision. The Dean or designee will give the student written notice of the Dean’s or designee’s decision. The decision of the Dean or designee is final.
G. Nondiscriminatory Application of Policy. The College will apply all College policies and associated procedures in a nondiscriminatory manner, in consultation with qualified professionals, as appropriate. Each determination is based on an individualized assessment of a student’s situation, including observations of student conduct, actions, and statements and their impact on others and the campus community, not on mere perceptions or speculations, and what is in the best interests of the student, the campus community, and the College.
Procedures for Readmission to the College
A. Request for Readmission. A student seeking readmission following a withdrawal from the College, whether the withdrawal was voluntary or required, including suspensions, must complete the online application for readmission and provide the materials described in the application. The Executive Vice President will work with the appropriate College officials to determine the student’s readiness to return to the College. Readmission may not be applicable to graduate programs.
B. Request for Readmission Following Academic Withdrawal. If a student seeking readmission withdrew from the College, whether voluntarily or as required, based on academic performance or academic misconduct, the executive vice president will work with the associate dean for academic affairs (“Associate Dean”) or designee, who, in consultation with other College officials, as appropriate, will determine the student’s readiness to return. After reviewing all relevant information and consulting with College officials as appropriate, the Associate Dean or designee will make the determination of whether to grant or deny the request for readmission. The decision whether to grant or deny the request is made at the sole discretion of the Associate Dean or designee, and is final.
C. Request for Readmission Following Non-Academic Withdrawal. If a student seeking readmission withdrew from the College, whether voluntarily or as required, for any reason other than academic performance or academic misconduct, including suspensions for disciplinary reasons, the Executive Vice President will work with the associate dean of students (“Associate Dean”) or designee, who, in consultation with other College officials, as appropriate, will determine the student’s readiness to return.
1. Information for Readmission Determination. The College reserves the right to require from a student seeking readmission sufficient information, documentation, and evaluation, determined on a case-by-case basis, to demonstrate that the student is qualified and ready to return to full-time academic work and campus life. Depending on the particular circumstances and reasons for the student’s withdrawal, this may involve an on-campus interview with one or more College officials, an evaluation of the student’s behavior and any relevant physical/mental conditions by an appropriate health professional selected by the Associate Dean or designee, and/or submission of a written progress assessment from a treating health professional, indicating that: (a) the student is qualified and ready to resume the particular rigors and essential requirements of full-time academic work and campus life at the College, with or without reasonable accommodation; and (b) her/his treatment and care needs, if applicable, can be supported at the College. In cases where the College requires a written progress assessment from a treating health professional, the College will require a release from the student to permit appropriate College officials to discuss current treatment and follow-up needs with the treating health professional.
2. Decision on Readmission. In appropriate cases, as determined by the Associate Dean of Students for Health and Wellness or designee will review the information and recommend approval (with or without conditions of treatment, education, counseling, or other) or denial of the request for readmission. The Associate Dean or designee may review any health professional’s written progress assessment and/or relevant health care records and consult with College health professionals and/or other College officials, as needed, to inform her/his decision-making. The Associate Dean or designee, after an individualized assessment based on current available information, will then act on the request for readmission. The Associate Dean or designee will provide the student written notice of the Associate Dean’s or designee’s decision. Decisions regarding readmission made pursuant to this Paragraph are made at the sole discretion of the Associate Dean or designee, and may be appealed as provided in Paragraph C3 of this policy.
3. Appeal. A student may appeal a decision by the Associate Dean or designee made pursuant to Paragraph C2 of this policy to the vice president for student life and dean of students (“Dean”) or designee. A student who wishes to appeal must do so in a writing delivered to the Dean or designee within three (3) business days following receipt of the decision from the Associate Dean or designee. The written appeal must state specifically why the student believes the decision is not warranted under the circumstances. The review by the Dean or designee shall be limited to whether proper College procedures were followed and whether the decision is supported by the record. After reviewing the written appeal and record, the Dean or designee may meet with the student and consult with the Associate Dean or designee and/or other College officials before reaching a decision. The Dean or designee may: (a) affirm the decision; (b) modify the decision; (c) remand the matter back to the Associate Dean or designee for further proceedings or consideration; or (d) reverse the decision. The Dean or designee will provide the student written notice of the Dean’s or designee’s decision. The decision of the Dean or designee is final.
D. Nondiscriminatory Application of Policy. The College will apply all College policies and associated procedures in a nondiscriminatory manner, in consultation with qualified professionals, as appropriate. Each determination is based on an individualized assessment of a student’s situation, including observations of student conduct, actions, and statements and their impact on others and the campus community, not on mere perceptions or speculations, and what is in the best interests of the student, the campus community, and the College.
