Should a student exhibit or threaten destructive behavior that poses or suggests a significant and immediate threat of harm to oneself or to others and/or if such behavior results in a significant disruption to the learning/living environment, the Dean of Students may order an immediate emergency withdrawal and/or mandate that the student be assessed for risk by a licensed mental health provider (preferably a psychologist or psychiatrist) before resuming study at NJIT. As part of the order, the student will likely be restricted from the NJIT campus until the assessment process is completed.

The purpose of the assessment will be to determine if a threat of harm to self or others is present and the degree to which it is possible to function as a student. In making the assessment, the evaluator must obtain a release from the student and follow the assessment guidelines approved by the NJIT Center for Counseling and Psychological Services and outlined in the Dean of Students’ letter to the licensed mental health provider. If a threat of harm is determined to exist and/or if it is deemed that the student is not presently capable of functioning at NJIT, the withdrawal will be extended until such time as proper clearance is obtained.

The steps involved for obtaining clearance, which will be communicated to the student in writing by the Dean of Students, are as follows:

1. The student will schedule an appointment for an assessment by an evaluating psychiatrist selected by the university.
   
2. The student will sign a release authorizing communication between NJIT and the outside practitioner.
   
3. The Dean of Students will mail or fax a letter to the practitioner summarizing the behavior(s) that led to the university’s concerns and providing an outline of the assessment guidelines approved by the NJIT Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (copy of the student’s signed release will be included).
   
4. The outside practitioner will send to the NJIT Dean of Students a written assessment report that follows the guidelines provided in the Dean of Students’ letter to the practitioner. If necessary, there may be follow-up telephone communication between the outside practitioner and the NJIT Administration and/or the Director of the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services.
   
5. Within five business days of receipt of the assessment report, the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs and/or the Dean of Students and the Director of the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services will meet to review the results of the outside evaluation. Should the report indicate that the student is not able to safely function at NJIT; the student will continue to be restricted from the campus and prevented from enrolling at NJIT until such time as outside clearance is obtained. To obtain clearance from an appropriate outside practitioner in the future, all steps outlined in this document must be followed.
   
   Should the report indicate that the student is able to safely function the student will be directed to meet with NJIT’s consulting psychiatrist or psychologist.
   
6. Should the consulting psychiatrist or psychologist concur with the outside evaluator’s report, the student will be permitted to resume study at NJIT. The degree and manner in which the student resumes study will be dependent on the recommendations from the outside evaluator, the consulting psychiatrist or psychologist, or both.