Blackhawk is committed to the success of all students including those who suffer mental health conditions, and we will:

• Acknowledge but not stigmatize mental health issues;
• Encourage individuals to seek help or treatment that they may need;
• Ensure that personal information is kept confidential;
• Refrain from discrimination against a person with mental illnesses; and
• Provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the ADA Amendment Acts (ADAAA).

When inappropriate student behavior is identified on campus and in the classroom, the goal is to assist students in accessing resources that will help them meet expected College behavioral standards and success academically, personally and socially.

A student's status at the College will be reviewed when the student exhibits concerning behavior in which their physical or psychological functioning is so impaired that their condition or conduct is detrimental to the health or educational progress of other campus community members or the educational process of the institution.

In order to assist the College in determining what action to take, the Behavior Intervention Team (BIT) will be called on to review the student's status at the College. The status review may result in requiring the student to provide information from an appropriately licensed health care provider regarding the student's health and functioning, and a professional opinion as to the student's ability to meet the requirements of the College environment.

Furthermore, if requested by the Executive Director of Student Services or designee, the student must provide written consent for the health care provider to discuss the student's condition and prognosis with appropriate College officials or agents. The student also agrees to comply with any other reasonable request from the College that may assist the College in its review of the matter. The final determinations for withdrawal and readmission, or other actions, shall be at the sole discretion of the College and for reasons deemed satisfactory to the College. Such action by the College may include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Restricting the student from contact with specified individuals.
• Restricting the student from certain portions of the campus.
• Restricting the student from involvement in specified organizations, events, or activities.
• Withdrawing the student from a specified class or classes.
• Not allowing the student to remain enrolled unless the college determines that the student's condition or conduct no longer poses a threat to himself or others or that the student will not act in a manner that is detrimental to the best interests of the college.
• Not allowing the student to continue his/her enrollment in a subsequent term in the case where the student has completed an academic term.
• Withdrawing the student from the College. The involuntary withdrawal of a student can be treated as a withdrawal for health reasons and not as a violation of the student conduct code.
• Following this policy does not mean that the student will necessarily be exempt from the regular disciplinary actions associated with the behavior in question according to the rules and procedures of the Student Code of Conduct.

Students receiving any involuntary (or voluntary) withdrawal due to health reasons must receive permission from the College to re-enroll.

After any determination of the student's status is completed and reported to the student via certified mail with delivery confirmation with a copy of this policy (or hand-delivered), the student will have 48 hours from the date of the delivery confirmation to request a review of the finding. The request must be made in writing/email to the Director of Student Services. The review and determination by the Director (or designee) will be final and non-appealable.

Please contact the Executive Director of Student Services regarding any questions about the guidelines set forth above.