CM-22 Initial Matriculation of Impaired Otherwise-Acceptable Applicants

It is the practice and responsibility of the LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport (LSUHSC-S), to not matriculate impaired, though otherwise-acceptable, applicants to professional or graduate studies.

STATEMENT OF POLICY

The decision to deny matriculation to impaired, though otherwise-acceptable, candidates (referred to below as “person”) utilizes information obtained from a criminal background check and from pre-matriculation drug screening review by the duly appointed Medical Review Officer (MRO).

For an otherwise-acceptable applicant who fails the criminal background check to be matriculated, he or she must have completed any criminal sentence, including probation or diversion, and all pending charges must have been resolved. The appropriate regulatory board must have agreed to the student’s matriculation and any specified conditions for the same.

A person who fails the drug screen forfeits his or her place in the entering class effective the date that the MRO reports that determination to the Director of Human Resources, who in turn will notify the appropriate school official(s) in writing that the named person has failed the drug screen. That person will be ineligible to submit an application for admission to any component of LSUHSC-S for twelve calendar months from the date the MRO makes the determination. Later acceptance into any school of LSUHSC-S is neither implied or assured.

In the event that a person who previously failed the drug screen is offered admission to one of the schools of LSUHSC-S following the minimum one year waiting period, that person must enter into a contract as a precondition of his or her matriculation. The terms and conditions of the Contract of Enrollment are outlined below. Until graduation, all terms of that contract must be satisfied with a zero-tolerance for infractions. As part of the contract the Chancellor shall appoint an Impaired Professional Monitor who will be responsible for monitoring and overseeing the student’s recovery, sobriety and adherence to the terms of the contract governing their enrollment.

Any violation of the terms of this memorandum, including its Contract of Enrollment, will render the student liable for summary dismissal by the Chancellor, for which there is no appeal.

In addition, no school of LSUHSC-S may matriculate for the first time a person who has ever failed the prematriculation criminal background check and/or the prematriculation drug screen without the prior written approval of the Chancellor or his designee.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE CONTRACT OF ENROLLMENT

• I understand that these terms and conditions are in addition to any contract or agreement that I have with any law enforcement agency, court licensing board, or any other governmental or non-governmental entity.
• I understand that I am being enrolled in a monitored status and will be on probation, which will continue until graduation or such time as it is formally removed in writing by the Chancellor or his designee.
• I shall have a primary care physician who is experienced in addiction medicine, and shall seek ALL medical care through this physician. I agree to provide written notification of the primary care physician to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs within 30 days of my matriculation and such physician is subject to the approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.
• I will cooperate with the Impaired Professional Monitor, and shall submit to random drug screenings at such time and at such place that the Impaired Professional Monitor shall determine. These screenings shall be at my expense.
• I agree to meet with and cooperate with the LSUHSC-S counselors and monitors at such times and places as they may specify.
• I agree not to work in the delivery of health care at any other facility without the prior written approval of the Chancellor or his designee.
• I understand and agree that a copy of this document will be furnished to the Impaired Professional Monitor, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and my approved primary care physician.
• I will execute appropriate releases that authorize the release of any and all information obtained by any and all parties involved in my supervision, testing, monitoring, treatment and counseling to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, Program Chairs and Program Directors or Supervisors, the Medical Director of the Occupational Health Clinic, and my primary care physician.
• I understand that there is a zero-tolerance policy in effect, and that the finding of any mood altering substances of any kind (excluding those prescribed by my approved primary care physician) in any bodily sample, shall result in my immediate dismissal from all programs in which I am enrolled at LSUHSC-S, for which there is no appeal.
• I further understand that failure to comply with this contract, or the failure to meet all terms and conditions of this agreement will result in my immediate dismissal from LSUHSC-S and from the University, for which there is no appeal, as well as the immediate reporting to all appropriate officials, committees and data banks.

This policy shall be amended or revised as needed.
This memorandum is effective May 31, 2005

[ORIGINAL WAS SIGNED]

Signed: John C. McDonald, M.D. Chancellor
June 1, 2001