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Student Well-Being and Safety

Procedure Administrator: Dean of Students
Authority: N.J.S.A. 18A-64-8
Effective Date: December 16, 2021; March 15, 2022; February 13, 2023; April 25, 2025
Index Cross-References: Policy I-55-Campus Code of Conduct; Procedure 1032- Campus Hearing Board
Procedure File Number: 3220
Approved By: Dr. Joe Bertolino, President

I. PURPOSE:

The Student Well-Being and Safety Review (WBSR) process is used when a student is deemed unable to function successfully at the University because of
possible psychological or personal concerns. The Student Well-Being and Safety Review may also be used when a student’s actions are contrary to the mission of
the University, and the conduct affects the health, safety, and well-being of the student or members of the Stockton community.

The Student Well-Being and Safety Review may be invoked prior to, in lieu of, or concurrently with the Campus Hearing Board disciplinary process for alleged
violations of the Campus Code of Conduct. A Student Well-Being and Safety Review meeting provides the student an opportunity to explain the conduct. The Associate Dean of Students (or designee assigned by the Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students) will provide written notice to the student regarding the specific conduct subject to the Student Well-Being and Safety Review. If necessary, the University reserves the right, at its discretion, to vary from the outlined procedure according to the factual circumstances; however, prior to the implementation of any disciplinary action, the University will provide the student with (i) notice of the nature of the alleged conduct violation(s) and (ii) an opportunity to respond.

II. PROCEDURE:

A. Overview

Based on input from faculty, staff, or community members, professional staff from Student Affairs may request that the Associate Dean of Students (or designee assigned by the Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students) initiate a Student Well-Being and Safety Review for a student who displays behavior(s) that affect the health, safety, and well-being of the student or members of the Stockton community. Within 24-48 business hours of the decision to impose the Well-Being and Safety Review, the Associate Dean of Students (or designee assigned by the Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students) will notify the student via a meeting with follow up in writing, upon the initiation of a Student Well-Being and Safety Review.

Should there be a change of decision to impose a WBSR once a request has been received, rationale must be provided to the Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students detailing why the WBSR will no longer be issued. This rationale must be sent within 24 hours of said change.

1. If a student is temporarily removed from housing or a mandatory interim suspension is imposed pursuant to Procedure 1032, the student must
comply with the suspension pending the results of the Student Well-Being and Safety Review.

2. As part of the Student Well-Being and Safety Review, the University may require the student to complete a psychiatric evaluation by a licensed mental health professional selected by the student. The evaluation must provide complete information concerning the student’s diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, and prognosis.

The University can assist with resources, if necessary, e.g., assisting the student to obtain a free psychiatric evaluation. The University may require a student to complete an additional medical or mental health evaluation to provide further information.

B. Student Well-Being and Safety Review Meeting

Participants: A Student Well-Being and Safety Review meeting will be held by the Associate Dean of Students (or designee assigned by the Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students) and will include the student and a core team consisting of representatives from the following offices: Counseling and Psychological Services, Office of Student Conduct, Learning Access Program, Residential Life, Stockton Cares, Stockton University Police, and Academic Affairs. Additional reviewers may be included as necessary at the discretion of Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students (or designee).

Written Notice of Determination: The Associate Dean of Students (or designee assigned by the Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students) will provide the student written notice of the final decision of the Student Well-Being and Safety Review meeting within seven (7) business days following the meeting and may include the following determinations:

1. The student may return to regular University activities, without restrictions.
2. The student may return to the University subject to restrictions, e.g.:

• Stockton Cares case management success plan follow up, limitations outlined.
• LAP accommodation and/or required actions by student.
• Loss of privileges – housing, activities, etc.

3. Further Review Pending Additional Information - The student’s return to the University and participation in activities will remain under review while awaiting additional information. This determination allows time for the

University to gather or consider the following:

• Current academic standing, including final grades.
• Documentation from counseling, medical, or clinical providers.
• Any other relevant information necessary to make a fully informeddecision.
• During this review period, interim measures or restrictions may be implemented to ensure the student’s well-being and the safety of the campus community.

4. Separation from campus – the student may not return to the University and will be placed on an Involuntary Leave of Absence (ILOA), prohibiting the student from engaging in all academic and nonacademic activities.

C. Separation from Campus

If the Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students (or designee) determines that the student poses an immediate or continuing threat to the health, safety, and
well-being of the student or members of the campus community under this Procedure, the student may be separated from the University in part, or in whole, pending further review and/or evaluation, as follows.

1. Interim Suspension: An interim suspension may happen as an immediate measure and can be implemented before a Campus Hearing Board or a Student Well-Being and Safety Review meeting occurs.

2. Involuntary Leave of Absence (ILOA): To determine if an ILOA is necessary, the Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students (or designee) will perform an individualized assessment and collection of documentation as appropriate. The student will receive written notice if required to submit relevant documentation or information to assist with an individualized assessment.

a. Relevant documentation or information to assist with an individualized assessment, may include but is not limited to:

i. A written medical evaluation by a board-certified physician of the student’s choosing.
ii. A written evaluation by a licensed mental health professional of the student’s choosing.
iii. Psychological testing (including intelligence, and/or personality and/or projective testing).
iv. Student’s treatment records for the prior three years for any injury, illness, substance abuse, medical or mental health condition which the student claims may have contributed to the behavior/incident at issue.
v. Relevant criminal background checks.
vi. Records of discipline for misconduct at another educational institution.

vii. Other relevant documents as may be determined by the Student Well- Being and Safety Review.

b. The student must complete a Consent Release or Exchange of Confidential Information form to assist the University in gathering the necessary documentation. Correspondence sent to the student regarding the initiation of a Well-Being & Safety Review will outline the specific requirements for the evaluation documents.

3. Review of Materials and Recommendations

a. Following receipt of an evaluation and related documents, the Director of Counseling and Psychological Services (or designee), a Stockton Cares case manager, or other University official may consult directly with the authors of the requested reports/evaluations, as needed.

b. Relevant University administrators will meet with the student to review the recommendations, relevant documents submitted under this procedure, and to observe and to assess the student’s functioning.

c. After this meeting, the Associate Dean of Students (or designee assigned by the Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students) will prepare a written statement to the student within five (5) business days, indicating one of the following determinations:

i. The student may return to all regular University activities, without restrictions.

ii. The student may return to the University with certain restrictions. A Stockton Cares case manager will design a success plan for the student with relevant support services and actions items. The assigned case manager will assist the student to submit requests for disability related accommodations to the University’s Learning Access Program.

iii. The student may be placed on an ILOA, suspending the student from all academic and nonacademic activities for a specified period of time. The Office of the Provost will be notified of the ILOA determination. The student will be withdrawn from classes by the Registrar for the current semester; grade(s) of WI will be administratively assigned and will be recorded on the student’s transcript. A registration hold will be applied to the student’s account. If the student has already registered for the subsequent academic term(s), the student’s courses will be dropped. All determinations made by the Associate Dean of Students (or designee assigned by the Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students) will be in writing and will identify the evidence supporting the determination, including significant risks to the health, safety, and well-being of the student or members of the campus community, or University operations, posed by the student’s behavior.

D. Student Well-Being and Safety Review Decision Appeal

A student may submit a written appeal of the Student Well-Being and Safety Review decision to the Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students, within seven
(7) business days following the issuance of the Student Well-Being and Safety Review decision. All appeals are processed via an online form. Students will receive a link to file their appeal via an online form. The appeal decision is final.

E. Request to Return Early from an ILOA

A student may submit a written request to the Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students for early return from an ILOA and to review of their current status. The
student will remain on leave during the pendency of the review process. A request for early return from IOLA must be submitted online using the ILOA Early Return form available on the Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students website. After receipt of the completed form, the Student Well-Being and Safety Review team will contact the student to request support material(s), if necessary, e.g., a personal statement, academic documentation, medical documentation, etc.

F. Additional Actions

A recurrence of similar behavior by the student may be subject to additional administrative actions by the Assistant Vice President/Dean of Students (or designee) in accordance with University policies and procedures.

Review History:
Date
Procedure Administrator 12/06/2024
Divisional Executive 12/18/2024
General Counsel 03/31/2025
Senior Leadership 04/24/2025
President 04/25/2025