Drug Screening Policy

As an academic institution, we recognize that students may still be developing appropriate professional dispositions. The CHHS Drug Screening Policy is designed to allow students to make the behavioral adjustments necessary for future success while ensuring the maintenance of health and safety standards relevant to healthcare settings.

1. Possible Test Results and Outcomes
   1. If the screening is negative, no additional testing will be required at that time. The student will be eligible for program continuation.
   2. If the screening is positive, the student will be required to provide a medical rationale for the positive result and/or retest within 30 days of the positive test.*
      1. If the student can provide documentation (i.e., a valid prescription) for the substance that caused the positive drug test, the Medical Resource Officer (MRO) will override the positive test and no additional testing will be required at that time.
      2. If the positive test is not overridden by the MRO, the student must retest within 30 days of the positive test date.
         1. If the retest is negative, no further testing will be required at that time. The student will be eligible for program continuation. Note that any future positive test not overridden by the MRO will result in immediate program dismissal.
         2. A positive retest will result in immediate program dismissal.
2. Program Dismissal Resulting from Positive Screens
   1. Two (2) positive drug screens, at any point, that are not over-ridden by the MRO will result in dismissal from the program following the same protocol as for other procedural violations (e.g., non-academic dismissal)
      1. In order to appeal a dismissal decision, students must follow their program-specific policy.
   2. The two (2) positive tests do not have to be sequential. For example, a positive test during the program admissions process and a second positive test during clinical placement will result in dismissal from the program.

*In some cases, a clinical site may not allow students with any positive test to be placed. Thus, even a positive test overridden by the MRO may impact clinical placement options and time to degree completion.

Approved by CHHS Senate 9/5/2023