College-wide Policies and Procedures (G-M)

Illness Policy

Students who are ill should not attend class, lab or clinical. Students who become ill during class, lab or clinical time will be sent home at the discretion of the instructor. Students have the option to contact the Student Health Nurse at Mercy College (or Mercy Medical Center Employee Health Department staff member if the Admission Department is closed) for evaluation. The student is responsible for the cost of any treatments or medications prescribed. The Attendance Policy will apply. Concerning infectious diseases, the College will follow the Mercy Medical Center Infectious Control Policy during class and lab and the specific clinical site’s policy during clinical.

Injury Policy

Students who are currently enrolled in a Mercy College certificate or degree program are functioning within the scope of their practice, and are being supervised by an approved instructor/preceptor during a scheduled clinical experience on Mercy’s campus or with a contracted affiliate are referred to Mercy College Student Health Nurse (or Mercy Medical Center Employee Health Department staff member if the injury occurs at the medical center or if the Admission Department is closed) in the event of an injury in order to complete an Incident Report concerning the injury.

Injury During Clinical Time Procedure

A student injured during any clinical experience will notify the clinical instructor who will direct the student to be evaluated by a Mercy College Student Health Nurse (or Mercy Medical Center Employee Health Department staff member) for evaluation and to determine the appropriate treatment option. A student is responsible for obtaining a physician’s release and submitting the medical documentation to a Student Health Nurse prior to returning to the clinical area. If at an off campus facility, the clinical instructor will direct the student as required by that clinical site.

Treatment of Injuries

Mercy Medical Center shall provide emergency medical treatment consistent with hospital policies when injuries are sustained while functioning in the formal capacity of a student, as applicable. The hospital will indemnify the student for medical payments incurred as a result of accidents occurring within the scope of a student’s duties during the clinical rotation in accordance with all limitations and conditions in the hospital’s commercial general liability coverage.

Medical Withdrawal Policy

Students seeking a medical withdrawal must present a statement to the Student Health Nurse from a physician, physician’s assistant, or registered nurse practitioner setting forth with particularity the medical diagnosis which the student believes necessitates the request for a medical withdrawal because of serious physical or psychological illness. The Student Health Nurse will communicate the approval or denial of the request for a medical withdrawal to the student, the Registrar, and the appropriate School Dean. A Medical Withdrawal will require the withdrawal from all classes enrolled in for the remainder of the semester. The College may, at its own expense, require a second opinion from a different health care provider chosen by the College. If there is a conflict of opinion, the College (at its own expense) may require a third opinion from a provider jointly designated by the College and the student.

Medical Withdrawal Procedure

Step 1. Complete a Request for Medical Withdraw Form and submit to the Student Health Nurse.

Step 2. Provide official documentation from a physician, physician’s assistant, or registered nurse practitioner setting forth with particularity the medical diagnosis which the student believes necessitates the request for medical leave and indicates the seriousness of medical problem and estimated length of leave needed to the Student Health Nurse.

Step 3. Contact the College’s Financial Aid Office.

Step 4. Apply for Readmission when appropriate as outlined in the Academic Leave and Readmission to the College Policy of the Mercy College Catalog.

Step 5. Submit a return to school/clinical release from the physician, physician’s assistant, or registered nurse practitioner who supervised the student’s medical situation to Student Health Nurse. The Student Health Nurse will provide verification to the Student Academic Progression Committee that the student is medically approved for consideration by the committee.

Military Leave Policy

The following policies and procedures apply to students called to active duty in the United States armed services.

Military Leave Procedure

Within seven calendar days of receipt of orders, the student will:

Step 1. Complete a Request for Military Leave form and submit to the Registrar’s Office, and provide a copy of the military orders for the student’s file.

Step 2. Contact the appropriate program chair for program guidelines related to future program start dates to assist with program re-entry planning.

Step 3. Contact the Business Office to complete appropriate documents regarding tuition assistance.

Step 4. Contact the College’s Financial Aid Office.

Returning from Military Leave Procedure

Veterans returning after military leave to perform military service will be readmitted at the same academic status achieved when last in attendance at Mercy College, provided the absence does not exceed 5 years.

Step 1. Apply for Readmission when appropriate as outlined in the Academic Leave and Readmission to the College Policy of the Mercy College Catalog.

Step 2. The student’s reentry point is dependent on the program course placement examinations they pass, and that point cannot be beyond the program course semester completed at the time of their withdrawal. Students must pass in sequence all program course placement examinations for any one semester before progressing on to the program course placement examination for the next program course level.

Step 3. Should a student pass some but not all program course placement examinations for one semester, the student will be required to repeat all program courses for that semester and all subsequent semesters.

Step 4. Students needing to repeat program courses in which they have earned a “C” or better to regain knowledge and clinical skills are not subject to tuition charges for repeated program courses if students have:

1. applied for readmission within one year after return from active duty and
2. begun the program courses they need to repeat the first semester they are offered after readmission.

Step 5. Students will not be subject to tuition charges for repeated program courses, but will be subject to tuition charges for other courses they may take during these semesters.

Step 6. Students needing to repeat program courses to regain knowledge and clinical skills and who do not apply for readmission within the allowable time period (one year after return from active duty) will be assessed tuition charges for all courses they take including repeated program courses.

Step 7. Students holding scholarship awards through Mercy College will retain their scholarship awards provided they apply for readmission within one year following return from active duty and use the scholarship immediately following readmission. Students who delay readmission will need to reapply for scholarships.

This College Student Handbook is presented as information only and is not a contract between Mercy College and its students. The information, policies, and procedures contained in this Handbook are subject to change at any time with or without notice. Students are responsible for reading and following the information contained in the Handbook, including school-specific policies and procedures. The Admissions Manager will ensure that all admitted students receive instructions on how to access the Student Handbook online.  The student is responsible for knowing and complying with the information contained in the College Student Handbook and any changes to the policies and practices as posted on the College’s learning management system (E-LEOS) and College website.