Drug and alcohol policy
Westwood College students are expected to comply with local, state, and federal laws relating to the use of drugs and alcohol. The Institution will not tolerate conduct that disrupts the campus or the academic environment. The Institution values its relationship with the adjoining community, and recognizes the right of its neighbors to be secure from abusive conduct, and potentially dangerous behavior caused by use of drugs and alcohol on campus property.
With this in mind, Westwood College has established a clear, concise policy related to the use of alcohol and drugs: The use, possession, sale, or distribution of any controlled substance; the use, sale, possession, or distribution of alcohol by anyone under the age of 21; and the unauthorized possession of any alcoholic beverages on campus property, or used in the course of school sponsored activities, are strictly prohibited.
Westwood College has also established sanctions for violations of this policy. The sanctions, ranging from warnings and substance abuse awareness programs for minor offenses to dismissal and/or referral to civil authorities for major and/or multiple offenses, are applied consistently and fairly. These sanctions, as well as the judiciary process that is followed, are discussed in detail in the Annual Safety and Security Report. The Institution recognizes that while the sanctioning process is educational in nature, students must understand that they will be held accountable for their actions in both the college setting and the external world. Therefore, Westwood College administrators will cooperate fully with law enforcement actions regarding use of drugs or alcohol on school grounds.
The Institution unequivocally prohibits the illegal possession and/or professionally unsupervised use of all prescription drugs, and controlled substances, including marijuana, by any member of its community. It is an especially serious offense to sell, provide, share, or distribute drugs. Drug paraphernalia discovered on Westwood campuses may be subject to confiscation. Selling or distributing drugs will result in suspension or dismissal from the Institution, in addition to possible prosecution by local authorities. Information regarding the Institution's alcohol and drug abuse prevention program is published in the Annual Student Safety and Security Report, which also includes information on the physical effects of drugs and alcohol, as well as local resources and abuse prevention programs. The document, distributed each year to all members of the Institution community as a component of the Student Right-to-Know Notices and Disclosures mailing, is available from the Student Services office at each campus, in addition to being posted on the Westwood College website and included in the college catalog.
H1N1 Influenza
We know that there has been a lot of conflicting information in the media regarding the H1N1 virus or “Swine Flu”, and we know that it is confusing and concerning. At Westwood College, we have been monitoring the situation and have incorporated the latest guidance from the CDC and the Dept of Public Health into our Pandemic Plan. At this time, the CDC does not recommend cancelling classes or closing campuses due to suspected cases of H1N1 flu. To view an overview of our Pandemic Plan, please click here.
To avoid spread of the flu, we urge students, faculty and staff to plan to stay home if they experience flu-like symptoms, from the onset of symptoms until at least 24 hours after fever (a temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit or 38 degrees Celsius—without fever-reducing medication such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen) or symptoms of fever (chills, feeling very warm, flushed appearance, or sweating) have passed. Although some people may experience a relatively mild case of the flu and may feel fit to attend work or social functions, it is important for the health of the entire community to limit public exposure, especially to high-risk individuals.
Westwood will continue to monitor the situation and work with local public health officials in the areas of our campuses and will take additional steps as advised should the need arise. For more information about the flu and how to stay healthy, please visit the links provided on the right.
Vaccinations
Because Westwood College is not a public institution, we are not required maintain a Vaccination Policy for our students; however, in the interest of public health, we do not want this to be construed as discouraging any student, employee, or staff member from voluntarily participating in routine vaccinations as recommendations by and according to the guidance of their local public health care agency.
In addition, because of potential career related exposure to bloodborne pathogens, students enrolled in the Medical Assisting Programs can expect to be required to have Hepatitis B vaccinations as a condition of their externship placement and future employment in a healthcare setting. All medical assisting students who elect to waive this vaccination must sign a waiver form that will be kept on file with their program director.