Drug and Background Check Procedure

Procedure: KCTCS colleges are committed to providing a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff. The KCTCS colleges have adopted the following drug-free policy:

Being under the influence of alcohol or other drugs or the use, possession, distribution, manufacture, or sale of illegal or unauthorized drugs is prohibited and is punishable as a felony offense on campus or within 1000 yards of campus. Conduct that violates this definition, poses unacceptable risks, and disregards the health, safety and welfare of members of the KCTCS college community shall result in disciplinary action up to and including suspension or termination. The KCTCS colleges are in compliance with the Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act amendment of 1989.

The term "campus" includes classroom, laboratory, and clinical settings.

In order to allow sufficient time for processing and backup testing if necessary, students assigned to a clinical facility that requires drug testing must undergo this testing procedure at least 10 days prior to the first assigned clinical day. Students taking prescription or over the counter medications should provide the testing facility with a list of these medications at the time of testing. Ordinarily, negative test results will be returned to the student within 1-3 days. Positive test results will take longer.

What if the student tests positive for drugs?

Students whose drug test results are found to be positive or students who do not receive notification of a negative test result within 1-3 days have the right to request a second drug test at Occunet. A list of approved facilities is included at the end of this document. The student is responsible for the fees associated with this procedure.

If the second drug test is negative, the student may continue studies and be placed at an alternate clinical facility. The alternative placement is dependent upon availability of clinical sites and supervision. If an alternative clinical site is not available, resulting in an inability to complete the assigned clinical experience, the student may be dropped from the program. The student may be readmitted when the clinical course is offered again.

If the second drug test is positive, in accordance with Section 5.3.9 of the KCTCS Code of Student Conduct, the student will be removed from clinical, and dropped from the program. The student may reapply to the program according to the program's re-admittance policies. Re-admittance is not guaranteed.

What if the background check prohibits the student from attending a clinical facility?

In most cases, licensure or certification in nursing or allied health fields requires that the applicant be free from conviction of a felony offense. This information was provided to students prior to enrolling in the program, and students were encouraged to direct questions to the appropriate licensing Board to determine their licensing eligibility status if their past history included a felony conviction.

Students whose background check includes an event that prohibits them from attending a specific clinical rotation will be assigned to an alternate clinical facility. The alternative placement is dependent upon availability of clinical sites and supervision. If an alternative clinical site is not available, resulting in an inability to complete the assigned clinical experience, the student may be dropped from the program. The student may reapply to the program according to the program's re-admittance policies. Re-admittance is not guaranteed.