All applicants to LIU Pharmacy upon initial, conditional acceptance will be required to complete a drug screen. The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) facilitates a drug screening service through the Pharmacy College Application Service (PharmCAS). The vendor selected by PharmCAS will be utilized by LIU Pharmacy to conduct a drug screening service.

Admissions Drug Screen Process

Upon initial, conditional acceptance, the PharmCAS vendor will send an e-mail notification with instructions on how to initiate and complete the drug screening process, and to obtain consent for a drug screening report to be procured. Questions regarding this should be directed to PharmCAS vendor, currently Certiphi Screening, Inc. (www.certiphi.com) NOT to the College. Once consent has been provided, the PharmCAS vendor will conduct a drug screening and produce a report. Failure to provide consent may result in failing to meet the college admissions requirements. Applicants are responsible for additional fees associated with the screening.

Results of the drug screen are available to the applicant by the vendor (Certiphi Screening, Inc.). The vendor provides the applicant an opportunity to contest the accuracy of the report within a specified time frame. After the specified time has elapsed, the report procured will be made available to the Office of Student and Professional Affairs by the vendor. Results from a company other than the PharmCAS vendor will not be accepted.

Any undesirable finding from the drug screen will be flagged by Certiphi Screening and will be reviewed on an individual basis by members of the Office of Student and Professional Affairs, and may be shared with the Criminal Background Check and Drug Screening Review Committee, Associate Dean of Academic and Student Affairs, or other designated individuals. Undesirable finding(s) from drug screening may result in failing to meet the college admissions requirements.

Review of Drug Screen Results 

Applicants have the right to review the information reported by the designated vendor for accuracy and completeness and to request that the designated company verify that the drug screening information provided is correct. All disputes pertaining to the drug screening findings must be communicated in writing directly to the contracted company that conducted the check. In addition, the applicant must inform the College of Pharmacy by sending a copy of the complaint statement to the Office of Student and Professional Affairs. Re-verification will be made if the company determines that reasonable grounds exist. If parts of the report are deleted or changed because of re-verification, the Office of Student and Professional Affairs and the student will receive a corrected report.

Results from the drug screen will be reviewed as follows:

1. A report will be submitted to the Office of Student and Professional Affairs by the vendor for review.
2. If the report reveals undesirable finding(s), a representative from the Office of Student and Professional Affairs may request that the applicant submit additional information relating to the finding(s) on the report, such as a written explanation, prescription(s) from a licensed physician, etc.

1. Prior to making a final determination that will adversely affect the student, the Office of Student and Professional Affairs will inform the student of his or her rights and the procedures regarding how to challenge the accuracy of the drug screen report.
   
   

3. The Office of Student and Professional Affairs will review all information provided and determine whether the applicant’s situation requires input from designated individuals, such as but not limited to, the Criminal Background Check and Drug Screen Review Committee. The Office of Student and Professional Affairs will conduct its review as soon as possible after the disclosure or discovery of the undesirable finding(s).
4. If convened, the Criminal Background Check and Drug Screen Review Committee will review all information provided and provide a formal, written recommendation to the Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. Recommendations from the Criminal Background Check and Drug Screen Review Committee may be any of the following:
1. Allow the student to proceed in the academic program without restriction
2. Allow the student to proceed in the academic program with specified terms and conditions
3. Deny admissions
5. The Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs will review the Committee’s recommendation and make a final decision, which will be communicated, to the applicant in writing.
6. The Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, with or without involvement of other designated individuals, may deny enrollment, revoke a prior admission, or require the applicant to comply with specific terms and conditions for participation in the program. Notification from the University/College that a prospective student is denied enrollment will be done via letter from the Office of Admissions.
7. A student may appeal that decision in accordance with the University’s grievance procedure for academic matters found in the LIU Pharmacy Bulletin.