Student Drug Testing Policy | Aviation - Safety | SIU

Note:  This policy will apply to all students currently enrolled
in flight courses at SIU regardless of declared major. 

Students will be selected at random through a computer-generated program and will be randomly selected from the program on a monthly basis during the semester. Selection will be completed by the Drug Testing Officer (DTO). The DTO will contact the instructor of the student to be tested on the day of their flight slot.  The instructor will send the student to the DTO’s office for testing. After meeting with the DTO, students will be directed to a restroom to provide a sample. Before a test is given, the DTO will clear the restroom. During the test, no one else will be allowed to enter the restroom. Testing will take approximately five minutes.

If a student does not show or refuses to submit, then they are placed on hold from flight training and have two hours to submit a test. If the sample is negative, then the student will be cleared to continue flight and ground training activities. If the sample is positive, the student will be sent to the SIU Student Health Center for confirmation testing. The student will be placed on hold from training until the confirmation test is complete. If the sample is confirmed negative, then the student may resume training activities. If the sample is a confirmed positive, then the student will be suspended from the program. A refusal to submit to a drug test will be treated as a positive test result.

Nothing in this policy shall prevent or limit the rights of the Aviation Flight Program to require a flight training student to submit to testing when there is cause to do so. For purposes of this section, cause shall be defined as behavior, conduct, or performance by the student which leads the Program to conclude that there is the likelihood that the student is taking or is under the influence of illegal drugs, banned substances or alcohol. Among the indicators which may be used in evaluating a student’s behavior, conduct, or performance are class attendance, significant GPA changes, increased injury rate or illness, changes in physical appearance, academic motivational level, emotional condition, mood changes and legal involvement. Reasonable cause may be based on information received that a student is using illegal drugs or alcohol. In such cases, the determination that cause exists to require a student to submit to drug testing will be made only after consultation between the interim School Chair and / or the Chief Flight Instructor. All must agree that the observations, behavior, conduct, or performance of the student are such that testing for cause is required to protect the health and safety of the student and other students. In such cases, less than two hours notice may be given.

Reinstatement to the program will be conditional on completing the following: wellness counseling through the SIU Wellness Center, a letter of completion from a SIU Wellness Center counselor, and a letter prepared by the student requesting reinstatement into the Aviation Flight Program. The SRC will review these items, and a recommendation will be forwarded by the SRC to the School’s Chair. If the SRC and School Chair approve reinstatement, then the student will be able to resume flight training.

If a student repeatedly refuses to submit a drug test, then they will be suspended from the aviation flight program for a minimum of one year and their future reinstatement will be reviewed by the SRC.

Post-Accident drug testing will be required for any student involved in a University aircraft accident. The student will be tested for drugs as soon as practical after an accident. An accident is an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight and the time all such persons(s) have disembarked, and in which any person suffers death or serious injury, or in which the aircraft received substantial damage as determined by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).