The purpose of grievance/appeal procedures is to resolve all types of grievances at the level where they occur in a timely manner. It is to the student’s advantage to keep communication open with faculty, staff and peers, thus avoiding the necessity for grievances and appeals. CONTACT THE DIRECTOR OF DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES DIRECTOR IMMEDIATELY TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE. The director will refer you to the appropriate office/person to assist you. In the event a situation is not resolved, there are procedures for grievances in place that usually follow the chain of command as listed:

Grievances-Internal

For complaints or appeals related specifically to services/accommodations for students with disabilities provided through the Disability Support Services Office, as required under the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the following procedures will be followed.

1. The complaint should be submitted in writing and contain the name and address of the person/s filing it, and briefly describe the alleged violation of the regulations. It should be filed with the Director within ten (10) working days from the date of the alleged complaint.
2. An investigation conducted by the Director, as may be appropriate, shall follow the filing of a complaint.  The investigation shall be informal but thorough, and it should afford all interested persons and their representatives, if any, an opportunity to submit evidence relevant to the complaint.
3. A written determination as to the validity of the complaint and a description of the resolution, if any, shall be issued by the Director and forwarded to the complainant no later than 10 working days after the filing.
4. The Director shall maintain files and records relating to the complaints for a period of three years.
5. If a grievance is against the Director of Disability Support Services, the above procedures will be followed with the exception that the initial complaint will be made with the Director’s supervisor, the Vice President for Student Affairs.
6. The complainant can request an appeal of the case in instances of dissatisfaction with the resolution. The request for reconsideration should be made to the University compliance officer within ten (10) working days of the resolution of the complaint.
7. The right of a person to a prompt and equitable resolution of the complaint filed shall not be impaired by nor shall the use of this procedure be a prerequisite to the pursuit of other remedies.
8. These rules shall be construed to protect the substantive rights of interested persons, to meet appropriate due process standards and to assure that the University complies with the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.
9. Students may further appeal any of these decisions within the hierarchy of the institution.

Grievances-External (OCR) Complaints

Although the student is encouraged to attempt to resolve a grievance within the University process, the student has the right to file any grievance directly to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) at any time.

The statute of limitations for filing a complaint with OCR is 180 days from the time the incident occurred. Forms may be obtained from the Office of Disability Support Services.

May 2004

LRW, LAW, and Administrative Cabinet