Appeal & Grievance Procedures

Student Appeals Related to Accommodations 

A student should make every effort to work together with their faculty to implement accommodations determined and approved to be reasonable and appropriate. If questions or concerns arise due to conflicts between a student's documented needs and course requirements, the student should first contact their Disability Services Provider. If the issue is not resolved, the student should contact the Director of Testing and Disability Services and attempt to resolve the concerns in a timely manner. 

If a student disagrees with the accommodations granted by a Disability Services Provider, the student may appeal to the Director of Testing and Disability Services.  If the student is appealing a decision by the Director, then they may appeal to the Associate Vice President of Institutional Access, Success, and Belonging. The appeal must be based on documentation that the respective disability limits full participation in the student’s programs or activities, and it must include a rationale for the requested alternatives or additions. 

Reasons for appeal may include one or more of the following: 

• The approved accommodations do not provide adequate access based on the nature of the student’s disability. 

• Accommodations limit the student's full participation or accurate evaluation in a specific activity, service, program, or course of study. 

• A particular course or requirement is not essential to the integrity of the program of instruction being pursued.  

ADA Grievance Procedure

Students who have a discrimination complaint or a concern about accommodations, should first attempt to resolve the conflict by contacting the Director of Testing and Disability Services.   

The director will investigate the complaint and make reasonable efforts to resolve the matter. The investigation shall be informal but thorough, affording all persons an opportunity to submit evidence or other relevant information. 

If efforts to resolve the complaint with the Director of Disability Services are unsuccessful, a written complaint may be submitted via email to the Associate Vice President of Institutional Access, Success, and Belonging. The complaint should include details of the situation, including the names of those involved and the steps taken to remedy it. The Associate Vice President of Institutional Access, Success, and Belonging will investigate the complaint, seek a resolution, and issue a written decision on the outcome.  For instance, when the details of the complaint are more academic in nature, the Office of the Provost may be consulted prior to a resolution being provided.   

An appeal of the decision made by the Associate Vice President (except grades) may be submitted in writing to the Executive Vice President for Enrollment and Student Affairs (VP). The VP will seek a resolution and send a written decision of the outcome. The VP may decide to convene a panel to assist with the decision. Use of this grievance procedure does not limit a student’s pursuit of other remedies, including the right to pursue a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights.