Appeal Procedure
A student who has been denied a requested accommodation or otherwise disagrees with an accommodation decision may file an appeal. The student is encouraged, but not required, to first discuss his or her concern with the Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students. A conversation may resolve a disagreement quickly.
The student should complete the Student Appeal and Grievance Form available on the Office of Accessibility and Testing Services website. Individuals needing assistance may fill out the form in the Office of Accessibility and Testing Services with staff assistance.
Appeals should be filed promptly and no later than 10 business days after receiving an accommodation decision. Appeals submitted after this deadline will not be accepted absent a showing of good cause. Time-sensitive requests should be made as far in advance as possible. Although the College tries to expedite urgent matters, requests made fewer than 10 business days in advance of a deadline typically do not allow for adequate time for review.
Informal Review: Upon receipt of an appeal, the Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students will try to resolve the disagreement informally with the student and the Office of Accessibility and Testing Services. If informal resolution is not possible or the student requests to proceed through the formal appeals process, the Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students will refer the matter to the Office of Compliance and Risk Management.
Formal Appeals Process: The Director of Compliance and Risk Management will review the formal appeal request and determine whether an investigation is necessary. If any material facts are in dispute, an investigation will be initiated within 5 business days of receipt of the appeal request from the Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students. The investigation will involve meeting with the student and may also involve meeting with Office of Accessibility and Testing Services staff, faculty members, or other staff members with relevant information. During the investigation, all parties to the appeal will be permitted to present witnesses and other relevant evidence. The Director of Compliance and Risk Management will present written findings of fact from the investigation to the President, who will decide whether any changes to the original decision are warranted. The President will issue a written determination regarding the appeal to the student and Office of Accessibility and Testing Services. Unless an extension is necessary for good cause, this determination will be provided within 5 business days of receiving the findings from the Director of Compliance and Risk Management. If the President decides that additional or different accommodation(s) should be approved, an updated accommodation letter will be issued to the student. If the President upholds the initial accommodation determination, the matter will be closed. The President’s decision is final and not subject to appeal. Every effort will be made to complete the appeal process within 30 days of the initial request for appeal.
The College does not tolerate retaliation against any individual who participates in the appeal process. Allegations of retaliation should be referred to the Director of Compliance and Risk Management.