ADA

It is the goal of the ADA Accommodations Office to prevent conflict before it arises by encouraging proactive communication on the part of both students and instructors. At the beginning of each semester, students should follow the established process for requesting their accommodation letters. Then they should meet with their instructors to discuss the implementation of the accommodations for each class. Discussing the accommodations and their implementation early, as well as continued communication throughout the semester, will build the foundation of a productive semester.  

Academic, student, administrative, and compliance issues are examined through established channels of communication. These channels of communication can be found in the Student Policies section of the Student Handbook.

Reporting Accommodation Issues
In accordance with the College’s policies and processes, the ADA Accommodations Office utilizes the following process when students who are approved to receive accommodations and believe an instructor has not provided an approved accommodation.
1.    If information discussion between the student and the instructor has not resolved the issue, the student should contact the ADA Accommodations Office.
2.    An ADA Accommodations staff member meets with the instructor, Department Chair or the Program Coordinator. A meeting of the student, the ADA Accommodations staff member, the instructor, Department Chair or the Program Coordinator may be required.
3.    If a mutual agreement is not reached with the student, they may submit an appeal, in writing, to the Associate Dean/Dean within three (3) working days of the decision of the Department Chair or Program Coordinator.
4.    The Associate Dean/Dean will review the student’s information, may conduct further investigation as needed, and will issue a decision to the student within five (5) working days of receipt of the appeal. If the student disagrees with the decision, the student may submit an appeal, in writing, to the Dean of Instruction.
5.    The Dean of Instruction will review the student’s information, may conduct further investigation as needed, and will issue a written decision to the student within five (5) working days of receipt of the appeal. If the student disagrees with the decision, the student may submit an appeal, in writing to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
6.    The Vice President for Academic Affairs will review the student’s information, may conduct further investigation as needed, and will issue a written decision to the student within five (5) working days of receipt of the appeal. If the student disagrees with the decision, the student may submit an appeal, in writing to the President.
7.    The President of the College will review the student’s information, may conduct further investigation as needed, and will issue a written decision to the student within five (5) working days of receipt of the appeal.

Academic Disputes
In accordance with the College’s policies and processes, if a student has a complaint related to a grade or academic decision they should follow the channel of communication for academic issues outlined in the Student Policies in the Student Handbook. This process rests with the instructor and academic department, and the ADA Accommodations Office has no jurisdiction over this process.

ADA Accommodations Staff Complaint
In accordance with the College’s policies and processes, the ADA Accommodations Office utilizes the following process when a student has a complaint concerning an ADA Accommodations Office staff member.

1.    If informal discussion between the student and the ADA Accommodations Office staff member does not resolve the issue, the student should contact the Director of the ADA Accommodation Office. In the event the complaint is concerning the Director, the student may begin with Step 2.
2.    If a resolution to the complaint cannot be reached by the ADA Accommodations Office, the student may then contact the Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. The Vice President will review the information from the student and the ADA Accommodations Office to resolve the complaint.
3.    If a resolution to the complaint cannot be reached by the Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, the student may submit a complaint, in writing, the President of the College. The President will review the student’s information, may conduct further investigation as needed, and will issue a written decision to the student within five (5) working days.

The procedures above refer only to resolving conflicts regarding ADA accommodations.  For information regarding other forms of complaints and/or appeals, please refer to the college's Complaint/Appeal Process.