Grievance Procedure
For Students in Cases of Alleged Discrimination on the Basis of a Disability
禁漫天堂 policy and federal law prohibit discrimination on the basis of a disability. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 require that a grievance procedure be available to a student who wishes to contest an administrative or faculty decision regarding disability-related accommodations and/or issues. Any 禁漫天堂 student who believes that she/he has been discriminated against on the basis of a disability or has been denied access or accommodations has the right to utilize this grievance procedure. This procedure is not intended to address issues for which other polices exist, such as appeals pertaining to grades.
Informal Resolution
When a student wishes to contest an administrative or faculty decision regarding disability-related accommodations and/or issues, he or she should make every attempt to resolve the problem through informal discussions with the person claimed to be responsible for the contested decision or act. If the student is unable to resolve the issue directly with that person,听the student听should involve the Director of Disability Services for advice or help in negotiating a solution. The student may also contact that person's supervisor to assist in the informal resolution process.
Attempts to informally resolve the contested decision or act should occur within thirty (30)听calendar days of the contested decision or act. If the issue cannot be resolved by communication, education, and/or negotiation to the student鈥檚 satisfaction through the informal process, the student may follow the formal process set forth below.
Formal Resolution
(1) The student may file in writing a formal grievance with Dr. Kristi Kneas, the Dean for Academic Affairs and Faculty Development for academic issues. The grievance statement should be as specific as possible regarding the decision or action(s) that precipitated the grievance (date, place, and people involved), efforts made to settle the matter informally, and the remedy sought.
(2) The Dean for Academic Affairs or听Vice President for Student Life shall forward a copy of the grievance statement to all parties involved within one week of the receipt of the statement.听The Dean for Academic Affairs听or听Vice President for Student Life will also provide a copy of the grievance statement to the Director of Disability Services who will be involved in resolution of the grievance as appropriate.
(3)听The Dean for Academic Affairs听or听Vice President for Student Life shall investigate the matter set forth in the grievance statement. In conducting the investigation, The Dean for Academic Affairs听or听Vice President for Student Life may forward a copy of the grievance statement to the persons whose actions (or inactions) are the subject of the grievance and may request a written response to the grievance from appropriate individuals in the College. The Dean for Academic Affairs听or听Vice President for Student Life may also choose to interview witnesses, to meet with concerned parties, to receive oral or written presentations and to make other appropriate independent inquiry. Within thirty (30)听calendar days of the filing of the statement,听The Dean for Academic Affairs听or听Vice President for Student Life听 will make a decision on the merits of the student鈥檚 grievance and the appropriate resolution of the situation. If resolution is not possible within thirty (30)听calendar days,听The Dean for Academic Affairs听or听Vice President for Student Life shall inform the student of the reasons for delay.
(4) Copies of the decision by听The Dean for Academic Affairs听or听Vice President for Student Life will be sent to the student and the Director of Disability Services. A copy may also be sent to the department and/or persons whose actions (or inactions) are the subject of the grievance, as appropriate. In the event that the student is not satisfied with the听The Dean for Academic Affairs' or听Vice President for Student Life's resolution of the grievance, a written appeal may be made to the听President within 5听calendar days of the student's receipt of the resolution. The President's resolution shall be final and binding*.
(5) A record of all formal grievances filed under this procedure will be maintained in the office of Disability Services, The Center for Student Success.
*听If you are dissatisfied with the formal resolution of the grievance procedures or want to use an alternative to the grievance procedures, you have the right to file a complaint directly with U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights.听 Information assisting you with this process can be found at , or contact the Philadelphia office of the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, Suite 515. The Wanamaker Building, 100 Penn Square East, Philadelphia, PA 19107-3323. 听OCR.Philadelphia@ed.gov or 215-656-8541