The Disability Resource Center explores accommodations on an individualized basis using an interactive process. If, after working with the DRC, a student believes that they have not received timely disability-related reasonable accommodations, the student may follow the steps outlined in the Accommodation Complaint Process. The purpose of this process is to explore solutions and engage in timely resolution of accommodation concerns.
Accommodation Complaint Process
Step 1:
The student begins the process by contacting their DRC Access Consultant as soon as possible. In consultation with the Student Access management, the DRC Access Consultant will determine whether further engagement in the interactive accommodation process is needed. In making this determination, the DRC Access Consultant may gather more information from the student and consult with the student’s instructor(s) or other department contacts.
- If the faculty or staff believe that the accommodation constitutes a substantial change to essential learning processes or outcomes, they must provide a written rationale to the access consultant and student.
- The Access Consultant in consultation with the instructor and/or department will determine whether the accommodation the student seeks is reasonable or whether there is an equally effective alternative accommodation. Reasonable accommodations provide equitable access, and they cannot modify essential requirements of a course, program, or activity.
- If the Access Consultant determines that further engagement is not appropriate, the Access Consultant will inform the student in writing.
Step 2:
If the student disagrees with a denial of an accommodation request in Step 1, the student may request a review by the DRC Director, who serves as the University’s Deputy ADA Coordinator for Accommodations and Grievances. The Deputy ADA Coordinator will conduct an inquiry into the student’s concern. This inquiry will generally include a case review and consultation with the student, DRC staff, the instructor or program contact and/or others as needed.
In some cases, based on the information gathered in their inquiry, the Deputy ADA Coordinator will ask the DRC Access Consultant to facilitate further engagement in the interactive process. In other cases, the Deputy ADA Coordinator will assess whether the accommodation requested by the student, or an equally effective alternate accommodation, should be implemented. An accommodation would not be considered reasonable if it:
- fundamentally modifies the essential requirements of the course, program, or activity;
- causes an undue hardship for the University;
- is not connected to a disability-related access barrier; or
- would constitute a direct threat to health or safety.
The Deputy ADA Coordinator will communicate their assessment in writing to the student and in some cases the instructor or departmental contact. The Deputy ADA Coordinator may also make written recommendations to the student’s department. The Deputy ADA Coordinator will strive to complete a review within 15 business days. If this is not possible, the Deputy ADA Coordinator will communicate with the student about an adjusted time frame.
Grievance Process
If a student disagrees with the determination of the Deputy ADA Coordinator after completing the Accommodation Complaint Process described above, the student may contact the University’s Equal Opportunity and Title IX Office (EOT) to request initiation of a formal grievance process. In a formal grievance process, EOT conducts an investigation and determines whether the University’s discrimination policy was violated. A student must proceed through the DRC’s Accommodation Complaint Process before they can initiate a formal grievance process under the discrimination policy if the grievance is related to their accommodations.
External Agency Options
Students may also file complaints of disability discrimination with the State of Minnesota’s Department of Human Rights and/or the U.S. Office for Civil Rights.