High Point University prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in the University’s educational programs and activities. High Point University has both informal and formal mechanisms in place to resolve concerns about disability discrimination, including but not limited to denial of access to programs, activities, or services, failure to make reasonable accommodations, harassment, or retaliation. It is the responsibility of the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services to analyze all information when making equal access decisions. On occasion, a student may disagree with the identified accommodations made available and offered to the student. As required by Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, OARS includes a process for prompt review and resolution in such situations.
FILING A COMPLAINT
Students with disabilities who have followed published procedures for requesting accommodations and have done so in a timely manner but believe they have not been granted reasonable accommodations or believe that approved accommodations have not been appropriately implemented may file an appeal through the ADA/504 Appeal Process. High Point University prohibits retaliation against anyone who files a grievance or cooperates in the investigation of a grievance.
If informal discussions with university personnel have not resolved the issue, the individual shall complete the 504 – Disability Grievance Complaint Form or email the Title IX/504 Coordinator within ten (10) working days of receiving the eligibility letter with the deferral.
SECTION 504 (ACCESSIBILITY) GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
The Director of the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services will receive a copy of the appeal and will confirm with the Title IX/504 Coordinator that the appeal is timely. If the appeal is timely, the OARS Director, or designee, will note the appeal in the OARS accommodation platform, and all discussions between OARS and the student (regarding the specific appealed accommodation request) will cease until the 504 Coordinator has made a determination. The OARS Director will forward all relevant documentation and information upon request of the 504 Coordinator. The 504 Coordinator will be in contact with the student within seven (7) working days of receipt of the complaint. The 504 Coordinator will commence an investigation. In undertaking the investigation, the 504 Coordinator may interview, consult with, and/or request a written response to the issues raised in the student complaint from any individual the investigator believes to have relevant information, including but not limited to faculty, staff, and students. The complainant will have an opportunity to provide the investigator with information or evidence that the party believes is relevant to their complaint. The investigator will respect the privacy of the parties. The 504 Coordinator will make a final decision on the appeal and will provide the student with a written decision via HPU email within five (5) working days of communicating with the student.
Process Note: If a student shares new personal information or documentation that was not provided at an earlier step in the process while an appeal is being reviewed during Steps 1-2, the 504 Coordinator or designee reserves the right to refer the student back to the student’s initial OARS point of contact for reassessment of the situation. The new information may have impacted the original decision if shared initially.
The individual also may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education or Office of Civil Rights at any time before, during, or after the University’s 504 grievance process:
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-1475
(202) 453-6020
www.ed.gov/ocr
In the event that a student makes a report involving discrimination on the basis of disability, OARS personnel will report (or encourage the student to report) using the online Bias Reporting Form or 504 Disability Grievance Complaint Form. The report will be routed to the 504 Coordinator.
In the event that behavior, actions, and/or language are determined to be a potential violation of the University policies, incidents will be referred to other University policies, including, but not limited to the Code of Conduct or Honor Code.