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8.20 / Compliance with ADA/Section 504 - Students

Purpose:
The purpose of this statement is to designate an "ADA/504 Coordinator" and set forth University policy with regard to the handling of student grievances regarding University compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and/or the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended. 

Preamble:
It is important that University students be provided a means to identify gaps in services, procedures and policies of the University relative to compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ("Section 504") and the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"). 

Policy Statement:

1.  The Director of the Office of Disability Services shall serve as the University's designated ADA/504 Coordinator.  The duties of the ADA/504 Coordinator shall include, but not be limited to:  

  1. Responsibility to accept, investigate and address any complaints filed by a student concerning the accessibility of facilities, program access, student requests for reasonable accommodation at the University or other issues relating to the University's compliance with Section 504 and/or the ADA.1 
     
  2. Responsibility for monitoring construction projects relative to compliance with Section 504 and the ADA, including service on the review panel for all construction plans at the University; and
     
  3. Serving as the Chair of the Campus Access Committee.2   
2.  The Section 504 and ADA Grievance Process shall be as follows: 
  1. A student who believes that s/he has been denied an equal opportunity to benefit from University programs, services or activities on the basis of a disability has the right to file an incident report with the ADA/504 Coordinator.   
     
  2. Incident forms are available in the main office of the Office of Disability Services and the student must take the initiative to file a form on her/his behalf.  An incident report must be filed within forty-five (45) days of the alleged denial of programs, services or activities. 
     
  3. Incident forms should be completed and mailed/provided to the ADA/504 Coordinator at 1845 Fairmount, 152 Grace Wilke Annex, Wichita, Kansas 67260-0132.   
     
  4. The ADA/504 Coordinator or the Coordinator's designee shall meet with the student.  The student shall receive a written response/reply from the ADA/504 Coordinator or the Coordinator's designee within fifteen (15) calendar days of the meeting. 
     
  5. If the student is not satisfied with the response of the ADA/504 Coordinator or the Coordinator's designee, the student may file a complaint with the Director of the Equal Employment Opportunity.  This complaint must be filed by the student within ten (10) calendar days of the date of the written response/reply from the ADA/504 Coordinator or the Coordinator's designee. 
     
  6. The Director of Equal Employment Opportunity or the Director's designee shall have twenty (20) calendar days to review the complaint of the student and issue a written report.  This report of the Director of Equal Employment Opportunity or the Director's designee shall be the final determination made by the University. 
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1If and when deemed appropriate, the ADA/504 Coordinator may select and designate up to three members of the Campus Access Committee to review, respond and work for resolution of a student complaint relative to compliance with Section 504 or the ADA.  Efforts by this group to review and resolve a complaint may be utilized at any time during the Section 504 and/or ADA Grievance Process described herein.  

2The Campus Access Committee shall be made of 13 individuals appointed by the President.  The ADA/504 Coordinator and the Director of Facilities Planning shall be permanent members.  The Faculty Senate shall recommend two members; the Unclassified Senate shall recommend two members; the Classified Senate will recommend two members; and the Student Government Association shall recommend two members. 

Implementation:
This policy shall be included in the WSU Policies and Procedures Manual and shared with appropriate constituencies of the University.

The Director of Equal Employment Opportunity shall have primary responsibility for publication, dissemination and implementation of this University policy.

Effective Date:
July 14, 2011

(University employees, guests and visitors should refer to Compliance with ADA/Section 504 - Employees at Section 3.41 of this manual.)

(To identify the appropriate Title IX Coordinator for your complaint, see Designating University Title IX Coordinators at Section 20.24 of this manual.)

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