DISABILITY Grievance Procedure
Individuals with disabilities may from time to time have concerns related to the administration of the College’s policies and procedures regarding the certification and accommodation of disabilities. The College endorses the tradition of an informal resolution of individual concerns. You are therefore encouraged to first relay concerns informally to the Director of Disability Services. You should be prepared to discuss the specific action or decision about which you are concerned and your proposed resolution of those concerns. The Director will serve as a conduit through which those concerns may be channeled with the objective of addressing them in an expeditious manner.
The College recognizes that all concerns may not be resolved satisfactorily in this manner. Therefore, the College provides the procedure outlined herein for your grievances related to the certification and accommodation of disabilities that are not resolved satisfactorily through informal discussion.
Step One:
You may submit the grievance, in writing, to The Chair of the Disability Services Compliance Review Committee, who also serves as the College’s ADA and Section 504 Compliance Officer. If you are grieving a decision rendered by the Director of Disability Services or CNAAD, the written grievance should be submitted within 10 working days after you are informed of the committee action that is the subject of the grievance. If you are grieving some other issue regarding the certification or accommodation of a disability, you should submit your grievance within 10 working days after the occurrence of the alleged act or omission complained of. The DSCRC’s consideration of the grievance may include, where appropriate, meeting with you, gathering pertinent information, and consulting with other involved parties. The DSCRC will render a decision on the matter within 5 working days from when the formal grievance was received, if practicable.
Step Two:
If you are dissatisfied with the decision of the DSCRC, you should notify the Chair of the DSCRC, in writing, within 5 working days after the date of the Step One decision of your desire to proceed to Step Two of this Disability Grievance Procedure. Such notification must include a copy of the original grievance and your explanation of your objection to the Step One decision. The Chair of the DSCRC will forward the grievance to the appropriate Executive Administrative Officer. The Executive Administrative Officer’s consideration of the grievance may include, where appropriate, meeting with you, gathering pertinent information, and consulting with other involved parties. The Executive Administrative Officer will notify you of his/her decision within 5 working days following the date the written notification is received, if practicable.
Step Three:
If you are dissatisfied with the decision of the Executive Administrative Officer, you should notify the Executive Administrative Officer, in writing, within 5 working days after the date of the Step Two decision, of your desire to proceed to Step Three of this Disability Grievance Procedure. Such notification must include a copy of the original grievance, and your explanation of your objection to the Step Two decision. The Executive Administrative Officer will forward the grievance to the President of the College. Consideration of the grievance by the President or his/her designee may include, where appropriate, meeting with you, gathering pertinent information, and consulting with other involved parties. The President shall render the final College decision on the matter within 5 working days following the date the written notification is received, if practicable.
If you have any questions, please contact:
Ms. Anne Schlinck, aschlinc@stac.edu, 845-398-4087 or Ms. Maria Coupe, mcoupe@stac.edu, 845-398-4044.