| Process The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences has designated the Director, Student Success as the individual responsible for the coordination of efforts to comply with its responsibilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADA). Students with concerns or complaints arising out of the College’s responsibilities under Section 504 or the ADA may raise them in accordance with the following grievance procedures.
There is an informal and formal resolution process. Students have the right to pursue complaints external to the College, and/or refer the complaint to a higher internal authority as needed. Retaliation for seeking resolution to a complaint under the policy is prohibited.
Procedure
Informal resolution Any student who feels that he/she has been discriminated against on the basis of a disability, or who feels that a requested reasonable accommodation has not been provided or implemented in an effective or timely manner, or who feels that he/she has been subjected to an act of discrimination or harassment on the basis of disability is encouraged to first attempt to resolve the matter informally with any individuals involved. Students are free, as part of this informal process, to consult with the Director, Student Success, for concerns or complaints related to academic accommodations, assistive technology issues, instructional issues, parking issues, and other physical barrier issues. Formal resolution
If the student chooses not to attempt an informal resolution, or if an informal resolution is attempted but not achieved, the student may file a formal grievance with the Director, Student Success. If the complaint is against the Director of Student Success, the student may file the formal grievance with the Dean of Student Affairs. The contact information for these offices is as follows: Evangelina Figueroa, Director of Student Success, 513-585-0389 and Meghan Hollowell, Dean of Student Affairs, 513-585-4841. - The grievance must be filed within thirty (30) calendar days of the occurrence of the event(s) giving rise to the complaint.
- The grievance must be in writing and signed by the student.
- The grievance must contain the following:
- The name, address, and phone number of the student.
- The name and position of the person against whom the complaint is made.
- A clear statement of the complaint and suggestions for resolution.
- The names of any witness(es) or individual(s) who the student believes has knowledge or information supporting the allegations contained in the grievance.
- Supporting documentation (including, as appropriate, relevant medical records).
4. An ad hoc grievance resolution committee will be convened by the Dean, Student Affairs within ten (10) calendar days of the date on which the College receives the formal grievance. The make-up of the committee will vary depending on the nature of the complaint or issue and will include individuals with expertise specific to the disability and/or issue who have been appropriately trained in Section 504 standards and investigative methods. Unless the complaint is against the Director of Student Success, the Director of Student Success will be an ad hoc member of the committee. The committee will interview the student, the individual(s) against whom the complaint is made, any individuals identified by the student as having knowledge or information supporting the grievance, and any other involved parties. The committee will also collect and review any documentation or other evidence identified by the student, and other information related to the complaint as appropriate. Medical information provided by the complainant in support of his or her grievance will be kept confidential to the extent possible, except that information may be shared as necessary to implement any resolution of the grievance. - In most instances, the grievance committee will make a good faith decision regarding the merits of the grievance within fourteen (14) calendar days of the date on which it convened. In cases where the grievance committee is unable to make a decision within this time frame, it will notify the complainant of the need for additional time, the reason, and an approximate date upon which a decision will be made.
- If the grievance committee, in its good faith discretion, determines that there is reason to believe a grievance has merit, it will notify all parties in writing of that determination, as well as suggest a proposed resolution. The grievance committee will then convene a meeting with the student to discuss the proposed resolution of the grievance and to hear alternative proposals for a resolution offered by the student. The ultimate resolution of any grievance, or determination of whether a new, modified, or additional accommodation will be provided to the student, rests in the sole discretion of the grievance committee and the College.
- If the grievance committee, in its good faith discretion, determines that there is not sufficient evidence to support the claims made in the formal grievance, it will notify all parties of that determination in writing.
5. A student who disagrees with the resolution of a grievance, or with the determination by the grievance committee that the evidence provided does not support the claims made in the formal grievance, may appeal to the Dean of Student Success. Such an appeal must be made in writing within seven (7) calendar days of the grievance committee’s decision. 6. In substantiated cases of disability-related discrimination or harassment, the College will take appropriate steps to prevent recurrence and to correct discriminatory effects on the complainant and others, if appropriate.
7. The College will maintain all documents and other materials related to the grievance proceedings for a period of two (2) years.
Right to Pursue External Complaints
Nothing in this process should be construed as impeding or prohibiting a student from filing a discrimination complaint with the appropriate external governmental agency. Although a student with a complaint is encouraged to attempt to resolve his/her grievance within this procedure, he/she has the right to file a grievance directly with the Office of Civil Rights or the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, before or after the internal process has begun. The internal process will continue through completion, regardless of whether a grievant file a complaint with the appropriate external governmental agency.
Complaint Referral
If, at any point during the informal or formal grievance procedure, it becomes known or apparent that the grievance or concern arises from acts of discrimination or harassment not related to the College’s obligations under Section 504 or the ADA, the grievance or concern will be promptly referred to the Director of Student Success, Dean, Student Affairs, or President of the College as appropriate. In such cases, the College will conduct only a single investigation pursuant to the applicable policy and procedures.
Related documents
Prohibition Against Retaliation
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