Summary of Grievance Procedure

It is the policy of The College of St. Scholastica that all otherwise qualified students with disabilities will be given equal educational opportunities in the classroom and other College-sponsored programs and activities, including study abroad programs. The College will ensure that no otherwise qualified students with disabilities will be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in any College class, program, or activity.

Appeals of requests for academic accommodations based upon a disability, should use this procedure. Students desiring to appeal a denial of a request for auxiliary aids should use the appeals procedure for auxiliary aid request denials, which is available from the Coordinator of the Disability Resource Center.

The following procedure will be used to address situations which a student perceives to be discriminatory and/or in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Minnesota Human Rights Act, or any other law enacted to insure equal opportunity for all members of The College of St. Scholastica community.

Informal Grievance

If the problem does not relate to a specific class or activity, the individual should try to resolve the problem by bringing it to the attention of or discussing it with, the instructor or staff member involved, or to the Disability Resource Center Coordinator. If a satisfactory result cannot be obtained informally, the student may initiate a formal grievance.

Formal Grievance

1.  Initiating the Grievance. The student initiates the grievance by written notice directed to the Dean of Students. The notice must contain, at a minimum, the following information:
   1. A title or heading identifying the notice as a formal grievance pursuant to this procedure;
   2. A description of the situation forming the basis of the grievance or actions alleged to be discriminatory;
   3. The names of any individuals involved and/or those who may have knowledge of the matters alleged;
   4. The result or corrective action desired; and,
   5. The grieving party's name, address, and phone number.
2. Investigation. The Dean of Students, or his/her delegate, shall investigate the grievance by interviewing the grieving party and any individuals identified in the written notice. The Dean of Students shall conduct such further investigation as is necessary to respond to the grievance. The Dean of Students shall forward the results of the investigation and the written grievance to the Access Committee within twenty (20) days of receipt of the written grievance.
3. Composition of the Grievance Panel. The Access Committee shall hear all grievances alleging discrimination. The Access Committee shall be so constituted that no staff member, faculty, or administrator involved in the grievance will hear the matter. Students will not be permitted to serve on the Access Committee.
4. Grievance Hearing. Within 20 working days following receipt of the written grievance the Access Committee shall schedule and hold a hearing to consider and decide the grievance. The grievant shall be given written notice of the hearing. The grievant shall have the opportunity to present evidence at the hearing. All relevant evidence which is trustworthy and reliable shall be considered by the Access Committee.
5. Decision of the Subcommittee. The Access Committee shall render its decision in writing within 10 working days of the hearing. The decision shall contain the reasons for the decision and any corrective action to be taken. The grieving party and any others affected by the decision shall be provided with written copies of the decision, which shall also include notification of the availability of an appeal, as outlined below.
6. Appeal. An appeal of the Access Committee's decision may be made to the Vice President of Student Affairs (VPSA)      of the College by the grieving party or any affected party who appeared at the hearing. The appeal shall be made in writing within five working days of the Access Committee's decision. The appeal shall include a copy of the Access Committee's decision and the party's reasons for requesting further review by the VPSA. Upon receipt of the appeal, the president shall independently review all of the information submitted to or generated by the Access Committee. If, in the VPSA's discretion, further information is required, the president shall be authorized to conduct whatever additional research or investigation is deemed necessary, including meeting with the grieving party and/or others involved. The VPSA will respond to the appeal, in writing, within 10 working days. The decision will include an explanation for the decision and/or notification of any corrective action to be taken.