Student Grievance Procedure
As per the Policy for the Provision of Accommodations and Support Services to Students with Disabilities, Section XI, Appeals, Cal Poly Humboldt has adopted the following grievance procedure to address student accommodation appeals. Policy notes: “Students denied a requested accommodation may appeal the decision through on-campus informal and formal dispute resolution processes. Each campus shall adopt and publish grievance procedures providing for appropriate due-process procedures and for prompt and equitable dispute resolution. Services authorized by the director of the program for students with disabilities must continue during the grievance process.”
Students should be aware that there are two (2) procedures to address disability-related complaints, depending on the nature of the complaint. Two (2) distinct policies guide the processes noted below:
- ACCOMMODATIONS: As cited above, this procedure addresses student complaints regarding accommodations or accessibility. Through this process, a student may seek a review of decisions related to a denial of a requested accommodation, failure to provide an approved accommodation, or access-related concerns at Humboldt.
- DISCRIMINATION: This procedure addresses student complaints alleging harassment or other forms of discrimination based on disability (unrelated to access or accommodation, in most instances) and all types of employee and third-party disability discrimination complaints. These complaints should be filed directly with Title IX/Discrimination, Harassment & Retaliation Prevention (Title IX/DHR) and not through CDRC and the Student Disability Accommodation and Accessibility Grievance Procedure.
RESOLVING CONCERNS: The most efficient way to resolve a potential concern related to accommodation or accessibility is to communicate those concerns directly to the responsible Humboldt official (instructor, staff, administrator). Humboldt encourages students who believe they have been denied a reasonable accommodation or sufficient access by a Humboldt instructor or a Humboldt office, including CDRC, when implementing a reasonable accommodation, to attempt to resolve the concern directly with that person or office. To facilitate the timely resolution of such concerns, students should communicate their concern as soon as possible and clearly articulate in a written statement their concerns and the resolution that they seek. Students may contact their CDRC Accessibility Advisor for guidance on handling such matters and to receive support related to an accommodation approved by that office, including consultation and facilitation of solutions, when appropriate.
Most concerns about accommodation and accessibility can be resolved in this manner. Students should make every reasonable effort to achieve this resolution whenever possible. If the concern is resolved to the student’s satisfaction, no formal grievance appeal is necessary.
If such direct communication does not resolve concerns related to accessibility or accommodation, Humboldt encourages students who believe they have been denied a reasonable accommodation or sufficient access because of their disability to use the Student Disability Accommodation and Accessibility Grievance Procedures set forth below.
Student Disability Accommodation and Accessibility Appeal Procedure
If the student’s concern is not resolved through direct communication with the responsible individual or office, the student may submit a formal grievance through the Student Grievance Form. CDRC maintains grievance records, including complaints and resolutions, and report as appropriate to Humboldt’s ADA/504 Coordinator in CDRC.
Step 1:
Once CDRC receives a complaint, the student may receive a request to meet with their Accessibility Advisor, or designee if the advisor is the subject of the grievance. The Accessibility Advisor or designee will gather relevant information and may speak with involved parties in an effort to clarify and resolve the concern underlying the grievance. As part of this information gathering, the student will have the opportunity to suggest solutions that may resolve the grievance. The representative will work with the student and involved parties toward a successful resolution of the grievance and will notify the student and involved parties of the agreed upon outcome via official university email within ten (10) business days of receiving the complaint or as soon as is reasonably practical thereafter.
If the grievance is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction in Step 1, the student may pursue Step 2. NOTE: If the Director of the CDRC is acting in the capacity of Accessibility Advisor and has made the determination in Step 1, Step 2 will elevate to the AVP of Campus Resilience & Response.
Step 2:
If the student disagrees with the Step 1 decision, they can appeal via official university email to the CDRC Director, or their designee. An appeal must include a written statement of the reason for contesting the Step 1 decision and must be submitted within five (5) business days of the Step 1 outcome email notification.
The Director (or designee) will review any submitted material and may request additional information relevant to the concern as well as contact the student and any involved parties in an effort to clarify and resolve the grievance. The Director (or designee) will notify the student and involved parties of their decision to uphold or modify the Step 1 decision via official university email within ten (10) business days of the appeal or as soon as reasonably practical thereafter.
Step 3:
If the grievance is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction in Step 2, the student may file a disability discrimination complaint with the Humboldt Title IX/DHR Office pursuant to the CSU Nondiscrimination Policy.
Disability Discrimination Complaints by Students, Employees and Third Parties
The Cal Poly Humboldt Title IX and Discrimination, Harassment, & Retaliation Prevention (Title IX/DHR) Office receives and reviews reports of discrimination based on disability submitted by students, employees, and third parties.
Title IX/DHR receives reports by the Sexual Misconduct/Discrimination Referral & Report Form on the Title IX/DHR website. While the online reporting form is the most efficient way to communicate relevant information, Title IX/DHR will also receive complaints by email to Title IX/DHR, by phone at (707) 826-5177, or in-person by scheduled appointment. Title IX/DHR follows the complaint resolution procedures and time frames consistent with the Policy.