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Academic Accommodations: Disputes

The University of Pittsburgh provides both informal and formal processes to attempt to resolve disagreements regarding academic accommodations. The University's formal grievance procedure for challenging a decision regarding academic accommodations can be found at Section 504/ADA - Grievance Procedure. The University also strongly encourages individuals to attempt to resolve issues informally, though the informal process need not be pursued prior to filing a formal grievance. In addition, pursuing the informal process will not delay the time within which a formal grievance must be filed, which is within 30 days after a complainant becomes aware of the disputed decision.

Review Section 504/ADA - Grievance Procedure

The University has adopted an internal grievance procedure for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action prohibited by federal regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Amendment Act of 2008. Section 504, the ADA and the ADAAA state, in part, that “no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by such an entity.”

Issues that may warrant a grievance include, but are not limited to, a denial of a requested accommodation, the inadequacy of an accommodation, the inaccessibility of a program or activity due to disability, or discrimination or harassment based on disability.

All such complaints should be addressed to the attention of the Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, c/o Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, 18th Floor, Cathedral of Learning, 4200 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, Tel: (412) 648-7860, who has been designated to coordinate the University’s Section 504 and ADA compliance efforts.

The following steps explain the procedure:

  1. A complaint should be filed in writing or verbally, and shall contain the name and address of the person filing it, and briefly describe the nature of the complaint and the alleged violation of the regulations.
  2. A complaint should be filed within thirty (30) days after the complainant becomes aware of the alleged violation. Complaints received later than thirty (30) days after complainant became aware of the alleged violation will be dismissed as untimely.
  3. An investigation will follow the filing of a complaint. The investigation shall be conducted by the University’s Compliance Officer (or another University office acting at the Compliance Officer’s request). These rules contemplate a prompt and informal—but thorough—investigation which afford the complainant, the subject of the complaint, other interested persons, and their representatives, an opportunity to submit documents and information relevant to the consideration of and resolution of the complaint.
  4. A written determination as to the validity of the complaint and a description of the resolution, if any, shall be issued by the University’s Compliance Officer or another University office acting at the Compliance Officer’s request and a copy forwarded to the complainant no later than thirty (30) working days after receipt of the complaint, unless the University’s Compliance Officer has good cause for an extension of time.
  5. The University’s Compliance Officer shall maintain the files and records of the University of Pittsburgh relating to complaints filed.
  6. The complainant or the affected department or business unit can request reconsideration of the resolution if he or she is dissatisfied with the resolution. Requests for reconsideration should be made as soon as possible (optimally within 7 days, and no later than 30 days from the date of the decision) to the appropriate senior officer of the University, i.e., the Provost or Senior Vice Chancellor for the Health Sciences in complaints where a faculty member is the accused, the Executive Vice Chancellor in complaints where a staff member is the accused, or the Dean Vice Provost and Dean of Students where a student is the accused. The senior officer has thirty (30) days to respond to the request for reconsideration. Decisions of the senior officer are final.
  7. The right of a person to a prompt and equitable resolution of the complaint filed hereunder shall not be impaired by the person’s pursuit of other remedies, such as the filing of a Section 504/ADA complaint with the responsible federal department or agency. Use of this grievance procedure is not a prerequisite to the pursuit of other remedies.
  8. This procedure shall be construed to protect the substantive rights of interested persons, to meet appropriate due process standards, and to assure that the University complies with Section 504/ADA and implementing regulations.
  9. Retaliation against any complainant under this grievance procedure or against any person who assists a complainant in his/her pursuit of a complaint under this grievance procedure is prohibited.

The procedure to be followed for the informal process is as follows:

Informal Process

  1. The student requests accommodation(s) and provides supporting documentation according to University guidelines to Disability Resources and Services (DRS).
  2. In instances where there is disagreement concerning the appropriateness of the requested accommodation, the student, instructor teaching the course for which the accommodation has been requested, and the Director of DRS will make every effort to resolve the disagreement.
  3. If agreement cannot be reached, the student, instructor, or University administrative staff may seek informal resolution by submitting a Request for Review of the disputed decision to the Academic Accommodations Review Committee, which will convene within seven (7) working days of receiving the Request for Review.
  4. The Committee will review the Request for Review and any additional relevant information from University personnel in order to render a decision within ten (10) working days from the date of receiving the Request for Review.
  5. If the individual is not satisfied with the decision of the Committee, a formal grievance must be filed under the Section 504/ADA - Grievance Procedure.
  6. While a Request for Review is under consideration by the Academic Accommodations Review Committee or the Provost, the instructor will provide the reasonable accommodation as indicated by Disability Resources and Services. Staff from Disability Resources and Services will provide general information regarding determination and implementation of accommodations. The faculty chairperson or designated representative of the Department offering the course(s) in which the accommodation is requested may be asked to provide information to the committee. Faculty representatives from the Departments of Psychology, Psychology in Education, and Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, or another department or program with specific expertise may also be asked to provide relevant information. The Academic Accommodations Grievance Committee is appointed by and under the jurisdiction of the Provost. The purpose of this Committee is to assist the Provost, and to serve as a resource for faculty, academic administrators and University students, on a case-by-case basis, in resolving disagreements that arise concerning requests for academic accommodations.