Disability Grievance Procedure

Complaints Against Faculty, Staff or Other Employees of Lewis & Clark College

In the event a student believes that the above procedures have not been followed properly or feels that any action has been improperly directed against him or her because of a disability or perception of a disability by a College employee, the student may attempt to resolve the matter informally or immediately file a formal grievance, at the option of the student.

To resolve the matter informally, the student should first meet with the meet with the Director of the Office of Student Accessibility or the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for the Law School, as appropriate, to see if the matter can be resolved.

If the student chooses to file a formal grievance, the following steps must be followed:

  1. The student shall file a formal grievance within 180 calendar days after the complainant becomes aware of the alleged violation. The student shall file the complaint in writing to the Dean of the Law School as appropriate. The complaint shall contain the name and address of the person filing it and a brief description of the alleged violation of the American with Disabilities Act or of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or other appropriate law.
  2. The official to whom the complaint is submitted shall convene a committee within two weeks of receiving the complaint unless prohibited by unusual circumstances. The committee shall be made up of two faculty members who have not had the student in class, the appropriate Dean and the Director of the Health Center or the Director of Student Counseling, or another uninvolved professional familiar with the type of disability involved.
  3. The committee shall hear testimony or receive written testimony from the student, the Director of the Office of Student Accessibility or Associate Dean of Student Affairs for the Law School, as appropriate, the relevant faculty or staff member(s), and other knowledgeable people. The student has the right to ask for testimony from any faculty, staff, students or others whom they deem relevant to the case.
  4. After hearing testimony and/or reviewing pertinent documents, the committee shall report its conclusions in writing to the complainant and all the other relevant parties within five working days. The decision of the committee is final.

Complaints Against Students

If a student believes that they are a victim of discrimination or harassment by another student because of a disability, they may initiate a grievance procedure by contacting the Director of Office of Student Accessibility or the Associate Dean for Student Affairs in the Law School

Temporary Disabilities

Students seeking accommodations on the basis of a temporary disability must provide documentation verifying the nature of the condition, stating the expected duration of the condition, and describing the accommodations deemed necessary. Such verification must be provided by a professional health care provider who is qualified in the diagnosis of such conditions. The assessment or verification of disability must reflect the student’s current level of disability and shall be no older than 60 days. The cost of obtaining professional verification shall be borne by the student