Emmanuel College strives to provide prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging action prohibited by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Any person who believes that appropriate accommodations have not been provided to a student or that discrimination has occurred against a student based on disability/impairment is permitted to file a grievance with the College as provided for by the following grievance procedure. [Employees with disabilities/impairments or members of the public with disabilities/impairments who believe that unlawful discrimination has occurred should direct their concerns to the Director of Human Resources for resolving such disputes.
Emmanuel College is committed to using its best efforts to resolve disputes pertaining to disability services in an informal manner whenever possible. To this end, a student, who believes s/he has been aggrieved by either some action or inaction on the part of the College as a whole or with a particular individual is strongly encouraged to raise his/her concern directly with the individual or other appropriate official of the College.
Whenever an individual is dissatisfied with the informal resolution of a grievance or prefers to file a formal complaint the following procedures shall apply.
- Grievances concerning the delivery of disability support services or concerning discrimination based on disability/impairment must be addressed to the Assistant Dean of the Academic Resource Center, who oversees Disability Support Services.
- The grievance must be submitted in writing, contain the name and address of the complainant, and describe allegations. The description must include specific facts to support the allegation(s). The complaint should be sent via email to Wendy Labron, Assistant Dean of the Academic Resource Center, at labronw@emmanuel.edu. Upon receipt, you will receive email confirmation that your grievance was received. If you do not receive confirmation within three working days of submission, please forward your original email to Krista Aslanian, Director of the Academic Resource Center, at aslanian@emmanuel.edu.
- The grievance must be filed within thirty (30) days of the alleged incident.
- An investigation, as may be appropriate, shall be conducted by the Assistant Dean of the Academic Resource Center. During this procedure, the complainant and the persons against whom the allegations have been made, and their respective representatives, if any, will have the opportunity to submit information and documentation regarding the complaint allegations.
- The investigation will be completed with written results of the investigation issued and a copy forwarded to the complainant within thirty (30) workdays of receipt of the complaint.
- The complainant may appeal the findings of the investigation by submitting a written document to the Vice President of Academic Affairs or his or her designee. An appeal shall only be considered if the complainant sets forth irregularities of the investigator's determination, such as: inaccurate findings of fact or incorrect conclusions of law, the correction of which would alter the outcome. The appeal must be received within fifteen (15) days of the date of determination. The Vice President of Academic Affairs or his or her designee and/or the Vice President of Student Affairs or his or her designee will make a final determination and inform the complainant within fifteen (15) workdays of the Vice President of Academic Affairs receipt of the appeal letter.
- Although the College will make reasonable efforts to comply with these timelines, circumstances such as access to information, availability of personnel, and school breaks, may justify an extension of time.
- Retaliation against any person who files a complaint of alleged discrimination, participates in an investigation, or opposes discriminatory employment or education practice or policy is prohibited under College policy and by State and Federal law.
