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LCC Disability Grievance Procedure


Lansing Community College, in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, does not discriminate on the basis of disability in administration of its education-related programs and activities and has an institutional commitment to provide equal educational opportunities for disabled students who are otherwise qualified.

I. Applicability
II. Informal Resolution Process
III. Formal Complaint Process
IV. Possible Decisions
V. Appeal

I. Applicability

The grievance procedure set forth below applies to students of the College. It is designed to address disputes concerning:

  1. Disagreements regarding a requested service, an accommodation, or a modification of a College practice or requirement;
  2. Inaccessibility of a program or activity due to disability;
  3. Harassment or discrimination on the basis of disability;
  4. Violation of privacy in the context of disability.

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II. Informal Resolution Process

PDF file Informal Student Disability Grievance Form

In the event a student believes (i) that he or she has been denied an accommodation or the modification of a College practice or requirement to which he or she is entitled under applicable disability law or (ii) a program or activity has been inaccessible to him/her due to disability or (iii) he/she has been harassed or discriminated against because of a disability or perception of a disability by a college faculty or staff member or (iv) his/her privacy has been violated in the context of his/her disability, the student shall attempt to resolve the matter informally. If the student is unable to resolve the matter through the informal process, a formal complaint may be filed at the option of the student.

Prior to initiating the formal complaint procedure students are strongly encouraged to first meet with the Coordinator of Special Populations for assistance in resolving the matter informally within fourteen (14) calendar days of the alleged denial of accommodations or act of discrimination (unless the Coordinator of Special Populations determines there is a timeliness issue- in which case the issue will be placed on a fast-track). If a resolution satisfactory to the student can not be achieved in seven (7) calendar days from the date the student notified the Coordinator of Special Populations, the student may file a formal complaint. Although students are encouraged to pursue a resolution first through the informal complaint process, it is not mandatory. It should be noted, however, that many issues may be resolved quickly through the use of the informal resolution process.

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III. Formal Complaint Process

PDF file Student Disability Grievance Form

If the informal procedure described above does not yield a successful resolution, the student may file a formal complaint in the following manner:

  1. When To File A Complaint - Complaints shall be filed within seven (7) calendar days of the end of the informal resolution process described above (if the informal process was used). If the informal resolution process was not used, the student must file the complaint within 14 calendar days of the administrative action or decision giving rise to the complaint (unless the Coordinator of Special Populations has placed the issue on a fast-track). The Director of Student Compliance (or designee) may waive the filing time requirement upon written request from the student indicating the reasons why the complaint was filed beyond the 14 day requirement.
  2. What To File - A complaint must be in writing and must include all of the following:
    • The student's name, address, e-mail address and phone number;
    • The names of individuals, departments and/or programs involved;
    • A detailed description as to which administrative decision (relating to disability) the student disagrees with or believes is discriminatory;
    • A statement as to whether or not the student would like the opportunity to meet with the Disability Grievance Committee (hereinafter referred to as the "Committee") to discuss the issue in person. If the student chooses, the student may write a statement and submit it to the Committee to review in place of requesting a meeting.
    • A statement of the remedy requested.
  3. Where To File A Formal Complaint - The complaint must be filed with the Student Services Divisional Office, with the Judicial Affairs Liaison, located in GB 135 on the main campus.
  4. Notice Of Receipt - Upon receipt of the complaint, the Judicial Affairs Liaison will review the complaint for timeliness and appropriateness for this grievance procedure, and will provide the student with written notice acknowledging its receipt.
  5. Membership of the Disability Grievance Committee - The Director of Student Compliance (or a designee) shall convene the committee within fourteen (14) calendar days of written acknowledgement by the Judicial Affairs Liaison of the complaint, unless unusual circumstances prohibit it. Once the committee is convened, they will select a member to serve as a chair for the formal complaint proceedings. The Director of Student Compliance, with the concurrence of the Dean of Student Services, may take appropriate action on an interim basis, when there is reasonable cause to believe that such action is needed for the health, safety, or welfare of the student or other member(s) of the College community, or to avoid disruption to the academic process. The Committee shall consist of:
    • An Academic Advisor or Counselor*
    • One Administrative staff member appointed by the Director of Student Compliance (or a designee) who is knowledgeable of the ADA and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
    • An LCC Employee appointed by the Director of Student Compliance (or designee)

    *The Advisor, Counselor or ODSS Lead must not be currently working with the student in a professional advising or counseling capacity. In addition, none of the members serving should have personal knowledge or information regarding the specific issue being presented or the student who is initiating the grievance process.

    An ODSS representative will be in attendance when the Committee meets to provide information or answer questions.  However, the ODSS member will not be a decision-making member of the Committee.

  6. Fact-finding - The Committee shall promptly initiate fact-finding. During fact finding, the Committee may interview, consult with and/or request a written response to the issues raised in the complaint from any individual the Committee believes to have relevant information, including faculty, staff and students. The student and any person towards whom the complaint might have been directed shall have the right to submit written materials to the Committee and suggest names of any faculty, staff, students or others from whom he/she believes the Committee should hear. The Committee may assign any member who has been adequately trained to conduct any part of the fact-finding as the Committee determines to be appropriate.
  7. Standard of Review - The Committee uses the following as its basis for fact-finding and Standard of Review:
    1. Whether more likely than not the administrative decision was appropriate given the circumstances;
    2. Whether more likely than not inaccessibility into a program or activity resulted from a disability;
    3. Whether more likely than not harassment or discrimination occurred as a result of a disability;
    4. Whether more likely than not a privacy violation regarding a disability occurred.
  8. Information - The student and the person whom the complaint has been directed against shall have the right to present personal knowledge and information regarding the issue, either in person or in writing. Since the matter is administrative and not legal in nature, attorneys are not allowed during meetings with the Committee, if one occurs.
  9. Findings and Notification - Upon completion of the fact finding, the Disability Grievance Committee will prepare a final report containing a summary of the fact finding; written findings and a proposed disposition or recommendation. The Committee will then transmit the report to the Director of Student Compliance (or a designee), the student and the party against whom the grievance is directed. The report should be submitted within fifteen (15) calendar days of the date the Committee completes its fact finding, unless prohibited by unusual circumstances.
  10. Disposition - The Director of Student Compliance (or a designee) shall take whatever actions are deemed appropriate (see Possible Decisions section below). He/she shall report his/her decision in writing to the student, person whom the complaint was directed against, and the Committee.

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IV. Possible Decisions

Possible decisions under this grievance procedure may include corrective steps, actions to reverse the effects of discrimination or end harassment, and measures to provide a reasonable accommodation or proper ongoing treatment.

In addition, if the Director of Student Compliance (or a designee) determines that the administrative decision for which the grievance was filed was appropriate, the Director of Student Compliance (or a designee) shall report that decision in writing to the student.

V. Appeal

Within ten (10) calendar days of the issuance of the final report, the student or the party against whom the grievance is directed may file an appeal to the Dean of Student Services.

The written request for an appeal must specify the particular substantive and or procedural basis for the appeal, and must be made on grounds other than general dissatisfaction with the disposition. Furthermore, the appeal must be directed only to issues raised in the formal complaint as filed or to procedural errors in the conduct of the grievance procedure itself, and not to new issues.

The review by the Dean of Student Services shall be limited to the following considerations:

  • Were the proper facts and criteria used to make the decision?
  • Were any extraneous facts or criteria used to make the decision?
  • Were there any procedural irregularities that substantially affected the outcome?
  • Given proper facts, criteria, and procedure was the decision one that might be reasonably made?

The Dean's review is limited to information provided to the Disability Grievance Committee as part of the formal process above. A copy of the Dean's written decision will be expected within thirty (30) calendar days of the filing of the appeal and shall be sent to the appropriate parties. The Dean, for good cause, may extend the deadline. The decision of the Dean on the appeal is final.

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Office of Disability Support Services at Lansing Community College

Disability Support Services
Gannon Bldg, Room 204
Phone: (517) 483-1924
Additional contact information »