Policy Statement
It shall be the policy of Cardinal Stritch University to comply with the Rehabilitation Act and Americans with Disabilities Act and regulations tested thereunder to the extent applicable to Cardinal Stritch University.
ADA Definition of a Disability
A "person with a disability" is anyone with a physical or mental condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, and working. In addition to those people who have visible disabilities -- persons who are blind, deaf, or use a wheelchair -- the definition includes a whole range of invisible disabilities.
These may include psychological conditions, learning disabilities, or some chronic health conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, arthritis, cancer, cardiac problems, HIV/AIDS, and more. An individual is considered to be a person with a disability if he/she has a record of a disability. In order to offer the appropriate accommodation and assistance whenever possible, documentation of the disability is required.
Part I Policy Implementation
A. Disability Disclosure
A student or applicant for admission may disclose the presence of a disabling condition and request the accommodations he/she believes are requisite for obtaining equal access to, participation in, or benefits of Cardinal Stritch University programs and activities by contacting the director of the Academic Support Center.
In order for the Academic Support Center to notify a student's instructors of disability accommodations, that student must sign a release of information form in or through the center. Faculty notification does not replace the student's responsibility to communicate directly with each instructor to discuss accommodation details. Each semester, it is the student's responsibility to share his/her schedule with the Academic Support Center so that appropriate instructors may be notified.
Students needing services for emotional and psychological disabilities are invited to contact the Counseling Center; the director of Health Services is available for health and advocacy concerns.
B. Confirmation of a Disability
It is the responsibility of the student to provide medical or other diagnostic documentation of his or her disability as requested. Documentation of learning disabilities should be directed to the director of the Academic Support Center. Psychological or psychiatric diagnoses and medical information should be directed to the center for Counseling and Mental Wellness. Documentation of other physical disabilities like epilepsy and ability issues should be directed to the Student Health Center.
Students may be required to participate in additional evaluations of limitations prior to receiving requested accommodations. Each student shall be expected to make timely and appropriate disclosures and requests and to engage in appropriate levels of self-help in obtaining and arranging for accommodations or auxiliary aids, including applying for funding for specialized support services from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
C. Institutional Documentation
All requests for and subsequent University response for accommodations will be documented by the Academic Support Center. It will be the responsibility of the dean of students in cooperation with the Academic Support Center and the disabilities advocate to prepare an annual report to be submitted to appropriate administration and planning offices.
D. Statement of Confidentiality
Disability information will be shared within the University community on a need to know basis. Psychological and psychiatric records will be kept in the Center for Counseling and Mental Wellness. Medical records will be kept in the Student Health Center. Documentation of learning disabilities will be kept in the Academic Support Center.
E. Appeal of Denied Accommodation Requests
If a student who is denied requested accommodations wishes to appeal the decision, he/she may do so in accordance with the procedure set forth below.
F. Section 504 and Grievance Procedure
If a person believes that Cardinal Stritch University inadequately applied the principles and/or regulations of Section 504 and ADA or in some way has discriminated on the basis of disability, he/she may bring a complaint to the dean of students by following this procedure:
Procedure:
The person who believes he/she has a valid basis for complaint shall discuss the concern with the director of the Academic Support Center, who shall in turn investigate the complaint in consultation with the dean of students and reply to the complainant in writing within 10 days. If the complainant feels that the grievance has not been satisfactorily settled, further appeal may be made to the Special Needs Hearing Committee.
The Special Needs Hearing Committee is convened by the dean of Students and is composed of members of the University community who serve on the Student Affairs Committee and who have not participated in the investigation of the complaint. If the Student Affairs Committee representative of the student's college is unavailable or has been directly involved in the situation, the chair will invite another representative to participate, in order to ensure adequate understanding of the program in which the student is enrolled. The committee will have access to all documentation of the complaint and will convene to hear any further information from, or on behalf of, the student who is rendering the complaint. The committee will reply immediately to the complaint with a decision that will be documented in writing within 48 hours of the hearing.
As part of the hearing, the student is informed of the right to appeal and the procedures to be followed. If the student feels that the grievance has not been satisfactorily resolved, an appeal may be made to the University executive vice president. An appeal must be made in writing with specific reasons why the individual believes an appeal is in order. The appeal must be made within 48 hours of the decision of the Special Needs Hearing Committee.
All information previously collected on the case is turned over to the University executive vice president in the event that an appeal is requested. The executive vice president, after reviewing the information, will decide if there is sufficient information to warrant an appeal. If the executive vice president determines the appeal to be in order, he may uphold the original decision, modify the original decision, or make an alternate decision. The decision of the executive vice president will be final.
Part II Program Accessibility
A. General
Qualified persons will not be denied the benefits of, or excluded from, participation in a University program or activity because University facilities are inaccessible or unusable by persons with disabilities.
B. Existing Facilities
Each program or activity is operated so that it is readily accessible to qualified persons with disabilities through means such as: 1) reassignment of classes, staff or services to an accessible location, or 2) redesign of equipment or facilities after individual case review.
Concern with accessibility should be directed to the Student Health Services/ADA advocate or the dean of students.
C. New Construction
New facilities or parts of facilities constructed for the use of Cardinal Stritch University will be designed and built so that they and their parts are readily accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities. New construction will be planned in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibilities Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities: Final Guidelines and federal or state building codes or other methods which provide equivalent access to the facility or part of the facility.
D. Off-Campus Programming
Programs not wholly operated by Cardinal Stritch University that require participation in educational activities or internships (for example, in connection with student teaching assignments) will assure that these activities, as a whole, provide an equal opportunity for the participation of qualified persons with disabilities.
Since Cardinal Stritch University regularly holds classes, programs or activities in other than its own facilities, steps will be taken to use facilities that are accessible. Contractual or lease agreements will reflect efforts to ensure accessibility. It is the responsibility of the prospective enrollee to give sufficient advance notification of the need for any special accommodation or auxiliary aids in order for the accommodations to be made.
Part III Academic Support Services
A. Modification of Academic Requirements
Academic requirements will be modified as necessary to ensure that the University does not discriminate against qualified students with disabilities. These modifications cannot affect the substance of the educational programs or compromise educational standards, nor should they intrude upon legitimate academic freedom.
Modifications may include changes in the length of time permitted for the completion of degrees and the adaptation of the manner in which specific course requirements are met. Academic requirements that are essential to programs of instruction or to any directly related licensing requirement (e.g. requirements for nursing) are not subject to modification.
B. Modification of Program Examinations and Evaluations
Examinations or other procedures for evaluating students' academic achievement may be adapted to permit the evaluation of achievement of students who have disabilities. It is the individual student's responsibility to request necessary test accommodations through the Academic Support Center at the beginning of each semester.
Accommodations may include but need not be limited to: enlarged materials, scribe, extended time, computer assisted, oral test, environment free from distractions, alternate formats, preferential seating or test reader. These services are coordinated by the Academic Support Center.
The use of tape recorders or brailers in the classrooms or dog guides in campus buildings is not prohibited. Students or participants in University programs or activities may be required to sign an agreement that they will not release tape recordings or transcriptions of lectures.
C. General Academic Support
The Academic Support Center provides support for individual qualified students as needed to meet course requirements. Support may include but need not be limited to tutoring, note taking, enlarging of materials and testing accommodations.
Part IV Other Accommodations
A. Physical Education, Athletics, Similar Activities
Cardinal Stritch University will not discriminate on the basis of disability in physical education, athletics, and similar programs and activities.
Qualified disabled students or participants in programs or activities will be provided with an equal opportunity to participate in physical education courses as offered, intercollegiate and intramural athletics, or similar activities as long as the University can reasonably accommodate their disability to allow such participation.
All students and participants in Cardinal Stritch University programs or activities must meet the standards and requirements of behavior set by that particular program or activity.
B. Financial Aid
Cardinal Stritch University will not provide less financial assistance to students with disabilities than is provided to non-disabled students, limit their eligibility for assistance, or otherwise discriminate against them.
Financial aid awards will recognize the special needs of students with disabilities, including the possible need for reducing credit loads or extending the time allowed to complete graduation requirements.
C. Advising, Counseling, Health and Placement Services
Personal, health, academic, or career counseling, guidance and placement services will be provided in an accessible setting without discrimination on the basis of disability.
D. Housing
Qualified students with disabilities upon application to the Residence Life program will be provided with comparable, convenient and accessible on-campus housing whenever possible.
E. Co-curricular Activities
Before providing official recognition or assistance to campus organizations, the dean of students should receive assurance that the organization does not permit action prohibited by this policy.