In the event that specific complaints arise regarding the University’s compliance with particular provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, an individual with a potential grievance is encouraged to work with the Purdue University personnel most closely involved, in an effort to resolve the matter informally. To the extent that complaints cannot be resolved informally, procedures are in place to initiate a formal grievance.

The following procedure has been developed for use by students and prospective students at the West Lafayette Campus for purposes of grievances pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990:

"Grievance” as used in this procedure means a written complaint by any student who believes that he or she is a qualified individual with a disability who has been adversely affected by an improper application of one or more University rules, regulations, or policies, or by specified improper actions of any individual affiliated with the University in the capacity of academic personnel, administrative or professional staff, or clerical or service staff.

"Student” as used in this procedure includes persons (1) who are registered for classes at Purdue University at the time a grievance pursuant to this policy is initiated; (2) who were registered for classes at Purdue University at the time the adverse occurrence that gave rise to the grievance occurred; (3) who have an offer of admission to Purdue University; and (4) who have sought admission to Purdue University. “Student” includes undergraduate, graduate, and professional students at Purdue University.

A) If informal discussion with appropriate University personnel does not resolve the complaint, the student will submit a written grievance to the dean of students within forty-five (45) working days of the event(s) that triggered the grievance. The written grievance must include:

1. a clear and unequivocal statement of the University rules(s), regulation(s), policy(ies), and/or actions(s) of which the student complains;
2. the date of any action of which the student complains;
3. the names of all the University employees involved; and
4. a summary of the action(s) the student has taken to resolve the matter informally.

B) The dean of students, which term for the purposes of this procedure includes an individual designated in writing by the dean of students, will meet with the student within ten (10) working days of the receipt of the grievance.

C) If this meeting does not resolve the grievance, the dean of students will conduct an informal investigation of the subject of grievance with the objective of resolving the grievance.

In those cases where the grievance involves a dispute regarding the conduct or requirements of a course or of an academic program, the dean of students will, in addition to consulting with the faculty member responsible for the affected course or academic program, meet with and seek faculty advice from a subset of the Advisory Council on Disability Issues, consisting of, at a minimum, two faculty representatives and one student. One of the faculty participants must be the representative from the school responsible for the course or academic program from which the grievance originated.

D) The dean of students will furnish the student with a written response to the grievance within thirty (30) working days of meeting with the student. The written response will be mailed to the student by certified mail, return receipt requested. If the grievance involves a dispute regarding the conduct or the requirements of a course, or of an academic program, a copy of the written response issued by the dean of students will be provided to the Advisory Council on Disability Issues, to the dean and the department head in the school responsible for the affected course or academic program, and, when applicable, to the professor responsible for the course.

Step Two

A) If the student is not satisfied with the written response of the dean of students, the student may present his/her grievance in written form to the vice president for student services within ten (10) working days after receipt of the response of the dean of students. The grievance presented to the vice president for student services will be limited to those matters raised in the student’s grievance to the dean of students pursuant to step one of this procedure.

B) The vice president for student services, which term for the purposes of this procedure includes an individual designated in writing by the vice president for student services, will within fifteen (15) working days after the receipt of the grievance schedule and conduct a meeting with the student and any other persons involved with the grievance.

When the subject of grievance is the responsibility of another vice president, academic dean, or senior administrator, the vice president for student services will invite the participation of that administrator in the meeting.

C) After discussing the facts and issues involved in the grievance with those appearing at the grievance hearing, the vice president for student services will issue to the complainant a written answer to the grievance within fifteen (15) working days from the completion of the hearing. The Step Two answer or decision by the vice president for student services will be final.

D) If the grievance involves a dispute regarding the conduct or the requirements of a course, or of an academic program, a copy of the written decision issued by the vice president for student services will be provided to the Advisory Council on Disability Issues, to the dean and the department head in the school responsible for the affected course or academic program, and, when applicable, to the professor responsible for the course.