Discrimination Complaint Procedure

The University of Connecticut Committee on Access and Accommodations

The University of Connecticut is committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities and achieving full participation for all members of the University community, including persons with disabilities. The University of Connecticut Committee on Access and Accommodations will focus on assuring that the University as a whole is positioned to meet this goal, including regional campuses, the School of Law, and the School of Social Work. The Committee’s primary focus is to promote ongoing assessment and awareness of goals, needs, and requirements related to access and accommodations at the University. It will consider a range of compliance issues with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its amendments and other legislation related to disabilities and accommodations. It serves to facilitate coordination across all of the units and offices that have a role in assuring appropriate access and accommodation in University services and activities. The Committee also serves to continuously improve the University’s efforts to ensure equal access and provide reasonable accommodations to persons with disabilities by identifying best practices and developing approaches to implement them and devising and facilitating solutions to problems.

Discrimination Complaint Procedures

To facilitate the internal resolution of complaints, the Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) encourages persons that wish to file a complaint to complete a Discrimination and Discriminatory Harassment Complaint Form as soon as possible.  For information regarding the discrimination complaint process, please review OIE’s complaint procedures . Additionally, information about reporting complaints of discrimination and/or discriminatory harassment can be obtained by calling a member of OIE at (860) 486‐2943 or by contacting the University’s ADA Coordinator: 

Letissa C. Reid, J.D.
Associate Vice President
Title IX Coordinator & ADA Coordinator
Office of Institutional Equity
Pronouns: She-Her-Hers 

University of Connecticut – Wood Hall
241 Glenbrook Rd., Unit 4175, Storrs, CT 06269-4175
Phone: (860) 486-2943
Fax: (860) 486-5943
Email: letissa.reid@uconn.edu
Websites: 
WWW.EQUITY.UCONN.EDU
WWW.TITLEIX.UCONN.EDU
WWW.ACCESSIBILITY.UCONN.EDU  

Reporting Discrimination Concerns

UConn is committed to providing equal access and full participation for  individuals with disabilities within all University programs and activities. The Office  of Institutional Equity (OIE) monitors the University’s  compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Letissa C. Reid, J.D., Associate Vice President of OIE, serves as  UConn's ADA Coordinator and Section 504 Coordinator.

OIE’s role at UConn includes administering the University’s Policy Against Discrimination, Harassment and Related Interpersonal Violence. Further  information and links to applicable policies and procedures (including OIE’s  complaint procedures) are available on OIE’s website

Questions and concerns regarding disability-based discrimination and harassment, including allegations relating to accommodations determined by the  Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD), may be reported to OIE:

Online: https://equity.uconn.edu/reporting-form/ 

Email: equity@uconn.edu 

Phone: 860-486-2943 

To facilitate the internal resolution of complaints, individuals with concerns  that they did not receive reasonable accommodations or that they were otherwise  subjected to disability-based discrimination or harassment, are encouraged to  contact OIE as soon as possible.

Information about additional reporting options and resources can also be  found on the University’s InForm website. InForm is a  tool to help the UConn community navigate the reporting process and support  available for a variety of incidents, including bias, harassment, safety concerns,

Academic Accommodation Grievance Procedures

ACADEMIC ACCOMMODATIONS GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES

Summary

The University of Connecticut has established an Academic Accommodations Advisory Panel under the jurisdiction of the Provost, the University’s chief academic officer.  The Academic Advisory Panel assists the Provost, on a case-by-case basis, in resolving any disagreements that arise concerning specific requests for academic accommodations where there is a dispute as to whether the requested accommodation, if granted, may fundamentally alter an essential component of a class or course of study.  The Panel serves as a resource for all University entities, including faculty, academic administrators, and University students.

Members of the Panel 

Members of the Academic Accommodations Advisory Panel may include the following:

  • A faculty chairperson or designated representative of the Department offering the course(s) in which the accommodation is requested.
  • A representative from the student’s school or college.
  • The Director of the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD).  The CSD staff member who evaluated the student’s accommodation request will not participate in the Panel’s review of that accommodation request.
  • A representative appointed by the Dean of Students Office.
  • A faculty representative from the Special Education Program of the Department of Educational Psychology, Department of Allied Health Sciences, or another department or program with specific expertise, to be determined by the Office of Diversity and Equity (ODE) depending upon the nature of the disability.

Procedure

  1. The student submits a request for accommodations to the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD), including providing appropriate documentation of the disability. 
  2. In instances where there is disagreement between the student and instructor regarding a particular accommodation request that may fundamentally alter an essential component of a class or course of study, the student’s CSD Disability Services Professional (DSP) will make every effort to resolve the disagreement in a timely manner.
  3. If an agreement cannot be reached, the student, faculty member, or University administrative staff may submit a complaint to:
    Letissa C. Reid, J.D.

    Associate Vice President
    Title IX Coordinator & ADA Coordinator
    Office of Institutional Equity
    Pronouns: She-Her-Hers University of Connecticut – Wood Hall
    241 Glenbrook Rd., Unit 4175, Storrs, CT 06269-4175
    Phone: (860) 486-2943
    Fax: (860) 486-5943
    Email: letissa.reid@uconn.edu

    Ms. Reid is responsible for convening the Academic Accommodations Advisory Panel.

    1. The Academic Accommodations Advisory Panel then reviews the complaint and any additional relevant information from University personnel in order to render a decision within ten (10) days from the date of the complaint.  The decision is subject to the approval of the Provost.
    2. While a complaint is under review by the Academic Accommodations Advisory Panel or the Provost, a reasonable accommodation should be provided by the faculty member.
    3. The decision of the Provost is not appealable; however, a student may pursue standard administrative channels by filing a complaint of discrimination with OIE or through external enforcement agencies (e.g., Office for Civil Rights, Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO), or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)).  For more information regarding civil rights enforcement agencies, please visit https://csd.uconn.edu/discrimination-complaint-procedures/

    Civil Rights Enforcement Agencies

    The U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces several Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination in programs or activities that receive financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education. OCR is also responsible for Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 which prohibits disability discrimination by all public entities. (How to File a Complaint with OCR).

    The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces Federal laws prohibiting discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, sex, pregnancy, genetic information, religion, national origin, age, or disability, as well as retaliation protections for persons complaining of discrimination or participating in the investigation of discriminatory activity. These laws prohibit discrimination in the job application and hiring process, and in the context of terminations, promotions, training, wages, or any other terms, privileges or conditions of employment.

    The Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) enforces state laws prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, and credit transactions. The mission of the CHRO is to eliminate discrimination through the enforcement of civil and human rights laws and to further the goals of equal opportunity and justice for all persons within the state through advocacy and education. Connecticut law provides protections against discrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, color, race, criminal record, genetic information, disability, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or workplace hazards to reproductive systems, as well as retaliation protections for whistleblowers and persons complaining of discrimination or participating in the investigation of discriminatory activity.

    The U.S. Department of Labor administers a variety of federal labor laws including those that guarantee workers’ rights to safe and healthful working conditions, a minimum hourly wage, and overtime pay. The Department of Labor is also responsible for enforcing comprehensive federal labor laws in areas such as record keeping, youth and special employment, family and medical leave, migrant workers, lie detector tests, protections in certain temporary worker programs, and the prevailing wages for government service and construction contracts. The Connecticut Department of Labor is responsible for a number of state labor programs, including unemployment insurance, wage and workplace standards, and the Connecticut Family and Medical Leave Act.

    For more information about other entities that enforce state and federal non-discrimination laws, please go to the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, the U.S. Department of Justice or to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.