Grievance Procedure

SAS Grievance Procedure

The office of Student Accessibility Services (SAS) provides assistance to students with varying degrees and types of disabilities in order to maximize educational opportunity and academic potential. Kent State University affirms this principle of equal access in its equal opportunity policies found in 3342-5-16 and 3342-5-16.1. SAS supports students in their right to file a grievance when he or she believes they have been denied equal access either in the form of eligibility, appropriate and reasonable accommodations, and/or auxiliary aids, or believe they have experienced discriminatory harassment as defined in the University’s nondiscrimination policies, Ohio Revised Code 4112, Sections 501 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

SAS encourages students to present his or her complaint by following the four-step process outlined below. Note that students are permitted to directly file a complaint with the University’s Office of Compliance, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, the State of Ohio Civil Rights Commission or the United States Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, although the steps outlined below are encouraged as an initial response. Students are also encouraged to review the University’s Policy Register regarding academic and non-academic grievance policies. Students may also contact the Student Ombuds to discuss their academic rights under relevant university policies.

Complaints related to a student’s disability should be immediately brought to the attention of SAS staff. The SAS office will serve as the university’s primary point of contact in initially reviewing student disability-related matters. It is expected that university offices, such as Student Ombuds, SAS, Compliance, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), will consult as appropriate and as necessary. It is expected that student complaints are addressed in as expeditious a manner as possible, understanding that each case requires additional time as set forth in university policies and procedures.

Four Steps to Addressing and Resolving a Complaint

1. SAS Accessibility Specialist – Students should present and discuss the complaint with his or her accessibility specialist in the SAS office, located in the DeWeese Center. The SAS office recommends that the student bring their complaint to the SAS representative’s attention as soon as possible so that measures can be taken. The SAS office may consult with the appropriate university personnel depending on the nature and scope of the complaint. The student and the SAS office will engage in an interactive process in order to attempt to resolve the issue. Resolution of the presented issue may be reached at this level. However, if a resolution is not reached students should proceed to the following step.

2. Director of Student Accessibility Services (SAS) – The student must file a written appeal to the director of the SAS office or his or her designee within 15 business days following the undesired outcome of Step 1. The director of SAS will review the student’s written appeal, which may include consulting with the student, and will respond within 15 business days* following receipt of the written appeal. The following information must be included in the written appeal:

• A detailed description of the complaint
• Any supporting documentation for the complaint and/or appeal
• Outcome summary from Step 1
• Resolution sought by student

Resolution of the presented issue may be reached at this level. However, if a resolution is not reached students should proceed to the following step.

3. The Office of Compliance, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action – The student should submit a written appeal within 15 business days* following the unsatisfactory outcome of Step 2 to the Office of Compliance, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action. The office will consult with the student to determine whether informal resolution should be attempted or whether the office will implement a Level Two Formal Investigation, and respond within 30  business days* per policy 3342-5-16.1. The following information must be included in the written appeal:

• A detailed description of the original complaint and appeal
• Any supporting documentation for the complaint and/or appeal
• Resolution sought by student
• The written response from the director of SAS from Step 2

Resolution of the presented issue may be reached at this level. However, if a resolution is not reached, the complainant has exhausted the internal university complaint procedures.

4. Offices for Civil Rights – If resolution was not met by Step 3, the student may choose to file a complaint with the State of Ohio’s Civil Rights Commission. Additionally, a student may contact the Ohio Legal Rights Services. The preceding agencies will accept complaints and investigate according to their policies and procedures.  

*Summer session, holidays and inter-semester breaks including Spring Break and Winter Break are not included in the time frame of 15 or 45 business days.

Office of Compliance, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action