Policy Statement on Special Needs Students
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is responsible for the implementation of
laws impacting the student with disabilities. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended
through 1998) requires that ‘no otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall be
excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination
under any program receiving Federal financial assistance’. The ADA – Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 – is a broad, federal anti-discrimination law that seeks to provide
equal access opportunities.
In order to comply with these laws, Rose-Hulman is required to provide equal
physical as well as educational program access to all otherwise qualified students.
Reasonable accommodations must be provided in class to accomplish this compliance.
Each student with a disability is responsible for contacting the Disability Services
Coordinator (DSC) before enrolling and for providing the required documentation of his
or her disability. In turn, the DSC will notify each professor at the beginning of each
quarter of the documented special needs students present in the professor’s classroom.
The professor may contact the DSC for more information as allowed about said students.
If during the course of the program a student with disabilities disagrees with a
professor’s course requirements or feels he or she has been denied a reasonable
accommodation, the student should immediately speak with the professor. If an informal
satisfactory solution cannot be arranged, then the student should contact the DSC to
proceed along a more formal appeal to find a solution. The disabled student ultimately
has the right to file a grievance with the Office of Civil Rights.
Appeals Process
Informal Review: RHIT encourages ‘special needs’ students to work closely with the
Disability Services Coordinator throughout their academic careers. In the event of a
complaint or concerns, students may begin the review process by internally and
informally seeking help through Disability Services. If the student is unable to reach a
satisfactory resolution through Informal Review, the student may then file a written
appeal to the Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty.
Appeals Process: The Dean of Faculty will make decisions in the appeals process based
upon supporting evidence provided by the student and the college, and based upon legal
decisions concerning section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans
with Disabilities Act of 1990. Supporting evidence includes: documents provided by
student, by the college, by all involved parties, and the stated educational objectives of
courses, programs, and activities.
Students should provide a written statement of the complaint within 14 days of
the event to the Disability Services Coordinator, who will forward it immediately to the
Vice President of Academic Affairs. All parties involved will be requested immediately
to provide documentation about the event or situation. RHIT has adopted a policy of
providing an equitable resolution within 10 days of receiving written documentation from
all parties about a complaint involving an academic accommodation. If you have
questions about the review or appeal process, contact the Disability Services Coordinator
at 877-8285.