Policy and Guidelines for Housing and Dietary Accommodations for Students and
Applicants with Medical and/or Psychological Disabilities
I. General Policy
The University of Redlands is committed to full compliance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section
504), the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, and state and local regulations regarding students and applicants
with disabilities. In carrying out this policy, we are committed to offering all students the opportunity to
fully participate in the University’s educational program and activities. The ADA defines a disability as a
physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
II. Policy and Procedures
The University of Redlands is a residential campus; therefore, every effort will be made to accommodate
housing and dietary accommodations on campus for students with medical and/or psychological disabilities.
Examples of accommodations may include a quiet residence hall, a ground floor room, private bathroom, an
individualized meeting with the Resident District Manager of Dining Services, etc. Current documentation
from a licensed and qualified professional is required. Recommendations within the documentation will be
considered when determining accommodations based on functional limitations that may impact the student
in housing and/or a dining setting.
Off-campus housing will be explored as an option only when on-campus housing and/or dining options
have been eliminated.
Housing room rates do not change because accommodations are requested and/or granted.
Students with medical and/or psychological disabilities desiring to have housing and/or dietary
accommodations must provide current documentation to Academic Success & Disability Services on an
Accommodation Request Questionnaire. Documentation is kept in confidential files in Academic Success &
Disability Services and will be only shared with the Accommodations Committee in considering each
request. Documentation must be submitted by the deadline provided by the Student Life Office.
III. Guidelines for Policy Implementation and Procedures
A student requesting housing accommodations should pick up an Accommodation Request Packet from the
Student Life Office (2nd floor Hunsaker), Academic Success and Disability Services, or the Health Center.
The packet includes:
 Authorization for Release of Confidential Health Information
 Accommodation Request Questionnaire.
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The student needs to complete the Authorization for Release of Confidential Health Information and the
student information portion of the Accommodation Request Questionnaire. Both forms should be given to
the licensed and qualified professional who can provide complete and current medical information to assist
the Accommodation Committee during the review process.
All answers to the questions on the form must be legible. The provider may be asked to provide additional
related information.
Medical Disabilities: A student with a physical disability must provide verification certified by a licensed
physician, audiologist, speech pathologist, physical therapist, rehabilitation counselor, or other professional
health care provider who is qualified in the diagnosis of the disability. The verification must reflect the
student’s present level of functioning in the major life activity. Students with specific medical diagnoses
that require dietary accommodations will be required to meet or speak with the Resident District Manager of
Bon Appétit Dining Services to determine if those dietary needs can be met through the dining program on
campus. A summary of that meeting will be supplied by the Resident District Manager, which the
Accommodation Committee will take into consideration when making a final decision.
Psychological Disabilities: A student with psychological disabilities must provide verification from a
trained, certified and/or licensed mental health professional who can address the individual’s current level
of functioning and the degree of impact of the diagnosed disorder on a specific major life activity. The
health professional must also provide additional related evaluative results (e.g. psycho-educational testing
report, neuropsychological test results, etc.).
Students who already have psycho-educational testing on file and are interested in requesting housing
accommodations need to complete the Authorization for Release of Confidential Health Information and the
Accommodation Request Questionnaire, with the Diagnostic Information section to be completed by a
licensed and qualified health professional.
The Accommodation Committee will review all requests for housing and dietary accommodations and give
full and consistent consideration to each request. The committee members are: Assistant Dean of
Academics and Student Life, Assistant Dean of Student Life, Director of the Health Center, Director of
Counseling, and a College of Arts & Sciences faculty member. As mentioned above, the Resident District
Manager of Bon Appétit Dining Services will serve in a consultative role by meeting with all students with
special dietary needs; relevant documentation will be shared with the Resident District Manager when
necessary. All information reviewed by the committee is kept strictly private, except in cases of appeal
when all relevant information will be forwarded to the Associate Dean of Student Life.
Students will be notified of the committee’s decision either by campus mail or email.
Temporary impairments (6 months or less) are not commonly regarded as disabilities, and only in rare
circumstances will the degree of limitation rendered by a temporary impairment be substantial enough to
qualify as a disability pursuant to this policy.
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IV. Appeal Process
Within ten (10) business days from written notification of the decision, if the student formally requests to
appeal a decision rendered by the Accommodations Committee body will first be reviewed by the Chair of
the Accommodations Committee, or designee, to determine whether all of the following conditions were
present:
1) The original decision was rendered fairly in light of the information presented, and in conformity
with prescribed procedures giving the student reasonable opportunity to prepare and submit said
information.
2) Whether the decision that was reached was done so with all information requested and by the
appropriate medical or mental health professional, and that the information presented was sufficient
to establish a functional limitation pertaining to the housing or dietary accommodations requested.
3) Whether the requested accommodations can be reasonably met in the residence halls or by Bon
Appétit.
4) To consider new information, sufficient to alter the Accommodation Committee’s decision or other
relevant facts not brought out in the initial Accommodation Request Questionnaire that was
reasonably unavailable at the time the request was submitted.
If all the aforementioned conditions were present, the decision of the Accommodation Committee will be
sustained. If, however, any of the conditions are found not to be present, the Associate Dean of Student
Life, or designee, will review the request, will decide upon the appropriate action and make a
recommendation. Where possible, the appeal will be returned to the Accommodation Committee for
reconsideration, if such action will give rise to the granting of the appeal request. If the complaint cannot be
returned to the Accommodation Committee, the Associate Dean of Student Life, or designee, is authorized
to reconsider the appeal based on the original decision since the Administrators noted previously do not
rehear complaints. The Chair of the Accommodation Committee will send written notice of the Associate
Dean’s decision within ten (10) business days from the date the appeal was submitted. The decision of the
Associate Dean is final.
Alternate means of filing appeals, such as personal interview or a tape recording, will be made available for
persons with disabilities upon request.
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