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Complaint Procedures

Office of Accessibility Services Complaint and Appeal Procedures

Complaint Procedures

The following procedures apply to complaints alleging a member of the campus community, outside of Accessibility Services, has violated a student’s disability rights.

Any properly registered student at Norfolk State University with a disability who believes their rights have been violated under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 must submit a written complaint to the Director of Accessibility Services.

This written complaint must be submitted within 45 days of the alleged violation, unless the Director of Accessibility Services grants an extension for good cause.

The written complaint must include a clear and concise description of the alleged violation, along with relevant dates and any additional information that may assist in investigating the complaint. The complainant must provide all requested documentation and information pertaining to themselves and the alleged violator. The complaint must be signed by the complainant or the complainant’s designee.

The Director of Accessibility Services will issue a written decision regarding the complaint. If the complainant is not satisfied with the decision, the complainant may submit a written appeal to the Dean of Students within 45 business days of receiving notification of the decision. The Dean of Students will review the appeal in consultation with the Assistant Vice President for Access and Equal Opportunity, as appropriate. The decision rendered following the appeal review shall be final.

Procedures for Accessibility Services Complaints

The following procedures apply to complaints alleging a staff member, within the Office of Accessibility Services, has violated a student’s disability rights or has displayed improper conduct.

Any properly registered student at Norfolk State University with a disability who believes their rights have been violated under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 by the Office of Accessibility Services shall file a written complaint to the Dean of Students.

This written complaint must be submitted within 45 days of the alleged violation, unless the Dean of Students grants an extension for good cause.

The written complaint must include a clear and concise description of the alleged violation, along with relevant dates and any additional information that may assist in investigating the complaint. The complainant must provide all requested documentation and information pertaining to themselves and the alleged violator within the Office of Accessibility Services. The complaint must be signed by the complainant or the complainant’s designee.

The Dean of Students will review the complaint in consultation with the Vice President of Student Affairs, as appropriate. The Dean of Students will issue a written decision regarding the complaint. The decision rendered following the review shall be final.

Procedures for Appeals

The following procedures apply to submitting appeals regarding accommodation eligibility or accommodation determinations.

Any student who has not been approved for a reasonable accommodation is eligible to request an appeal based on the following criteria:

  • New or Additional Documentation You have new medical, psychological, or educational documentation that was not previously considered and supports the need for the requested accommodation.
  • Procedural Error or Bias The decision-making process was not followed correctly, or there is evidence of bias, discrimination, or unfair treatment that may have impacted the outcome.
  • Substantive Disagreement with the Decision You believe the denial or limitation of accommodations was not consistent with applicable disability laws (such as the ADA or Section 504) or institutional policies, and the requested accommodation is reasonable and necessary to ensure equal access. The appeal must be submitted in writing to the Dean of Students at deanofstudents@nsu.edu within 3 business days.

The Dean of Students will review the appeal in consultation with the Assistant Vice President for Access and Equal Opportunity, as appropriate. The Dean of Students will issue a written decision regarding the complaint. The decision rendered following the review shall be final.