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Publication Date: September 5, 2008

Chapter 9

General Provisions

9.2 University Policy Concerning Persons with Disabilities

  1. The University of Texas at San Antonio is committed to providing students, faculty, staff, and visitors access to all university programs, activities, and facilities.

  2. The university prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities in all programs, services and activities.

  3. University facilities are accessible to persons with disabilities. The university strives to promote an environment that is barrier free: free from both physical barriers and barriers of attitude.

    1. Disability Services (DS) coordinates support services, accommodations, and equipment for students with disabilities. DS works to ensure equal access to all university programs, services, and activities for students with disabilities. DS certifies eligibility for services, determines reasonable accommodations, and develops plans for the implementation of accommodations. The DS director also assists students in the informal resolution of complaints.

    2. The Human Resources Department assists faculty, staff, and visitors in the certification process and in the informal resolution of complaints. The Human Resources Department serves as liaison for faculty and staff with disabilities in ensuring reasonable accommodation by the university.

    3. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) coordinator receives and processes formal grievances alleging discrimination on the basis of a disability. The ADA coordinator investigates these complaints to determine their validity and, in appropriate cases, suggests a resolution.

    4. Grievance Procedures for Students

      1. Informal Grievance Procedures

        When a student has a complaint concerning the provision of services, accommodations, or equipment, the student shall first discuss the complaint with the director of DS within ten (10) work days from the date of the action or condition giving rise to the complaint. Within five (5) work days thereafter, the DS director shall verbally inform the student of the decision. Once all efforts have been made to resolve a verbal or informal complaint, the student has the right to initiate the formal grievance procedure.

      2. Formal Grievance Procedure for Students

        (1) A complaint becomes a formal grievance once it has been submitted in writing to the ADA coordinator. The written complaint should be submitted within ten (10) work days of the date in which the student has been informed of the DS director's decision. The complaint should contain the name and address of the person filing it, and accurately set out the factual basis for the complaint.

        (2) The ADA coordinator will meet with the student to discuss the grievance and will provide a written decision to the student within ten (10) work days of the meeting.

        (3) Grievances not resolved by the above process may be appealed to the vice president for student affairs (VPSA) in writing, within ten (10) work days of the date in which the written decision from the ADA coordinator is received. The appeal should specifically state the nature of the grievance and why the decision of the ADA coordinator is not acceptable. All correspondence will be sent through registered mail with a receipt requested. A written decision will be made by the VPSA within fifteen (15) work days of the final meeting with the parties involved in the grievance.

        (4) The decision of the VPSA on a grievance shall be final.

        (5) There can be an extension of time in any step if the student is notified by the ADA coordinator.

        (6) Failure of a student to process his or her grievance to the next step within the specified time limit shall constitute abandonment of the grievance unless an extension has been agreed upon.

        (7) Failure of university personnel to give an answer within the prescribed time limit, unless an extension has been previously agreed upon, authorizes the student to process his or her grievance to the next step.

    5. Grievance Procedure for Faculty, Staff, and Visitors

      1. Informal Grievance Procedure for Faculty, Staff, and Visitors

        When faculty, staff, or visitors (hereinafter referred to as grievant), have a complaint concerning the provision of services, accommodations, or equipment, the grievant shall first discuss the complaint with the associate vice president of human resources or his/her designee within ten (10) work days from the date of the action or condition giving rise to the complaint. Within five (5) work days thereafter, the associate vice president of human resources, or designee, shall verbally inform the grievant of the decision. Once all efforts have been made to resolve a verbal or informal complaint, the grievant has the right to initiate the formal grievance procedure.

      2. Formal Grievance Procedures for Faculty, Staff, and Visitors

        (1) A complaint becomes a formal grievance once it has been submitted to the ADA coordinator. The written complaint should be submitted within ten (10) work days of the date in which the grievant has been informed of the decision of the associate vice president of human resources. The complaint should be filed in writing, contain the name and address of the person filing it, and accurately set out the factual basis for the complaint.

        (2) The ADA coordinator will meet with the grievant to discuss the grievance and will provide a written decision to the grievant within ten (10) work days of the meeting.

        (3) Grievances not resolved by the above process may be appealed to the appropriate vice president in writing, within ten (10) work days of the date in which the written decision from the ADA coordinator is received. The appeal should specifically state the nature of the grievance and why the decision of the ADA coordinator is not acceptable. All correspondence will be sent through registered mail with a receipt requested. A written decision will be made by the appropriate vice president within fifteen (15) work days of the final meeting with the parties involved in the grievance.

        (4) The decision of the appropriate vice president on a grievance shall be final.

        (5) There can be an extension of time in any step if the grievant is notified by the ADA coordinator.

        (6) Failure of a grievant to process his or her grievance to the next step within the specified time limit shall constitute abandonment of the grievance unless an extension has been agreed upon.

        (7) Failure of university personnel to give an answer within the prescribed time limit, unless an extension has been previously agreed upon, authorizes the grievant to process his or her grievance to the next step.

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