Student Rights & Responsibilities
Rights
- To not be denied access due to a disability, according to the law
- To receive reasonable accommodations that provide equal opportunity
- To have access to auxiliary aids/assistive technology as available to other students
- To not be counseled toward “more restrictive career objectives”
- To receive assistance from the Office of Disability Services in removing physical, academic and attitudinal barriers
- To not be discriminated against due to a disability or receive any retaliatory discrimination, as protected by law
- To decide whether or not to identify themselves to the Office of Disability Services
- To decide whether or not to use their accommodations each semester
Responsibilities
- To identify to the Office of Disability Services if they wish to receive accommodations
- To provide documentation of disability
- To participate in an intake interview with a Disability Services staff member to initiate services
- To initiate specific accommodations by following the procedures outlined in a discussion with the Disability Services staff member
- To provide professors with reasonable notice in which to implement the accommodations
- To provide for personal independent living needs or other personal disability-related needs
- To assume personal responsibility for meeting with faculty and requesting additional assistance
- To follow all Office of Disability Services policies and procedures to receive accommodations
Discrimination Grievance Procedures
Internal Complaints: Students who feel they have been discriminated against because of a disability or perceived disability have a right to file a grievance report with the Student Affairs Office (617-593-8239). Suffolk University has a nondiscrimination policy as well as internal grievance procedures if a student suspects discrimination. To view Suffolk’s policy on discrimination, please refer to the Undergraduate or Graduate Student Handbook.
External (OCR) Complaints: Students are encouraged to follow the internal grievance procedure in an attempt to resolve complaints. However, students can file a grievance with the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) at any time. Ordinarily, the time limit for filing a complaint with OCR is 180 days from the time the incident occurred.