It is the policy of Concorde Career Colleges, Inc. (Campus), to abide by both the letter and spirit of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and its implementing regulation at 34 Code of Federal Regulations C.F.R., Part 104. Section 504 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs and activities operated by recipients of federal financial assistance. Covered entities must accommodate students with reasonable academic adjustments and auxiliary aids and services that are necessary to afford an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in its programs. Concorde is not required to make academic adjustments and/or provide auxiliary aids and services that would result in a fundamental alteration of its programs or impose an undue burden.
The Campus prohibits all discrimination against “qualified individuals with disabilities” as defined in Concorde’s Disabilities Policy. In addition, a “qualified disabled person,” with respect to postsecondary and vocational education services, is one who meets the academic and technical standards requisite to participation in the Campus’s education program.
Procedures for Requesting Academic Adjustment and/or Auxiliary Aid:
- Current students with disabilities wishing to request academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids must contact the Campus President. The Campus President is designated as the Campus Compliance Coordinator (CCC) with respect to Section 504. A disclosure of a disability or request for adjustments and/or aids made to a faculty or staff member, other than the CCC, will not be treated as a request for an academic adjustment and/or auxiliary aid. However, if a student discloses a disability to faculty or staff, he or she is required to direct the student to the CCC.
- The CCC will provide the student with an academic adjustment and/or auxiliary aid Request Form for Students With Disabilities to complete. Academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids are available to students who provide documentation of a disability, specifically that they have an impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
- In general, the documentation referenced should be current prior to taking entrance assessments to be accepted into a program. The documented assessments must be completed by qualified professionals in the area of disability. Documentation and sources used to evaluate the need and determine appropriate adjustments or aids may include a licensed professional’s current medical diagnosis and date of diagnosis, evaluation of how the student’s disability affects one or more of the major life activities and recommendations, psychological and/or emotional diagnostic tests, aptitude and achievement tests with results/reports, functional effects or limitations of the disability (physical limitations) and/or medications and recommendations, and social and cultural background and adaptive behavior. The campus reserves the right to request additional documentation as needed.
- After the CCC or his or her designee receives the academic adjustment and/or auxiliary aid Request Form and the required documentation, the CCC will engage in an interactive process with the student to determine what academic adjustment(s) and/or auxiliary aid(s) are appropriate. This process will include primary consideration of the student’s recommendations. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate this process by contacting the CCC and participating in the interactive process to identify appropriate academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids. Within 10 business days, the CCC will meet with the student to discuss the appropriate reasonable academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids needed. Primary consideration will be given to the student’s requested academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids. Any academic adjustment and/or auxiliary aid denied will include a written statement as to the basis. Whenever an academic adjustment and/or auxiliary aid is denied, the CCC will enter into an interactive communication with the requestor and discuss the need for additional documentation and/or alternate academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids.
- If the student is denied the requested adjustment or aid, he or she may file a grievance using the Grievance Procedure, or the student may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights.
- The CCC is responsible for ensuring that approved academic adjustments and auxiliary aids are implemented in a timely manner and will be responsible for ensuring compliance of accommodations through the Academic Dean and Program Director. If students believe that the academic adjustment and/or auxiliary aid is not being implemented, they are urged to contact the CCC to discuss the matter. If not resolved, students may file a grievance using the Grievance Procedure, or the student may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights.
An adjustment or aid that fundamentally alters a program of instruction, conflicts with direct licensing requirements, or otherwise negates a requirement essential to the program will not be approved. A student may challenge such a determination by using the Grievance Procedure, or the student may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights.
Grievance Procedure Regarding Students With Disabilities
Any complaints alleging discrimination based on one’s disability, including disagreements regarding requested academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids, may be grieved using the following procedures:
- He or she should contact the Campus Compliance Coordinator (CCC) (Campus President) to file a formal grievance as soon as the student knew or reasonably should have known of the alleged discriminatory act or disagreement regarding academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids.
- The CCC will assist the student in defining the grievance and will witness the student’s signature on the Grievance Form.
- All grievances shall be reviewed and investigated by the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The Vice President of Academic Affairs’ role shall be to investigate whether the student was discriminated based on disability by gathering all relevant information. Allegations can include, but are not limited to, harassment, failure to provide approved aids or adjustments, or a disagreement over what aids and adjustments are appropriate.
- The student shall have an opportunity to express his or her concerns with the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
- All reasonable efforts will be made to provide a written determination to the student within 30 days, which will close the charge of discrimination.
- If the student feels the alleged discriminatory act was conducted by the CCC, the student may contact the Vice President of Academic Affairs at 1-800-852-8434 to file a formal grievance at any time in the process.
- The determination made by the Vice President of Academic Affairs will be the final review.
The campus is dedicated to protecting the rights provided to individuals with disabilities by Section 504. Federal regulations prohibit the campus from discriminating against students on the basis of disability. If a student believes that the campus has discriminated against him or her or another person on the basis of disability, the student may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights.
The campus prohibits retaliation against persons who file complaints of discrimination or assist with or participate in a campus or government agency investigation, proceeding, or hearing concerning complaints of discrimination. Retaliation complaints may be filed separately with the Office for Civil Rights. Current or prospective students with disabilities wishing to request academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids must contact the Campus President.