Grievance Procedures

At the University of Northern Colorado (“UNC”), students with disabilities are responsible for contacting Disability Support Services (“DSS”) if reasonable accommodations are not implemented in an effective or timely manner. DSS will work with faculty, staff, and the student with a disability to attempt to resolve disagreements regarding recommended accommodations. The Complaint Resolution Process, described below is the procedure and resolving a complaint of denial of an accommodation and/or of discrimination in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ("Section 504"). Any student with a disability who believes he or she has been discriminated against on the basis of that disability may use this process to file a complaint with DSS.
Any student who believes he/she has experienced discrimination at UNC based on a disability has a right to invoke the complaint resolution procedures described on this page regarding:

  • Disagreements or denial of accommodations to which the student believes he/she is entitled to on the  basis of his/her disability
  • Inaccessibility of a UNC program or activity
  • Harassment or discrimination perpetrated by a UNC employee on the basis of disability
  • Any other alleged violation(s) of the ADA and/or Section 504

Where this resolution procedure is utilized, the student must first meet with the DSS Director to discuss the complaint in detail.  This discussion may include a review of the student’s disability documentation and file with DSS, as well as any additional information submitted by the student.  DSS reserves the right to request releases from the student to discuss the complaint with other individuals and departments within UNC in order to gather additional information relevant to the complaint prior to making a decision. 

The Director of DSS will investigate the student’s complaint including gathering additional documentary information that may be relevant to the complaint and speaking with any individuals who may have relevant information.  The DSS Director may also contact the student who filed the complaint to receive additional information.

Upon completion of the investigation, the DSS Director will issue a decision regarding the complaint.  If the student is dissatisfied with the decision of the DSS Director, the student has the right to make a formal complaint by contacting the UNC ADA Coordinator, Marshall Parks at 970-351-1814 or Marshall.Parks@unco.edu.

All complaints must be in writing and signed by the student. The grievance must contain:

  • A clear and precise statement of the complaint.
  • State how the action is discriminatory or the decision unreasonable if it is a denial of a requested accommodation;
  • Name the respondent parties (the person(s) against whom the grievance is filed);
  • State how each respondent is responsible for the action or decision;
  • State the requested remedy;
  • State whether a non-participating observer will be brought to the hearing; and
  • A Grievance Statement of Authenticity Form signed by the grieving student.

If it is clear on the face of the written grievance, the complaint has not been filed according to this process (such as, but not limited to, timeframe, matter is not grievable under this process, the complaint is frivolous in the Student ADA Coordinator's judgment, or is from a person without grievance rights under this process) the Student ADA Coordinator shall so indicate in a letter to the grievant that the complaint is dismissed . Once dismissed, the student shall be provided information to file a grievance external to the university.

Otherwise, within fourteen calendar days the Student ADA Coordinator, shall refer the grievance to the chair of the Student ADA Grievance Committee, from which a fact-finding panel will be appointed. The Student ADA Coordinator will inform the Employee in writing that a grievance has been received and refer the matter to the Panel of the Committee.