INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS: Grievances

Grievance procedures at individual faculties at Harvard may vary. The procedures below describe the grievance procedures concerning accommodations for students registered in Harvard College and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

AEO will provide a student with written notice of why a requested accommodation is not approved. If a student disagrees with the decision of the AEO Director regarding academic or non-academic accommodations, the student may request reconsideration of the decision as follows:

• In the event that the student does not accept the initial decision of the AEO Director, he or she will provide a written explanation and request for reconsideration to the AEO Director. To the extent relevant, the AEO Director also may request other individuals (faculty members or administrators) for their views (for example, in the case where an accommodation was denied on the grounds that it would compromise the essential requirements of a course or program, see Suggested Guidelines for Determining Essential Components of a Course or Program.) To the extent relevant, the AEO Director also may request additional medical documentation or an independent medical opinion on the request for accommodation, or gather any information pertinent to the request for reconsideration.

• The AEO Director will attempt to resolve the issue based on original and additional information. Policies concerning confidentiality prohibit the distribution of primary clinical documentation to anyone outside of AEO without written permission from the student.

• If the above does not produce agreement, the student may appeal in writing to the University Disability Coordinator who has responsibility for ensuring that the University's policies and procedures comply with Federal, State and University requirements, including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Prior to appealing to the University Disability Coordinator, the student is expected to have first sought reconsideration from the AEO Director. The student may request to meet in person with the University Disability Coordinator. The University Disability Coordinator may contact the AEO Director and other individuals (such as faculty members or administrators) to discuss the requested accommodations, and may also request, to the extent relevant, additional medical documentation or an independent medical opinion on the request for accommodation. In addition, the University Disability Coordinator may gather other information pertinent to the appeal.

• The University Disability Coordinator will make available, in writing to the student and AEO, the final determination on the requested accommodation and the specific reasons to support the decision, especially if reasons relate to additional clinical judgement. In his or her absence, the matter will be referred to his or her designee.

• Every effort should be made to resolve the disagreement as expeditiously as possible. In general, each phase of the process should be completed within five working days. In appropriate circumstances, the AEO Director may decide to provide an accommodation on a provisional basis, pending the outcome of the appeal process.

• The foregoing procedures apply to the grievances concerning accommodations. These procedures do not apply to students who have concerns that they may have been subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability or other protected status; the applicable procedures for resolving such complaints of discrimination are set forth in the Harvard College Student Handbook and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Handbook.

The University expressly reserves the right to make changes to its written policies, rules, and regulations at any time. This site is not intended, and should not be construed, to give rise to contractual rights and obligations.