ADA Appeal Process

Americans with Disabilities Act Policy and Grievance Procedure

Jackson State Community College has adopted a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of disability in the admission and access to academic programs, procedures, and activities. The College has adopted an internal grievance procedure providing for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any action prohibited by the U.S. Department of Justice regulations implementing Title II of the Americans With Disabilities Act. Title II states, in part, that "no otherwise qualified disabled individual shall, solely by reason of such disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination" in programs or activities sponsored by Jackson State.

1. In the event a person has a complaint related to ADA, they first must attempt to resolve the situation with the College employee involved. If those efforts are unsuccessful, a documented complaint, briefly describing the alleged violation of the regulations, must be filed with the ADA Compliance Officer, the Dean of Students, within 30 days after the violation. Complaints should be directed to the ADA Compliance Officer, Student Center, Jackson State Community College, 2046 North Parkway, Jackson, Tennessee 38301-3797.
2. Upon such filing of a complaint, an appropriate investigation shall follow by the Compliance Officer and others designated by the College for such purpose. These rules provide for informal, but thorough, investigations allowing all interested persons and their representatives, if any, to submit related evidence.
3. A written determination of the complaint's validity and a description of the resolution shall be issued by the ADA Compliance Officer and a copy forwarded to the complainant no later than 90 days after the complaint's filing.
4. The ADA Compliance Officer shall maintain Jackson State's files and records relating to complaints filed.
5. The complainant can request a reconsideration of the case if he/she is dissatisfied with the resolution. The request for reconsideration should be made to the Vice President of Student Services within 30 days of the issuing of the written determination.
6. A written response to that request for reconsideration will be issued, and a copy will be forwarded to the complainant no later than 30 days after the request's filing. The President of the College holds the final authority for appeals. An appeal of that reconsideration must be filed with the President within 30 days of the issuing of the written determination.
7. A person's right to a prompt and equitable resolution of the complaint filed thereunder shall not be impaired by the person's pursuit of other remedies, such as the filing of an ADA complaint with the responsible federal department or agency. Use of this grievance procedure is not a prerequisite to the pursuit of other remedies.
8. These rules shall be construed to protect the substantive rights of interested persons to meet appropriate due process standards and to assure that Jackson State complies with the ADA in implementing the program.