Formal Appeal of Accommodation Decisions

Overview:

Students who disagree with an accommodation decision may request a formal review of the decision. The review will assess whether the decision was made through an individualized, interactive process and is consistent with applicable law and university policy. The review is not a re-evaluation of disability status, but an examination of the reasonableness of the accommodation determination. 

The accommodation re-review process is not a discrimination complaint process. It is designed to review accommodation decisions. Students who believe they have experienced disability discrimination may file a complaint with the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO), which oversees the university’s civil rights complaints. 

Steps:

  1. Student accommodation formal appeals must be filed by submitting the form below.
    1.   SAS Formal Appeal Form
    2. If you cannot submit the form for any reason, please email the director (clarakit@iastate.edu). The written appeal shall include:
      • The name and contact information of the student/applicant.
      • The accommodation(s) decisions that are being appealed
      •  The reason for the formal appeal. This may include information that is believed not to have been fully considered, new or updated information, etc.
      • The student/applicant may also identify any relevant documentation, evidence, and/or witnesses.
         
  2. The formal appeal should be submitted within thirty (30) calendar days of the challenged decision/action, unless the student/applicant can show good cause for the delay.
  3. Formal appeals are reviewed by the Director of the Student Accessibility Services office. The review includes:
    1. A full review of all submitted documentation and information provided by the student or applicant.
    2. A review to determine whether the interactive process was followed in the original decision.
    3. An investigation of the factors involved in the original decision, including whether alternative accommodations were explored (if applicable).
  4. The formal appeal review will be completed by the director within 10 business days and an email with the final decision details and report on the process that was undertaken will be sent to the student/applicant's Iowa State email. This decision will be the university's final decision. 
     

Complaint Forms

If a student or applicant believes they have experienced discrimination or has concerns about the process followed by Student Accessibility Services, they may file a complaint through one of the following options.