Disability Grievance Procedure

Any student in any Harvard school who has a grievance relating to disability accommodation, discrimination or harassment should first work through the grievance process at the local level, and may then seek review by the University Disability Office in accordance with process set forth below. If no local process applies, a student with a disability-related grievance may seek direct review by the University Disability Coordinator. Information about local processes is available in the local student handbook and web site, or the University Disability Coordinator may assist in directing you to the correct office at the local level.

• If a Harvard school's process 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. The University Disability Coordinator may take some or all of the following steps: meeting in person with the student; contacting the school's Local Disability Coordinator and other individuals (such as faculty members or administrators) to discuss the requested accommodations.

• Requesting additional relevant medical documentation or an independent medical evaluation on the request for accommodation; gathering other information pertinent to the appeal.

• The University Disability Coordinator will make available, in writing to the student and the Local Disability Coordinator, the final determination on the requested accommodation and the specific reasons to support the decision.

• Every effort should be made to resolve the disagreement as expeditiously as is possible. In general, in those cases where timeliness is important, the University Disability Coordinator will attempt to reach a final determination within three weeks of receipt of the written grievance. In appropriate circumstances, the University Disability Coordinator may request the school to provide an accommodation on a provisional basis, pending the outcome of the appeal process.

• If at any point in the process the University Disability Coordinator is unavailable, the matter may be referred to his or her designee.

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.