Appeal & Grievance Procedures

Informal Appeal Process

If a student requests a particular accommodation and the request has been denied by their Accommodation Coordinator, the student may ask for an informal appeal review of the determination. The informal appeal will be reviewed by the Accommodation Coordinator and an explanation provided. 

At the student’s request, an alternative Accommodation Coordinator may be asked to review the informal appeal and may be included in the interactive discussion to provide an alternative perspective. 

Formal Appeal Process

If a student requests a particular accommodation and the request has been denied through the informal appeal process, the student may formally appeal the decision by requesting a review of the determination. The appeal will be reviewed by the Director of Disability Services. 

A student may only appeal upon one or more of the following grounds:

1. Any procedural errors by the Accommodation Coordinator that materially impacted the interactive process and/or the determination to deny the requested accommodation(s); or
2. Any information made available during the interactive process that was not adequately considered by the Accommodation Coordinator; or
3. Any factual or analytical errors in the Student Accommodation Notification which materially impacted the denial of accommodation(s).

In order to move forward with an appeal of an accommodation determination, the student must provide the following information: the basis of the appeal, a description of the concerns, and the resolution being sought through the appeal process.  

Once the Formal Appeal is submitted, Disability Services will contact the student to request a conversation be set up prior to a determination of the appeal. 

A determination in writing will be provided by the Director of Disability Services within twenty (20) business days of receipt of a completed accommodation appeal, including all supplemental documentation. The determination may have one of three outcomes:

1. Upholding the original accommodation as outlined in the Accommodation Notification Letter
2. Returning the matter to the Accommodation Coordinator for reconsideration and re-engagement in the interactive process
3. Reversing or amending the Accommodation Notification Letter in part or in whole 

Once a determination is made, the student will be notified of the outcome of the appeal via email. 

If a student believes they have been discriminated or retaliated against on the basis of a disability they can file a complaint grievance the Office of Institutional Equity. 

UCCS has adopted internal grievance procedures providing for prompt, equitable and impartial resolution of grievances alleging any action prohibited by the ADA or Section 504.These procedures apply to complaints of discrimination or harassment on the bases of disability by staff, faculty, students and applicants for both University employment and academic admission, vendors, contractors, and third parties. Such a complaint is referred to these procedures as a “grievance.”

To file a grievance follow the process to, report an Incident to Office of Institutional Equity, (OIE). 

Students who want to contest university decisions regarding academic or other accommodations can utilize the institutional appeal process as described above. Any availability and use of this grievance procedure does not prevent a student from filing a complaint of discrimination on the basis of disability with the UCCS Office of Institutional Equity, pursuant to UCCS’ Discrimination and Harassment Policy and the grievance process provided in the OIE Resolution Procedures.