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• Academic Assistance
• > Disability Services

Commendations and Complaints

In the event that specific complaints arise regarding the University’s compliance with particular provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, an individual with a potential grievance is encouraged to work with the Drake University personnel most closely involved, in a effort to resolve the matter informally.

The purpose of the informal procedure is to provide an opportunity to mediate a mutually acceptable resolution between the parties. Under the informal procedure, the primary concern is not with determining whether an actual violation of the regulation has occurred but rather with attempting to restore an amicable relationship and sense of community between the parties. A complainant is encouraged to use the informal procedure prior to a formal complaint process.

A complainant may initiate an informal procedure for resolution of a harassment complaint by contacting any appropriate member of the University community including any academic or administrative official of the University such as the director of human resources, vice president or provost, dean, department chair or director.

To the extent that complaints cannot be resolved informally, the following procedures will be followed in order to initiate a formal grievance:

The following procedure has been developed for use by students and prospective students at Drake University for purposes of grievances pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990:

“Grievance” as used in this procedure means a written complaint by any student who believed that he or she is a qualified individual with a disability who has been adversely affected by an improper application of one or more University rules, regulations, or policies, or by specified improper actions of any individual affiliated with the University in the capacity of academic personnel, administrative or professional staff, or clerical or service staff.

“Student” as used in this procedure includes persons (1) who are registered for classes at Drake University at the time a grievance pursuant to this policy is initiated; (2) who were registered for classes at Drake University at the time the adverse occurrence that gave rise to the grievance occurred; (3) who have an offer of admission to Drake University; and (4) who have sought admission to Drake University.  “Student” includes undergraduate, graduate, and professional students at Drake University.

All complaints will be handled promptly and treated with as much discretion as practical. Access to information provided by the complainant will be available only to those persons who have a need to know.

STEP ONE

1. If informal discussion with appropriate University personnel does not resolve the complaint, the student will submit a written grievance to the Student Disability Services Coordinator within forty-five (45) working days of the event(s) that triggered the grievance.  The written grievance must include:

   1. a clear and unequivocal statement of the University rules(s), regulation(s), policy(ies), and/or action(s) of which the student complains;

   2. the date of any action of which the student complains;

   3. the names of all University employees involved; and

   4. a summary of the action(s) the student has taken to resolve the matter informally.

2. The Student Disability Services Coordinator, which term for the purposes of the procedure includes an individual designated in writing by the Student Disability Services Coordinator, will meet with the student within ten (10) working days of the receipt of the grievance.
3. If this meeting does not resolve the grievance, the Student Disability Services Coordinator will conduct an informal investigation of the subject of grievance with the objective of resolving the grievance.   In those cases where the grievance involves a dispute regarding the conduct or requirements of a course or of an academic program, the Student Disability Services Coordinator will, in addition to consulting with the faculty member responsible for the affected course or academic program, meet with and seek advice from the Dean of the school.
4. The Student Disability Services Coordinator will furnish the student with a written response to the grievance with thirty (30) working days of the meeting with the student.  The written response will be mailed to the student by certified mail, return receipt requested.  If the grievance involves a dispute regarding the conduct or the requirements of a course, or of an academic program, a copy of the written response issued by the Student Disability Services Coordinator will be provided to the dean and the department head in the school responsible for the affected course or academic program, and, when applicable, the professor responsible for the course.

STEP TWO

1. If the student is not satisfied with the written response of the Student Disability Services Coordinator, the student may present his/her grievance in written form to the Provost within ten (10) working days after receipt of the response of the Student Disability Services Coordinator.  The grievance presented to the Provost will be limited to those matters raised in the student’s grievance to the Student Disability Services Coordinator pursuant to step one of the procedure.
2. The Provost, which term for the purposes of this procedure includes an individual designated in writing by the Provost, will, within fifteen (15) working days after the receipt of the grievance, schedule and conduct a meeting with the student and any other persons involved with the grievance.  When the subject of the grievance is the responsibility of another academic dean or senior administrator, the provost will invite the participation of the administrator in the meeting.
3. After discussing the facts and issues involved in the grievance with those appearing at the grievance hearing, the Provost will issue to the complainant a written answer to the grievance within fifteen (15) working days from the completion of the hearing.  The step two answer or decision by the Provost will be final.  A copy of the written response will be provided to Student Disability Services for the student file.
4. If the grievance involves a dispute regarding the conduct or the requirements of a course, or of an academic program, a copy of the written decision issued by the Provost will be provided to the dean and the department head in the school responsible for the affected course or academic program and, when applicable, to the professor responsible for the course.

Once these steps have been taken, a formal complaint may also be recorded at the Drake University Student Complaint and Appeal Resources and Procedures Site.