Appeals and Grievances

The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine seeks to determine disability accommodations through an interactive process involving disability services professionals, appropriate members of the university community, and the individuals with disabilities themselves.

We recognize that in any deliberative process and with the best efforts of everyone involved with your service delivery at VTCSOM, disagreements may occur. The school offers a range of options to resolve concerns about accommodation and eligibility decisions, services received, treatment by University staff and faculty, and University policies related to students with disabilities.

Throughout the resolution process, you may expect to receive timely responses and have your concerns addressed in a respectful manner. Disability-related law and University policy prohibit retaliation in any form against persons who file complaints.

We strongly encourage you to let the Disability Advocacy Student Support (DASS) liaison know about any concerns as soon as possible and provide clear and detailed information so that we can work together to solve the problem as quickly as possible. If you wish to know more about your rights as an individual with a disability under Federal and State law and University policy, DASS can refer you to the appropriate entity.

Appeals and Grievance Procedure

Students have many options to resolve issues using VTCSOM’s grievance processes. An individual who believes that they have been discriminated against on the basis of their disability is encouraged to work with VTCSOM to resolve their concerns. While attempts at internal resolution are always recommended first, external means for resolving concerns are also available, and may be exercised at any time.

VTCSOM has a complaint procedure to deal promptly and fairly with concerns and complaints about discrimination based on disability as well as other areas of discrimination. The procedure may be used by any student who believes that they have been discriminated against or harassed based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin or citizenship status, age, disability, or veteran’s status.

Anyone may bring forth information or a concern about discrimination or harassment. Complaints are handled as confidentially as possible to protect the rights of both the complainant and the person accused. Retaliation against anyone who makes a complaint or participates in a complaint process will not be tolerated.

Option 1

Informal Resolution - This first step is an informal process where the Disability Advocacy and Student Support liaison works to resolve accommodation concerns between the student and faculty, or staff through the interactive process. VTCSOM does not conduct investigations, but rather works with Virginia Tech's Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) to promptly identify an agreeable solution.

Option 2

Per Virginia Tech Policy 4075, appeals of any decisions made or actions taken, including complaints of discrimination on the basis of a disability should be directed to the university’s Associate Director for Civil Rights Compliance/Deputy Title IX Coordinator (540) 231-2010 or Virginia Tech's ADA and Accessibility Services. 

Option 3

Discrimination Complaint - Any person who believes he or she has been subjected to discrimination on the basis of a protected category may contact the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), U.S. Department of Education. OCR advises that a potential complainant may want to explore and utilize the institution’s grievance process to resolve the complaint prior to filing a complaint against an institution. However, individuals are not required by law to use the institutional grievance process before filing a complaint with OCR.

Seek resolution by contacting the Office of Civil Rights (OCR), U.S. Department of Education at Voice: (415) 486-5555, TTY: (877) 521-2172

OR

The student may file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights by accessing the complaint form and instructions.

OR, by writing to:

District of Columbia Office
U.S. Department of Education
1100 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Rm. 316
P.O. Box 14620
Washington, D.C. 20044-4620

Telephone: 202-208-2545
FAX: 202-208-7797
TDD: 202-208-7741
E-mail: OCR_DC@ed.gov