As we work together to embrace diversity, center equity, and practice inclusion, we write with a pre-semester reminder on CUNY’s policies on reasonable accommodations and academic adjustments. These include policies on disability accommodations; accommodations based on pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; religious accommodations; and accommodations based on status as a victim of domestic violence, sex offense, or stalking.
- Students seeking accommodations or academic adjustments for disability should contact CSI’s Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) which is located in the Cernter for the Arts (Building 1P), Room 101, and reachable at firstname.lastname@example.org, where our colleagues are more than happy to provide services.
- Students seeking accommodations or academic adjustments for pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions should contact CSI’s Office of Accessibility Services (OAS), which is located in Building 1P, Room 101, and reachable at email@example.com, where our colleagues are more than happy to provide services.
- Students seeking accommodations or academic adjustments based on status as a victim of domestic violence, sex offense, or stalking should contact CSI’s Department of Institutional Equity and Title IX, which is located in Building 1A, Room 205 or via email at firstname.lastname@example.org where Tara Mastrangelo, Director of Institutional Equity and Title IX would be more than happy to assist.
- Students seeking religious accommodations should contact Danielle Dimitrov, Esq., Dean of Students, located in Building 1A, Room 401 or via email at email@example.com or phone at 718.982.2335. The Dean of Students and the student will engage in an interactive process with the goal of finding an acceptable accommodation. Consistent with New York State Education Law § 224-a, students who are absent from school because of a religious belief will be given the equivalent opportunity, without any additional fee charged, to register for classes or make up any examination, study or work requirements missed because of such absence on any particular day or days. Dean Dimitrov looks forward to working with all students and faculty members in this process.
As we begin a new semester, we ask that all faculty and advisors remind their students of these avenues to seek accommodations listed above. The CSI Faculty Handbook suggests that the language below* appears in all syllabi (please update your syllabi to reflect the name change from CSA to OAS). It would also be helpful for faculty to remind students that they must submit their OAS, Title IX, or Student Affairs-approved accommodation plans to you as early in the semester as possible. Faculty are expected to adhere to all documented accommodations, and they should consult with OAS or the Office of Institutional Equity/Title IX with any questions or concerns. Please note that no independent action can be taken by faculty to modify any accommodations without approved, written consultation with OAS or the Office of Institutional Equity/Title IX.
Faculty staff accommodation requests can be submitted to firstname.lastname@example.org.
Students, employees, and applicants who believe that a decision to deny the request for a reasonable accommodation or academic adjustment was based on unlawful discrimination may avail themselves of any and all of their rights under law without fear of retaliation, including filing complaints with one or more of the outside agencies listed below.
- The Department of Institutional Equity and Title IX
- The U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
- The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
- New York State Division of Human Rights
- New York City Commission on Human Rights
*From the Faculty Handbook page 34, updated to reflect office name change:
REASONABLE ACCOMODATIONS AND ACADEMIC ADJUSTMENTS
The City University of New York, in compliance with Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (“Rehabilitation Act”), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (“ADA”), New York State Executive Law §296, and New York City Human Rights Law, provides qualified individuals with disabilities the opportunity to participate in programs, activities, or employment. For more information, please visit this Website.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe that you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Office of Accessibility Services at email@example.com. For more information, please visit this Website.
By the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (ODEI) and the Office of Academic Affairs (OAA)