Disclosure, Confidentiality, Appeals and Complaints

Disclosure of a disability is voluntary. Disability-related information is considered confidential material and does not become part of the student’s academic record at the College. It will not be released without written consent unless required or permitted by law. Information about a disability is shared with members of the campus community only with permission from the student, on a need-to-know basis.

If a disagreement arises concerning requested accommodations, the student may appeal the decision of Access Services to the Dean of the Undergraduate College. This appeal must be presented in writing to the Dean within 10 working days following the decision being appealed, so that documents can be reviewed, individuals can be interviewed and remedial action, if warranted, can be taken in a timely manner. A reply from the Dean of the Undergraduate College will be provided within 20 working days or sooner, if possible. In certain cases, the time for a response to an appeal may be extended upon written consent from both parties.     

Bryn Mawr College is committed to ensuring equal access for individuals with disabilities in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 as amended. When students believe they have been subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability, the following procedures are available to address their concerns. If appropriate current documentation of a disability is not on file, the student may be requested to provide it to the Access Services office.

A student who believes they have been denied equal access or a reasonable accommodation is encouraged to meet with Access Services as soon as possible to discuss their concerns and seek resolution informally. If the student prefers, or the outcome is not to the student’s satisfaction, they should contact the College’s Equal Opportunity Officer (EOO) no later than the end of the semester in which the situation occurred. The Equal Opportunity Officer may be reached at eoo@brynmawr.edu or 610-526-7630 (press “1” to leave a message for the EOO).

The Equal Opportunity Officer will schedule a meeting with the student as quickly as possible after being contacted. If, after consultation with the EOO and any resulting actions, the student continues to believe that disability discrimination has occurred, they should submit a written statement to the EOO within two weeks of their last contact. The statement should include an explanation of the facts relevant to the concern and the actions taken previously to resolve it, if any. 

The Equal Opportunity Officer will convene an access review committee which will include appropriate administrators and faculty knowledgeable about disabilities and/or information relevant to the complaint. The committee members may communicate with the following individuals to gather pertinent information: the student,  Access Services, individuals suggested by the student and others with relevant knowledge of the issues involved.  The committee will render a decision which will be forwarded to the student in writing within 30 days of the committee’s initial notification of the complaint. All information related to the process will be kept confidential by all parties involved. 

Students who continue to believe discrimination on the basis of disability has occurred may contact the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education in the Philadelphia area at 215-656-8541 or OCR_Philadelphia@ed.gov.