As the College’s ADA & Section 504 Compliance Officer, the Associate Vice President & Dean of Students (AVP/DOS) is responsible for the College’s overall efforts to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and modified by court decisions and additional applicable federal, state and local regulations regarding accessibility and nondiscriminatory practices for persons with disabilities.
In this role the AVP/DOS works to assure compliance by:
- developing procedures to assure ADA/504 compliance in the College’s programs, services and facilities;
- advising the campus community on compliance-related issues and recommending appropriate corrective action;
- serve as final appeals officer for those students and staff who have concerns about determinations on requested accommodations related to this regulation;
- participating with Human Resources/Affirmative Action, the Presidential Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion, and other units in educational programs to further compliance with ADA and Section 504; and
- addressing concerns that arise from the College Community.
What If I Am Not Happy With My Accessibility Plan?
To best ensure that all students have the greatest opportunity for success here at SUNY Broome, students have the right to request a review, and ultimately appeal, their assigned Accessibility Plan. That process is below.
*If you (the student) need assistance in completing either of these appeal processes, you can contact the Accessibility Resource Office, Learning Assistance Center, or Dean of Students Office for assistance.
Preliminary Review
Should a student want to discuss the appropriateness or denial of an accommodation after meeting with a staff member from the Accessibility Resource Office, they may do so by speaking with the Associate Vice President & Dean of Liberal Arts/ Learning Assistance Services. This appeal discussion may include any relevant stakeholders, including parents/family members, instructors, staff from the Accessibility Resource Office, and/or any other appropriate individual as determined by the Associate Vice President & Dean of Liberal Arts/ Learning Assistance Services.
Contact information for Dr. Kinney, Associate Vice President & Dean of Liberal Arts/ Learning Assistance Services, can be found below.
Dr. Michael Kinney
Email: kinneym@sunybroome.edu
Phone: +1 (607) 778-5021
Office: Titchener Rm. 210
Final Appeal
Should a student feel that they are not able to be successful with their provided accommodations, or denial of accommodations, deemed appropriate by the Accessibility Resource Office and the & Dean of Liberal Arts/ Learning Assistance Services, they may request a final independent review by the Associate Vice President & Dean of Students/Section 504 Compliance Officer.
The process for the final appeal is as follows:
- The student submits, in writing, an appeal that expresses the needs for an altered accommodation plan. Although not required, it is best if the appeal includes:
- Diagnosis requiring assistance/accommodations
- Where you (the student) find the most difficulty
- Previous accommodations that have proven helpful
- A high school IEP does not automatically translate into a student being guaranteed those exact services in college, but they may assist in developing services that are appropriate for the student that meets institutional academic standards*
- Challenges you have experienced with the current accessibility plan
- The Associate Vice President & Dean of Students/Section 504 Compliance Officer will request the current assigned accommodation plan and any documentation that has been provided to the institution.
- The Associate Vice President & Dean of Students/Section 504 Compliance Officer will review all materials and make a final determination as to the student’s accommodation plan. This determination will be one of the following:
- A request that a formal modification to the plan be made
- A determination that the plan is appropriate with no modifications
- This may include suggestions as to how the student can work best within their assigned accommodation plan so that they can do their best to be successful
Contact information for Shelli Cordisco, Interim Dean of Students/Section 504 Compliance Officer, can be found below:
Shelli Cordisco
Email: dos@sunybroome.edu
Phone: +1 (607) 778-5681
Office: Old Science Building Rm. 227
If the student is not satisfied with the final determination, they may contact the Office of Civil Rights for additional guidance. View information on contacting the Office of Civil Rights.
- Section 504 Information as developed by the Office of Civil Rights
- Visit the Guide to Disability Rights Laws website
*Please Note: You may be familiar with another federal law that applies to the education of students with disabilities—the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). That law is administered by the Office of Special Education Programs in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in the U.S. Department of Education. The IDEA and its individualized education program (IEP) provisions do not apply to postsecondary schools.
