POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Miami Regional University (“MRU”) is committed to providing equal access to its academic programs to all qualified students. MRU provides support, resources, advocacy, collaboration, and academic accommodations that conform to federal and state statutes and regulations to all MRU students and prospective students.

Policies and Procedures for Students with Disabilities

MRU complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (the “ADA”), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and other applicable disability discrimination laws. MRU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation(s) to qualified disabled applicants and learners in MRU programs and activities as required by applicable law.

The determination of reasonable accommodation(s) for qualified students with disabilities, and compliance with the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act, are the responsibility of the MRU ADA Officer. The ADA Officer is the first point of contact for all students with disability questions or concerns.

Definitions

Disability: The term “disability” means, with respect to an individual: 1) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, 2) a record of such an impairment, or 3) being regarded as having such an impairment.

Interactive process: A flexible, interactive conversation that may be held between MRU and a student to identify possible options for reasonable accommodation(s).

Qualified student with a disability: A student with a disability who meets academic and technical standards requisite for admission or participation in the institution’s educational program or activity.

Reasonable accommodation: Academic adjustments or modifications of policies, practices or procedures, and the provision of auxiliary aids and services that are necessary to afford a qualified individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in the institution’s programs or activities and which do not substantially alter the institution’s educational standards or curriculum.

Requesting Accommodation(s)
MRU encourages current and prospective students needing accommodation(s) and/or resources to contact the MRU ADA Officer for assistance. The MRU ADA Officer will respond to requests for accommodation(s) in accordance with the following policies and procedures. Students and prospective students must complete the accommodations request process outlined below before accommodation(s) will be provided.

Enrolled students may initiate the accommodation process at any time during their enrollment at MRU and ideally should submit the Accommodation Request Form as soon as they become aware of the need for an accommodation. Except for accommodations related to the MRU admissions process, the accommodation process for prospective students will not be concluded until prospective students are admitted to MRU and formally enroll.

1. Submitting an Accommodation Request: To initiate the accommodation process, all prospective and current MRU students (hereafter, “students” or “student”) must complete the secure online Accommodation Request Form located at https://mru.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Accommodation-Request-Form-2021.pdf

Students unable to access the Accommodation Request Form may contact the ADA Officer at:

ADA Officer
Miami Regional University
700 South Royal Poinciana Blvd.
Miami Springs, FL 33166
Phone: 305.442.9223 ext 6033
Fax: 305.455.6703
Email: [email protected]

2. Initial Meeting and Supporting Documentation: Once the ADA officer receives the Accommodation Request Form, a requesting student receives a confirmation email which notifies the student of next steps in the accommodation process. This message includes a request to schedule an appointment to begin the interactive process of identifying appropriate accommodations and additional information to be submitted by the student to support the request for an accommodation including:

a. Documentation Supporting Need for Accommodation:

Medical Documentation – if a student’s disability and/or need for accommodation are not obvious or already known to MRU, s/he may be required to provide documentation that supports the need for accommodations. As a matter of disability law, MRU may require medical confirmation that a student has a covered disability that requires accommodation.

Documentation guidelines and requirements vary according to disability type. For more information about specific disabilities, review the Documentation Guidelines for Specific Disabilities and Conditions. In each case, documentation must include contact information and signature of the qualified health professional providing the health assessment. Also, depending on the date of a student’s last health assessment, the ADA Officer may request updated information.

MRU recognizes that collecting and presenting medical documentation may be a hardship for certain students. To the degree possible, the ADA Officer will receive and validate medical documentation during collaborative meetings with students.

b. Information Release Form: this form will authorize a student’s health care professional to release pertinent disability related information to MRU. The ADA Officer will only use this information to evaluate requests for accommodation(s).

3. Identifying and Implementing Reasonable Accommodation(s): Once sufficient documentation verifying a student’s need for accommodation is received and evaluated, the ADA Officer will continue the interactive process with the requesting student to identify and reach agreement on the accommodation(s) that will be implemented. Students should note that accommodations will not be provided that:

Fundamentally alter the nature of MRU programs, courses, services or activities:

• Cause undue financial or administrative hardship; or
• Pose a direct threat to the health or safety of the requesting student or others.

After identifying appropriate accommodation(s) with the requesting student, the ADA Officer will document the specific accommodation(s) that will be provided, notify the appropriate university staff/departments of the authorized accommodation(s), and ensure the accommodation(s) is provided as agreed. Students should check their MRU email regularly for updates regarding accommodation requests.

MRU strives to meet student accommodation requests in a prompt, reasonable, and effective manner. Students should keep in mind, however, that certain accommodations may require several days to several weeks to implement.

If a student has concerns about an accommodation once it has been authorized and implemented (e.g. the accommodation does not adequately meet the student’s needs), the ADA Officer can assist by facilitating communication between the student and the appropriate MRU staff to clarify and resolve the situation. If the concern cannot be resolved swiftly through this approach, students should follow the process for resolving accommodation-related concerns described in section 4.

Confidentiality: MRU complies with applicable laws concerning the confidentiality of disability-related health information and it is committed to ensuring that all information regarding student health remains appropriately confidential; only the ADA Officer or designee has access to student health information. The ADA Officer retains student health and accommodation information for the length of a student’s enrollment at MRU. If a student wishes to have a record deleted during his or her enrollment, he or she must send a written request to the ADA Officer.

Students may authorize the release of disability information to people or organizations outside of MRU. Before providing such authorization, students should understand the nature of the information to be released and the purpose.

MRU may infrequently be required by law to disclose disability information without student consent.