Student Accessibility Services

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal law, passed in 1990, designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities from discrimination based on their disability.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act is a federal law, passed in 1973, designed to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities in programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education.

How to Request an Accommodation

Student Accessibility Services (SAS) at Purdue Global is the primary office responsible for the coordination of services for students with disabilities.

Students with disabilities are responsible for requesting an accommodation. Pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, Purdue Global will provide reasonable accommodations for students who have met the eligibility and verification requirements of SAS.

If you are a potential Purdue Global student, or already enrolled at Purdue Global, and are seeking accommodation(s) due to a diagnosed disability, you may request to be referred to Student Accessibility Services (SAS) through your University representative and/or contact SAS directly by telephone, email, or fax.

Student Accessibility Services (SAS)

Tel: 317-208-1686
Email: sas@purdueglobal.edu
Fax: 866-422-4773 (Toll Free)
TTY: TTY users may dial 711 from their TTY phone, at no charge, to be connected with a Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) operator who will assist with the call. For more information regarding 711, visit www.fcc.gov/guides/711-telecommunications-relay-service.

Requests for an accommodation will be reviewed on an individual, case-by-case basis.

Accommodations can include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Course materials in alternative formats
• Accessible web-based materials
• Closed-captioning
• Extended time for timed assessments
• Distraction-reduced testing environments
• Auxiliary aids and services (e.g., enlargement, dictation, audio programs)

Student Responsibility

To benefit from the protection of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, it is the student’s responsibility to self-disclose a disability to Student Accessibility Services and request an accommodation. Purdue Global requires the student to provide supporting documentation, which must verify the existence of the disability and the subsequent need for an accommodation.

University Responsibility

Purdue Global may not discriminate against an individual on the basis of his or her disability. Purdue Global will provide reasonable required accommodations to a student with a documented disability, in order to afford the student an equal opportunity to participate within its programs, activities, and facilities.

Confidentiality

Purdue Global has an obligation to maintain confidentiality regarding a student's disability. Any information collected is strictly utilized for the benefit of the student. Disability-related information is collected and maintained separately from the student's University record and housed within secure files with access limited to staff members of Student Accessibility Services (SAS). Student files within the SAS are maintained for a period of 5 years after a student's last date of attendance. After 5 years of nonattendance, a student’s disability records will be destroyed in a confidential manner.

If a student has requested and is approved to receive reasonable accommodations, the student will be informed as to what information is being provided to the faculty or staff regarding the request.

Except where permitted by applicable law, disability information will not be shared with non-Purdue Global employees without the student's express written permission.

Eligibility

If a student determines the need for an accommodation, the student must submit an Accommodation Request Form and supporting documentation to Purdue Global’s Student Accessibility Services (SAS).

To be eligible for an accommodation, the student must have:

• A disability, as defined by the ADA, that substantially limits a major life activity and subsequently necessitates a reasonable accommodation
• Documentation on file with Purdue Global that supports the need for the requested accommodation
• Medical documentation to substantiate the disability and how the accommodation will assist the student

Verification

Purdue Global cannot provide an accommodation until the student’s disability has been verified by a qualified medical professional or other appropriate health care professional.

A student with a learning disability must submit recent comprehensive evaluation results including cognitive and achievement test scores.

Student Accessibility Services (SAS) will be responsible for notifying the student’s instructors of the specific accommodation approved by the University.

The University has designated the following department to oversee disability services:

Student Accessibility Services
2550 Northwestern Avenue, Suite 1100
West Lafayette, IN 47906
Tel: 317-208-1686
Email: sas@purdueglobal.edu 

Purdue Global’s Policy of Nondiscrimination

It is Purdue Global’s policy to maintain an academic environment in which all individuals are treated with respect and dignity. Each individual has the right to strive to reach his or her potential in an atmosphere free from discriminatory practices, including unlawful discrimination and/or harassment based on race, religion, gender, color, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, disability, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status under applicable federal, state, and local law. Sexual harassment is a prohibited aspect of sexual discrimination under this policy.

The University's policies and practices are in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. The University has appointed compliance coordinators to assist those who have questions or concerns with respect to the University's compliance with these laws. The name, address, and telephone number of these staff members are available through the University.

The University has designated the following department to oversee accessibility services:

Student Accessibility Services
2550 Northwestern Avenue, Suite 1100
West Lafayette, IN 47906
Tel: 317-208-1686
Email: sas@purdueglobal.edu

Title IX Compliance

Any individual who has questions or concerns regarding possible gender discrimination should contact the Purdue Global Title IX Coordinator or the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. For information about the Sexual Misconduct Policy, please refer to the "Additional References" section of the Catalog.

Title IX Coordinator
2550 Northwestern Avenue, Suite 1100
West Lafayette, IN 47906
Email: titleix@purdueglobal.edu
Tel: 312-777-6108

Student Accessibility Services is the primary office responsible for the coordination of services for students with disabilities. Students seeking reasonable and appropriate accommodations may request, through their Purdue Global representative, to be placed in contact with Student Accessibility Services, or students may contact Student Accessibility Services directly.

To view the complete Policy of Nondiscrimination, please see the University Catalog.

The Purdue Global Title IX training materials are available upon request for inspection by members of the public by emailing TitleIX@purdueglobal.edu.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords eligible students and their parents certain rights with respect to their education records, including the right to inspect and review education records, the right to consent to disclosures of information in education records, and the right to request the amendment of education records believed to be inaccurate, misleading, or a violation of privacy.

Students have the right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the University to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is:

Family Compliance Office
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20202-4605

To review additional information on FERPA, please see the University Catalog.

Discrimination Grievance Procedures

Federal law prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, sex, and disability in programs receiving federal financial assistance. Purdue Global encourages students to bring all complaints or grievances regarding such discrimination to its attention.

A discrimination grievance is any complaint regarding discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, sex, including sexual harassment, or disability by Purdue Global or any Purdue Global employee, student, or other third party. A complainant may present a grievance through the following discrimination grievance procedures. Purdue Global will investigate all complaints or grievances fully and promptly.

The complainant should first bring the grievance to the attention of the Discrimination Grievance Coordinator, whose name and contact information appears below, as soon as possible following the occurrence of the alleged discrimination.

Melissa Eckenrod
Administrator, Title IV and Student Relations
2550 Northwestern Avenue, Suite 1100
West Lafayette, IN 47906
Tel: 312-777-6108
Email: studentrelations@purdueglobal.edu

The grievance must be in writing and contain the following information:

• Name and address of the complainant
• Description of and date of alleged violation
• Names of persons responsible for the alleged violation (if known)
• Requested relief or corrective action, if applicable
• Any background information the complainant believes to be relevant

Upon the filing of a grievance, Purdue Global will conduct an investigation, to include taking statements from the complainant and witnesses, if applicable.

Within a reasonable time, following receipt of the grievance, Purdue Global will complete its investigation and provide notice to the complainant and all alleged responsible parties of the outcome of the investigation and the basis for its decision.

If Purdue Global determines that discrimination has occurred, it will take all appropriate steps to prevent the recurrence of the discrimination and to correct the effects on the complainant and others, if appropriate.

The complainant may also contact the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights at:

Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-1100
Tel: 800-421-3481
Fax: 202-453-6012
TDD: 877-521-2172

A complainant may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights at any time before, during, or after the grievance process. The complainant does not have to complete the Purdue Global grievance process before contacting the Office for Civil Rights.

To review additional information on the University's grievance procedures, please see the University Catalog.