Equal Employer Opportunity Statement
Western Technical College shall not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or citizenship status, age, disability, or veteran's status in employment, education, and all other areas of the College. The College provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. Questions and complaints about discrimination in any area of the College should be directed to the Employment, Benefits, and EEO Manager, (608) 785-9274 (voice), TTY (608) 785-9551 or Wisconsin Telecommunication Relay System (800) 947-3529. Inquiries or complaints about discrimination in employment may be referred to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Inquiries about the College's compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex; and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, may also be referred to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), Boston, MA 02109-4557, telephone (617) 223-9662 (voice) or (617) 223-9695 (TTY). Title IX Coordinator is the Manager, Student Development, Shelly McNeely, (608) 785-9880, e-mail mcneelys@westerntc.edu, Section 504 Coordinator is the Employment, Benefits, and EEO Manager Deb Chesebro, e-mail chesebrod@westerntc.edu, 400 Seventh Street North, Post Office Box C-0908, La Crosse, WI 54602-0909. Generally, an individual may also file a complaint with OCR within 180 days of alleged discrimination. If you have any questions regarding the EEO statement please contact the Human Resource Department: (608) 785-9274 (voice), or TTY (608) 785-9551, Wisconsin Telecommunication Relay System (800) 947-3529.
Policy for Provision of Reasonable Accommodation for People with Disabilities
Western Technical College is in compliance with Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. It is the policy of Western Technical College to provide reasonable accommodations (when requested) for qualified individuals with disabilities who are students, potential students, employees or applicants for employment, provided such reasonable accommodation does not place undue hardship on the operations of the College. The College will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal employment and educational opportunity to qualified individuals with disabilities. Reasonable accommodation will be provided in a timely and cost-effective manner upon self-identification, verification and an analysis of solutions. Reasonable accommodations are not mandatory when the person with the disability poses a direct threat to the health or safety of themselves or others.
An individual with a disability is any person who has or acquires a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such an impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment. Temporary, non-chronic impairments of short duration, with little or no long-term or permanent impact, are usually not considered disabilities under the ADA.
A physical or mental impairment is any physiological disorder, disfigurement, or anatomical loss or limitation affecting one or more of the body’s systems, or any mental or psychological disorder acquired as a result of illness, accident or birth.
A qualified individual with a disability is an individual with a disability whose experience, education, and/or training enable the person, with reasonable accommodation, to perform the essential functions of a job or to participate in an educational program.
A reasonable accommodation is the effort made to make adjustments for an impairment by structuring the work or educational environment in a manner that will enable the disabled individual to perform the essential functions of a job or program. Reasonable accommodation includes, but is not limited to, modifying written examinations, making facilities accessible, adjusting work schedules, restructuring jobs, providing assistive devices or equipment, providing readers or interpreters, modifying work sites, and providing services, programs and activities offered in the facility to individuals with disabilities through alternative methods. Students who are in need of specialized personal care such as toileting, feeding, wheelchair pushing, medicating will be expected to have these needs provided by an agent or agency other than Western Technical College.
Undue hardship refers to any accommodation that would be unduly costly, extensive, substantial or disruptive, or that would fundamentally alter the nature or operation of Western Technical College.
Provision of Reasonable Accommodation for People with Disabilities
I. Notification
A. Western Technical College will ensure that notification off the policy for provision of Reasonable Accommodation for People with Disabilities is published annually in the college Catalog, in the student Handbook, the Faculty Handbook, and by other appropriate means.
II. Procedure
A. When a student wishes to request an accommodation, it is necessary for that individual to use the Student Accommodation Request Form, which may be obtained from the Counseling staff or Instructional Support Specialist located in the Welcome Center, 400 7th Street North, La Crosse, WI 54601.
Employees are advised to speak to their supervisor regarding requested accommodations, or an employee may obtain an Employee Accommodation Request Form from Section 504 Coordinator, Human Resources Department, Administrative Center, 111 7th Street North, La Crosse, Wisconsin 54601, or by telephoning (608) 785-9166 or TTY (608) 785-9551 or Wisconsin Telecommunication Relay System (800) 947-3529.
B. Students should return the completed Student Accommodation Request Form to the Instructional Support Specialist. Employees should return the completed Employee Accommodation Request Form to the Section 504 Coordinator (Sec. A).
C. Reasonable accommodation will be provided in a timely manner, but no later than thirty (30) days. Any unresolved requests will be reviewed by the Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance Committee for determination concerning any accommodation to be made. The ADA Compliance Committee consists of the Section 504 Coordinator, the Physical Plant Manager, Director of Counseling, Instructional Support Specialist, selected faculty members and selected students.
D. A student or employee requesting special accommodations or services will be required to provide proof of the disabling condition(s) and limitations resulting from this condition(s).
III. Complaint/Appeal
A. Any student or employee has the right to file a complaint due to alleged failure by Western Technical College to provide requested reasonable accommodation. Individuals claiming they have been denied a requested accommodation under the American With Disabilities Act should file a failure to Provide Requested Accommodation Complaint Form with the Section 504 Coordinator. This form is available from the Section 504 Coordinator at the location listed in paragraph II.A.
B. All complaints of failure to accommodate shall be investigated by the ADA Compliance Committee and a report filed with the President/District Director within two (2) weeks from receipt of the complaint. Final resolution of complaints rests with the President/District Director. The President/District Director shall issue a written decision within thirty (30) days of receipt of the report from the ADA Compliance Committee.
C. If a student or employee believes they have been adversely affected by the President/District Director’s written decision, the complainant may appeal the decision to the District Board within thirty (30) days of receipt of the decision. The District Board shall issue a written decision within forty-five (45) days of receipt of the appeal.
D. The District Board decision shall be subject to review pursuant to Chapter 227, Wisconsin Statutes, and TCS 4 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code.
E. Nothing in this procedure shall preclude a student’s or employee’s right to seek other avenues of redress outside of the District.
F. No rights or benefits of a student or employee shall be denied because of a filed complaint.
