Tulane University is committed to and encourages a diverse and inclusive community that respects and values individual differences. Tulane provides equal and integrated access for students with disabilities to all of its academic, social, cultural and recreational programs, and provides reasonable accommodations to employees and visitors with disabilities.

If you have an emergency to report, please call Tulane University Police at (504) 865-5911 (Uptown), or (504) 988-5555 (Downtown).

Interactive Process

The Goldman Center for Student Accessibility (i.e., Goldman Center) has the responsibility of establishing disability accommodations based on the functional limitations of a student’s diagnosed condition(s) and the reasonableness of their request. It begins when the student initiates their request and provides supporting documentation. Typically, it also includes a meeting between the student and Goldman Center staff member processing the request.

Determinations are based on the consideration of input from the student, their evaluators, campus partners, faculty members and administration, consultation and research, and consideration of all campus resources, as needed.

Situations may arise where students have concerns about the determination made by the Goldman Center. For example, a student is either denied for a requested accommodation due to the lack of supporting documentation (i.e., it is unclear how the requested accommodation connects to the functional limitations of the condition), or if an alternative accommodation granted by Goldman proves ineffective (i.e., the accommodation does not account for the combination of symptoms presented by multiple conditions) or if the nature of the condition and its symptoms have changed over time, necessitating a revision to the original determination. In these cases, the student should continue working with the original Goldman Center staff member who made the initial determination. 

Accommodation Appeal Process

Students have the right to appeal the final accommodation determination made by the Goldman Center staff member. The process outlined below should be followed after the student attempts to informally resolve their concerns via the Interactive Process and if the student has clear evidence of a procedural error. Procedural error means a material deviation from accommodation procedures that substantially impacted the accommodation determination. Disagreement with a determination is not grounds for a formal appeal.

For cases in which the Director completed the initial decision about the accommodation, the student should initiate the attempt to resolve their concerns at the second level.

First Level

If a student chooses to file an appeal with the Director of the Goldman Center or their designee, the student must file within ten (10) business days of the final accommodation determination. The student must submit the appeal via email and include the following: 

• A clear description of the issue
• The identity of any party or parties involved in the concerns
• Relevant dates
• Information about attempts to resolve the concerns
• Results of the attempts to resolve the concerns
• The specific remedy or remedies requested

The purpose of the appeal is to review the record on which the Goldman Center staff member or their designee based their decision. The student should not submit new information or supporting documentation with the appeal. If a student has new information or supporting documentation related to the request for an accommodation that is at issue in the appeal, the student should re-engage in the Interactive Process by contacting the original Goldman Center staff member who made the final accommodation determination.

The Director of the Goldman Center or their designee will issue a decision via email within ten (10) business days, unless the Director of the Goldman Center extends this deadline as needed to allow for gathering and reviewing relevant information. In such circumstances, the Director will provide email notice to the student of the need for a reasonable extension and provide an updated deadline for a decision. 

Second Level

The student may submit a final appeal if they have clear evidence that the appeal review completed by Director of the Goldman Center or their designee resulted in a procedural error. The student must file the appeal with the Executive Director for Campus Accessibility and ADA/504 Coordinator for Tulane (i.e., Executive Director) or their designee within ten (10) business days of the date of the decision by the Director of the Goldman Center or their designee. The appeal must be sent via email and, at a minimum, include the following: 

• A copy of the appeal submitted to the Director
• The student’s detailed rationale for why the process followed by the Director of the Goldman Center or their designee was erroneous

The purpose of the appeal is to review the record on which the Director of the Goldman Center or their designee based their decision. The student should not submit new information or supporting documentation with the appeal. If a student has new information or supporting documentation related to the request for an accommodation that is at issue in the appeal, the student should re-engage in the Interactive Process by contacting the original Goldman Center staff member who made the final accommodation determination.

The Executive Director or their designee will issue a decision in writing to the complainant and the Director of the Goldman Center within ten (10) business days of the date on which the complainant submits the appeal. This decision shall include the following:

• Relevant findings of fact
• The resolution of the appeal
• The rationale for the decision
• Any additional action required by the Goldman Center or the student
• The remedy and/or alternative remedies

The decision of the Executive Director or their designee is final and not subject to further appeal.

Goldman Center for Student Accessibility Contact Information

Disability Discrimination Grievances 

Internal Complaint Process

Anyone may file a discrimination grievance with Tulane University's Office of Institutional Equity (OIE) at any time if they believe that they have been discriminated against due to disability. OIE is the designated office to receive and navigate concerns of discrimination or harassment based on protected status, workplace bullying, and sexual misconduct. Students may report the incident using the Tulane University Campus Reporting Form and selecting “Disability and Accessibility” as the concern type.  

External Complaint Processes

An individual may also file a complaint with the appropriate external federal, state, or local agency within the time frame required by law. These complaints should be filed with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Education.

Office for Civil Rights Contact Information