Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

[Megan Elizabeth Selheim <>]

Audrey,

 

I ran into some issues with a faculty member here accommodating a student who was in the midst of leaving a severely abusive relationship. The faculty was concerned because the entirety of the class grade was based on a group project, and even though the actual group was incredibly accommodating, the faculty couldn’t see how the student could complete the class without the group project.

 

When I reframed the issue and asked what the faculty would do for a student who had been in a car accident, and would miss several weeks of class attendance for medical reasons, all sorts of problem solving happened. If there’s a way to do it, it may be worth it to figure out if the faculty resistance is coming from actual class structure problems, or from their perception of the request as one that doesn’t actually merit accommodation.

 

That said, going up the chain may be the best short term option. The Dean of the school and/or VP for academic affairs should know more about Title IX and ADA compliance requirements. With the student’s permission, you could bring in the Title IX Coordinator. We’ve had some support for our prevention programming from our Risk Management office, because they handle insurance and liability, so they’re very attuned to what needs to happen from a federal compliance standpoint.

 

Good luck! We’re planning on doing some training for faculty on why flexibility in syllabus and grading plans is so important, for exactly this reason.

 

From: Audrey Wilson [mailto:]
Sent: Friday, August 22, 2014 2:45 PM
To: Kaplan, Claire Naomi (cnk2r); ;
Subject: Re: Academic Accommodations for a victim of sexual assault

 

Thanks, Claire.  Your suggestion is along the lines of what I suggested and it has been met with resistance with the faculty saying being present is critical.

 

Audrey D. Wilson
Director, Student Services
Angelo State University
Member, Texas Tech University System
ASU Station #11047
San Angelo, TX 76909-1047
Phone: 325-942-2047
Fax: 325-942-2211

http://www.angelo.edu/services/student_services/

Signature Themes:  Input | Learner | Achiever | Intellection | Responsibility

 

From: <Kaplan>, Claire Kaplan <>
Date: Friday, August 22, 2014 at 3:43 PM
To: Audrey Wilson <>, "" <>, "" <>
Subject: Re: Academic Accommodations for a victim of sexual assault

 

Audrey,

Might it be possible for her to participate via Skype or Googlechat?  This way she could be present but not in the room.  Your IT folks might be able to set it up that way.  If this issue presents itself as a disability (the case of which I think could be made) then the faculty would have to suck it up and deal, because then you’re getting into not only Title IX accommodations, but also ADA accommodations.  I’m no lawyer, but this seems to me to be the case.  Others may weigh in with other opinions.

Best,

Claire

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Claire Kaplan, Ph.D.

Program Director, Gender Violence & Social Change

Maxine Platzer Lynn Women's Center

University of Virginia

(434) 982-2774 Voice

(434) 982-2901 Fax

http://womenscenter.virginia.edu/sdvs.php

Follow me on Twitter at @clairskyk

 

 

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From: Audrey Wilson <>
Date: Friday, August 22, 2014 at 4:37 PM
To: "" <>, "" <>
Subject: Academic Accommodations for a victim of sexual assault

 

Good Friday afternoon.

 

I have a student who was the victim of a sexual assault and has been diagnosed with PTSD.  She wants to continue attending classes this fall and is asking for some leeway regarding attendance for the first month – she would do all of the work but has anxiety/panic attacks when she is on campus.  One of her professors is willing to accommodate her request but the other 2 are saying that their classes cannot be done through any way other than being present.  They both say there is a great deal of in class participation and the student will not be successful if she is not present.  One solution I suggested was for her to be on the phone during the class so she would be able to hear the lectures and answer questions and participate in any group activities. 

 

I tried explaining this is a “Title IX case” and talked about the institution responsibilities toward the student but have not received much willingness to work with the student.  If anyone has been in a situation like this can you please share the resolutions you and the faculty came up with that I might suggest?  I am just amazed that people are so unwilling to work to find an alternate solution.

 

Thanks for your help.

Audrey

 

 

Audrey D. Wilson
Director, Student Services
Angelo State University
Member, Texas Tech University System
ASU Station #11047
San Angelo, TX 76909-1047
Phone: 325-942-2047
Fax: 325-942-2211

http://www.angelo.edu/services/student_services/

Signature Themes:  Input | Learner | Achiever | Intellection | Responsibility