Resolving Concerns
The University of Southern California is committed to full compliance with laws protecting individuals with disabilities. Students are encouraged to raise concerns and seek resolution if they believe they have not been properly accommodated or provided auxiliary aids or services. Additionally, students are encouraged to seek support if they believe they have experienced discriminatory behavior based on their disability status.
1. Request for OSAS Intervention
Occasionally, students experience difficulties communicating with a faculty member or other USC officials but do not wish to file a formal university complaint. If you have concerns or difficulties using your accommodations due to the action or inaction of a faculty member, TA, instructor, or other campus office or staff, you may submit an informal Request for Intervention. This is an interactive process between you (the student), OSAS, the individuals involved, and other appropriate individuals, such as faculty and faculty leadership (e.g., a dean or department chair). OSAS can help brainstorm with you the best options to resolve your concerns. This process is not investigatory and does not result in a finding of discrimination; rather, this process is intended to assist students in communicating and clarifying expectations with academic and other professionals regarding the provision of accommodations or auxiliary services.
Please note that USC policy requires OSAS staff to report instances of discrimination or violations of university policy. If a faculty member or other university employee is engaging in behavior that violates a university policy, the OSAS staff member working with you will need to report it to the appropriate investigatory office, such as EEO-TIX or OCAP.
To initiate a Request for Intervention, please email your Primary OSAS Specialist directly. If you need to find out who your Primary Specialist is, you may contact OSASfrontdesk@usc.edu.
2. OSAS Appeal Procedure
If you disagree with an OSAS decision or process related to your accommodations or services, you can submit an appeal to OSAS. A student may, but is not required to, submit additional documentation from a provider as part of their appeal. Students are also encouraged to describe the decision they believe was incorrect, why they believe it is incorrect, and what they believe should happen. The appeal is reviewed along with the student’s entire file by a senior OSAS team member who did not take part in the original accommodation decision. Please note that mere disagreement with an OSAS decision will unlikely result in a different decision.
For more details about this process, go to the Appeal Procedure below.
3. OSAS Grievance Procedure
Finally, the University encourages the prompt reporting of concerns about discrimination and harassment based on protected characteristics—including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking—involving students, staff, and faculty and related retaliation. If you believe you have experienced discrimination or harassment, you can file a grievance complaint through USC’s Office for Equity, Equal Opportunity, and Title IX (EEO-TIX) at the Report and Response website. General information regarding EEO-TIX policies and procedures is found on the main EEO-TIX website.
What Can I Expect?
For a Request for OSAS Intervention, you will work with your specialist, and the two of you can explore what to expect based on the situation.
OSAS will communicate the outcome of an appeal in writing to you in a timely fashion. The length of time involved will depend on the complexity of the circumstances and the number of parties involved; however, typical requests are resolved within approximately ten university business days. Students will be updated on a reasonable basis for more complex requests.