DOJ Concludes Review Of Americans With Disabilities Policies At Princeton University

Princeton, NJ -- The Justice Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey, have reached an agreement with Princeton University concerning the school’s treatment of students with mental health disabilities, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced on Monday.

The agreement resolves a compliance review that began in May of 2014, and concerned the university’s policies and practices related to requests for reasonable modifications, withdrawals, and leaves of absences.

The agreement details specific steps Princeton will take to strengthen its policies, practices, and training to benefit all current and future Princeton students with disabilities.

Under the agreement, Princeton will:
• revise its policies to explicitly describe: the types of accommodations students with disabilities may request, including modifications to University policies, rules, and regulations; where students may submit each type of accommodation request; and how Princeton will evaluate those requests;
• revise the websites for its Office of Disability Services and its Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students to direct students to relevant policies and procedures related to requesting reasonable accommodations;
• revise its leave policy and practices, consistent with regulations implementing Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); and
• provide annual training, including references to updated policies, on Title III of the ADA, with a focus on mental health disability discrimination, to all faculty and staff responsible for evaluating and/or deciding requests from students for reasonable accommodations.

The university has 30 days from the agreement’s date to make policy changes.

In a statement on its website, the university pointed out that the Department of Justice didn't find any instances of non-compliance.

It also said it "will clarify some information regarding policies and practices for reasonable accommodations and student leaves of absence."

It also promised to provide additional training to staff involved with student requests related to disabilities.

“The ADA, which is one of this country's most comprehensive pieces of civil rights legislation, prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same opportunities as everyone else to participate in the mainstream of American life,” U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman said. “Through this agreement, students with disabilities move closer to achieving full equality and integration into places of higher education.”

“This agreement reflects the critical role that colleges play in fulfilling the promise of the ADA: equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self sufficiency,” Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division, said. “By working directly with students with disabilities to determine appropriate accommodations, colleges and universities can meet their obligations under the ADA.”

"The University really has a community-wide approach — with support from staff in offices across campus and the residential colleges, as well as from individual faculty — to ensure that undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities get the access they deserve," Princeton University Vice Provost for Institutional Equity and Diversity Michele Minter said.

Minter said the university continually reviews its policies and practices best support students with disabilities, and provide accommodations based on assessments of individual student needs. It also provides support services to address the physical and mental health needs of students while on campus, as well as policies for student leaves of absence, Minter said.

The review commenced following allegations filed against the university in a case known as W.P. vs. Princeton University, filed on March 26, 2014. The review was conducted separate from that case.

In the lawsuit, a student who attempted to kill himself when he was a freshman in 2012 accused university officials of preventing him from entering his dorm room, attending class or setting foot on campus, and then attempting him to “voluntarily” leave school.

He ultimately withdrew from school, and was allowed to return after satisfying a list of requirements one year later.

In the suit, he says he will forever be forced to explain that one year gap in his educational career.

The case was still active as of last month.

"We have been doing a lot of work to make the language of our policies clearer and more transparent for students so they understand, for example, what it means to take a leave of absence from Princeton," Senior Associate Dean of the College Claire Fowler said. "We want to continue to refine our language so the university's policies and practices are clear to students."

The university established an Office of Disabilities Services about 10 years ago, and it continues to expand, according to the university.

In the spring, the office plans to open an AccessAbility Center on the Frist Campus Center in order to "foster discussions and programs around diverse types of disabilities, as well as provide resources and study spaces for students with disabilities," the university said.

"We are very fortunate the University has dedicated staff in the residential colleges who work with all students to help them figure out how to make the most of a Princeton education," Fowler said. "In the case of students with disabilities, residential college deans work in close collaboration with Disability Services and academic departments to ensure appropriate accommodations may be made so students receive access to the full academic experience and feel supported in the process."

Calvin Chin, Director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) at University Health Services, said his department continually works to improve how CPS supports students, including those with mental health disabilities.

This includes:

• A new CPS program during orientations for incoming undergraduate and graduate students focuses on self-care and prioritizing mental health.
• Online appointment scheduling is available for counseling services.
• The forms for students on leave for mental health reasons who want to return to campus have been simplified.
• There is increasing coordination with ODS to ensure students with mental health disabilities are aware of the array of resources for them on campus.

More information on university policies and practices regarding individuals with disabilities is available on the websites of Inclusive Princeton, Undergraduate Announcement, Rights, Rules, Responsibilities, and the Office of Disability Services, among others.