Brown To Revise Mental Health Leave Policy: Justice Department

PROVIDENCE, RI — Brown University will revise its mental health leave policy for students after settling with the U.S. Justice Department, regarding allegations the school violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Federal officials said the settlement resolves the Justice Department's findings that Brown University did not allow students who took medical leave for mental health reasons to return to school when they were ready to return to campus life.

Officials said they're investigation found that, between fall 2012 and spring 2017, dozens of undergraduate students were denied readmission to Brown after taking mental health-related medical leave. These students met the requirements for returning to Brown, and each of the students' medical providers reported to Brown that the students were ready to resume their studies and participate in campus life, federal officials said.

As part of the settlement, Brown revised its undergraduate leave policies, provided ADA training to school faculty and staff and paid $684,000 to compensate the students affected.

"Universities play a critical role in fulfilling the ADA’s promise of equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities," said Richard Myrus, the acting U.S. Attorney Richard for the District of Rhode Island. "Instead of imposing extra barriers on students seeking to return to campus from medical leave, universities must reasonably accommodate students who are treating their mental health disabilities. I want to thank Brown University for its cooperation throughout our investigation and its willingness both to address the issues identified and to compensate the students who were wrongfully denied readmission."