SOM Policy and Procedures
The policies and procedures of the University of Utah School of Medicine with regard to the identification of candidates with disabilities and the provision of reasonable accommodations are as follows. Although a candidate's self-identification as a person with a disability is voluntary, the School of Medicine can only accommodate diagnosed disabilities.
A. Definitions
For purposes of this policy, the definition of disability can be located in the Americans with Disabilities Act, with the exclusions as referenced in the Act. That definition is as follows, "an individual is disabled if he or she, 1) has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the individual's major life activities; or 2) has a record of such an impairment; or 3) is regarded as having such an impairment."
B. Procedures
1) In order to establish the existence of a disability and to request accommodation, candidates must contact the Center for Disability Services (CDS). The candidate must then follow the procedures outlined by CDS to document the existence and nature of the disability.
2) Once the need for and availability of reasonable accommodations have been established, the CDS and the School of Medicine, in consultation with the candidate, will decide on appropriate accommodations and these accommodations will be specified in a written document, signed by all parties. All documents relating to the candidate's disability will be placed in a confidential file separate from his/her academic records. The School of Medicine will then direct the appropriate course masters to provide the accommodation.
3) If the School of Medicine offers a candidate a reasonable accommodation and he or she refuses it and subsequently experiences academic difficulty, the candidate will be treated as any other candidate who experiences academic difficulty.
4) A candidate may seek to establish a disability and request reasonable accommodation at any time before or after matriculation.
5) In general, a candidate should claim and establish the existence of a disability prior to the onset of academic problems. If a candidate comes forward after failing a course or courses, and maintains that the reason for the failure was a disability not previously claimed, the Promotions Committee will consider this information as appropriate in making its decision as to what remediation, if any, must be made. However, the committee is not obligated to consider this information unless the candidate establishes the existence of a disability through CDS as provided in paragraph 1 above.
6) If a candidate is dismissed from the School of Medicine and appeals, asserting that the reason he or she failed was a previously unrecognized disability; the School of Medicine may consider the effect of the unrecognized disability in making a decision as to the candidate's appeal. The factors on which a decision will be made include whether the candidate is qualified to meet the technical standards and any other relevant information. The candidate must provide documentation of the claimed disability through the CDS as provided in paragraph 1 above.
7) All claims and proceedings under this provision will be kept confidential to the extent provided by law and University policies. Dissemination of information related to the existence of a disability will be restricted to University administrators with a legitimate need to know this information. Except as provided by law, no mention of the candidate's disability will appear in any School of Medicine correspondence with external agencies unless the candidate specifically requests such disclosure in writing.
If you have questions regarding this policy, please contact the Office of Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action at 801.581.8365.