Michigan Technological University is committed to the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities and to the continuous improvement of the accessibility of our campus, programs, and activities. Michigan Tech provides reasonable accommodations to ensure equal opportunity and access to all programs, activities, and services of the University. The following guidelines are set forth to ensure that Michigan Tech operates in an inclusive way and to fulfill our obligations to avoid discrimination under State and Federal law.
Michigan Tech's Equal Opportunity and Notice of Non-Discrimination statement
Accommodations at Michigan Tech
A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a job, employment practice, the work environment, or how things are typically done that allows a qualified individual to receive an equal employment opportunity throughout their hiring and employment. The goal is to enable equal completion of essential functions by removing any barriers in the workplace that would impede a qualified individual from completing their duties.
A request for an accommodation is any communication in which an employee asks or states that they would like Michigan Tech to change when, where or how their work is done, due to a disability or a health condition. A request does not have to include any special words, such as “reasonable accommodation,” “disability,” or “ADA.”
All qualified students, employees, job applicants, community members, and others engaging with Michigan Tech programs are entitled to a reasonable accommodation process. How you request an accommodation will vary depending on your relationship with Michigan Tech.
Employees:
Employees who are aware that a disability or health condition is affecting their job performance should talk with their supervisor and/or make contact with the Michigan Tech ADA Coordinator in Equal Opportunity Compliance (EOC). The ADA Coordinator can be reached at adacoordinator@mtu.edu or 906-487-3310. Employees do not need to disclose the disability or nature of an accommodation request during this initial contact.
Sometimes an employee will disclose the need for an accommodation to a supervisor first. Supervisors should not accommodate the employee on their own. Supervisors should refer employees who disclose disabilities or health conditions and request accommodations or assistance, or mention that they are not able to meet job requirements because of disabilities or health conditions, to the ADA Coordinator.
Job Applicants:
If you require any auxiliary aids, services, or other accommodations to apply for employment, or for an interview, at Michigan Technological University, Human Resources will be happy to assist you. Please contact them at 906-487-2280 or humanresources@mtu.edu.
Students:
Student Disability Services at Michigan Tech provides support and resources for students with or without a documented disability and administers the procedures for requesting accommodations. Student employees who wish to request accommodations should contact the ADA Coordinator in EOC.
Visitors, Program Participants, and Other Community Members:
If you are a visitor to Michigan Tech and would like to request an accommodation to attend a program, service, or activity, please contact the department responsible for the event. You may also contact the ADA Coordinator at adacoordinator@mtu.edu or 906-487-3310 for assistance.
Departments:
Departments are responsible for ensuring that their programs, services, and activities are accessible. They have a responsibility to work directly with participants who request accommodations. Departments that would like assistance in providing accommodations to visitors, program participants and other community members may contact Michigan Tech’s ADA Coordinator for assistance. Visit Accessible Event Guidelines for important information.
Wheelchair Requests:
If you are on campus and would like temporary, short term use of a wheelchair, please contact Equal Opportunity Compliance and Title IX at 906-487-3310 for assistance.
How to Request Accommodations:
Please fill out the Michigan Tech Employee Accommodation Request Form to begin the interactive process. The purpose of this form is to assist the ADA Coordinator in determining whether, or to what extent, a reasonable accommodation for an employee with a disability, is required to perform one or more essential functions of their job safely and effectively.
Unless the employee’s disability is readily apparent, it will be necessary for the employee to provide documentation from a medical provider explaining how the requested accommodation will allow the employee to perform the essential functions of their job. The employee may wish to make an appointment to discuss the accommodation request with their healthcare provider, however an appointment is not required by Michigan Tech. Failure to provide necessary medical documentation may prevent a requested accommodation from being processed and/or provided.
The form for the medical documentation, along with directions for submission, will be provided by the ADA Coordinator once the interactive process begins.
It is also requested that the employee provide a copy of their job description when submitting the medical documentation
The Interactive Process:
This voluntary process is simply communication between the ADA Coordinator, the employee and sometimes the employee’s supervisor, as it pertains to the accommodation request.
The process usually involves:
- An analysis of the position description and determination of the essential functions of the job
- Consultation to determine job related barriers or limitations and how an accommodation will allow the employee to perform the essential job functions
- Continued conversation until an appropriate accommodation for both the employee and supervisor is established. Occasionally, no reasonable accommodation or alternative is found.
Time Frame for Processing Requests and Providing Reasonable Accommodations:
The interactive process for accommodations will begin upon receipt of the Employee Accommodation Request Form. The employee should provide the medical documentation to the ADA Coordinator within 10 business days, if possible. Upon receipt of the medical documentation, the ADA Coordinator will aim complete consultations with the employee and/or supervisor within 30 business days and strive to complete the process for requests within 45 business days. Complicated requests may take additional time.
Workplace Accommodation Implementation:
When a reasonable accommodation for an employee has been approved, both the employee and the supervisor will be notified via email. If the approved accommodation requires purchasing equipment or modifying the employee workspace, the cost of implementing the accommodation is the responsibility of Michigan Tech’s EOC department. Upon receipt of a piece of equipment, an Equipment Loan Agreement will be completed and the equipment will be tagged with a University Property sticker. The agreement states that the property belongs to the University and must be returned to the ADA Coordinator should the employee leave the University. Also, if the employee changes departments, the employee must notify the ADA Coordinator of the departmental change.
Accommodation Follow-up:
Once an accommodation has been approved, the ADA Coordinator may schedule a review of the accommodation with the requesting employee and/or the employee’s supervisor to discuss implementation of the accommodation and its effectiveness. Such reviews will occur periodically to ensure ongoing effectiveness—and continuing need—of the accommodations. Either the employee or supervisor may request such a review at any time.
Confidentiality:
The ADA Coordinator will keep the accommodation request form, medical information, and related correspondence confidential and stored separately from personnel files. The ADA Coordinator will only discuss impacts with others on a strict need-to-know basis. Supervisors who learn this information whether directly from the employee or from the ADA Coordinator, are expected to keep information confidential.
Disclosures of medical information and/or disability are permitted only as follows:
- supervisors are entitled to any information that is necessary to implement restrictions on the duties or work of the employee or to provide a reasonable accommodation
- first aid and safety personnel may be informed, when appropriate, if the disability might require emergency treatment or assistance during an evacuation
- government officials may be given information necessary to investigate the agency’s compliance with the Rehabilitation Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act
Complaint Procedures:
The Michigan Tech Equal Opportunity Compliance department is responsible for overseeing compliance in regard to state and federal regulations that prohibit discrimination based on protected characteristics for the University. If you feel you have been discriminated against on the basis of disability, please visit Discriminatory Harassment-Discriminatory Treatment Complaint Procedures.