ADA/504 Violations at FCOM (Belmont)

[Justice8135]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Greetings SDN readers,

Some may remember my post from earlier this summer about the inaugural class experiment at FCOM (reposted below). At the time, I wasn’t allowed to publicly share certain documents. But since I never signed an NDA, I can now provide them: cease-and-desist threats, proof of my full-tuition scholarship (covering all four years), recorded hearings, and dismissal letters issued at 4:30 PM with only twenty minutes’ notice to vacate campus under threat of authorities. This came after I had spent the entire day on campus studying with classmates and meeting with faculty about exam content—despite being scheduled at 9:30 AM for an exam the very next morning. I share this not only to document my own experience, but to make clear what future students are walking into. Written “offers” to repeat the year are not real.

 

[polymerization]

Wow. I'm really sorry to hear what's been going on. I hope you've been OK, I mean, given the circumstances.

If you're here, it's to bring awareness to the issue, so maybe it would be helpful if you added color around what actually happened?

The timeline you put together here has you starting school in August and by September you are being excluded from an event out of the blue. What does that mean (I'm guessing you asked why you were not invited)? How was the admin behaving toward you that you noticed was different from other students (i.e., what do you think students should look out for)?

It seems like you might've had a health flare by winter time, fell behind, and didn't exactly have a graceful leap back onto the saddle again. In that sense it reminds me of Ife's story at UCSF:



How are your classmates reacting? What are you going to do now?

 

[Goro]

Looks like you have a massive lawsuit ready to go.

 

[broccolyn]

Greetings SDN readers,

Some may remember my post from earlier this summer about the inaugural class experiment at FCOM (reposted below). At the time I wasn’t permitted to publicly share certain documents, but since I never signed an NDA, I can provide them if you DM me: cease-and-desist threats, proof of the full-tuition scholarship (covering all four years), recorded hearings, and dismissal letters handed out at 4:30 PM — after being scheduled for a 9:30 AM exam the next day and spending the entire day on campus studying and meeting with faculty about the content. I share this not only to document my own experience, but to make clear what future students are walking into. Written “offers” to repeat the year are a scam.


View attachment 408114
View attachment 408115

So sorry this happened to you. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Goro]

Can you Enlighten us what type of accommodations you were asking for? Did they give you any accommodations?

 

[eigen]

Looks like you have a massive lawsuit ready to go.

I think this depends a lot on the particular details. The OP may well have one or may not depending on what accommodations the asked for and were or were not granted. I've definitely dealt with students who misunderstand what are and are not reasonable accommodations, or that negotiations of reasonability are a core part of the process in higher ed, unlike K-12 education where IEPs/504s are not really negotiable.

For example, taking the example of "had to take 6 exams in 35 days", the OP says that their physician said "in contradiction with accommodations by qualified physicians", but physicians aren't part of determining legal accommodation requirements. Similarly, the note of "we don't allow that type of accommodation here" could be troubling or perfectly reasonable. It's up to a school and faculty in negotiation with an accessibility office to determine what accommodations meet the legal burden of a "reasonable" accommodation given the educational goals and course structure.

 

[Justice8135]

What I can tell you is that the accommodation was approved by the office of accommodations and university (in writing and on recording) but reversed by the medical school despite being given to other students. This was after I was told in a meeting that I was not wanted there and it was "cultural".

 

[Mr.Smile12]

What I can tell you is that the accommodation was approved by the office of accommodations and university (in writing and on recording) but reversed by the medical school despite being given to other students. This was after I was told in a meeting that I was not wanted there and it was "cultural".

Were you "told" this or is it (the med school response) documented? Who said this? Don't answer, but proof of some sort helps.

 

[eigen]

What I can tell you is that the accommodation was approved by the office of accommodations and university (in writing and on recording) but reversed by the medical school despite being given to other students.

Which is how things work. That's part of the negotiation I mentioned. The office of accommodations suggests reasonable accommodations. If those accommodations are not reasonable for a particular class or program, the program gets a say. They tell the accommodations office that the accommodation is unreasonable or will not work for the program, and why. Then there's a negotiation. But it isn't the case that the office can grant any accommodation and any program has to accept it.

This is especially common if an office is familiar with and focused on undergraduate courses and is interfacing with graduate or professional programs that have different requirements, including some that may be from external accrediting bodies.

You say this was given to other students: was this given to other students in the same class and program?

This was after I was told in a meeting that I was not wanted there and it was "cultural".

This is unconscionable.

 

[Justice8135]

Yes - the accommodation was provided in the same class and program.

Unconscionable, but intentional. On March 10th, I was referred by Title IX (in writing and on recording) to the Provost for a March 17th meeting regarding the situation given the FCOM medical school dean refused to meet throughout my entire enrollment. However, I was dismissed on March 14th — making due process logically impossible.