Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 ensures that any college receiving federal funding does not discriminate on the basis of disability and provides equal access to educational programs and services. Colleges must offer reasonable academic adjustments and auxiliary aids or services when needed to ensure equal opportunity while maintaining academic standards and program integrity.
This page outlines how accommodations are determined, what they are designed to support and the responsibilities and limitations that apply under federal law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 compliance requirements.
What Accommodations Must Do
Approved accommodations must:
- Be effective and remove barriers.
- Relate directly to documented functional limitations.
- Provide equal access without lowering expectations.
- Maintain the essential elements and academic integrity of a course.
What Accommodations Cannot Do
Accommodations must not:
- Fundamentally alter course objectives or academic and technical standards.
- Be personal in nature, such as transportation or personal equipment for home use.
- Create a direct threat to others.
- Provide an unfair advantage.
- Cause undue hardship.
- Excuse disruptive behavior, regardless of disability.
- Be cost prohibitive.
ADA Title II 2024 Regulations
In 2024, the Department of Justice and Department of Education modified the ADA Title II regulations to address the accessibility of web content and mobile apps by adopting accessibility standards - WCAG Version 2.1 Level AA for all student-facing content.
ADA and Section 504 Compliance
RCC’s compliance with the ADA, Section 504 is guided by federal law. The college designates a compliance officer to oversee accessibility and nondiscrimination efforts for students, employees and the public.
The Compliance Officer:
- Oversees accessibility and nondiscrimination policies.
- Responds to complaints, grievances and inquiries.
- Coordinates investigations related to accessibility concerns.
- Convenes the RCC Accessibility Committee or an ad hoc committee when needed to address concerns and identify reasonable solutions.
Each concern is reviewed on a case-by-case basis to ensure timely and appropriate resolution.
ADA and Section 504 Compliance Officer
Rogue Community College’s ADA and Section 504 Compliance Officer is:
Vice President of People, Culture and Safety
Chief Human Resources Officer
Jamee Harrington
541-956-7017
Redwood Campus, H Building
If you have questions about disability law, accommodations or accessibility at RCC, Access is available to help you understand your options and connect you with support.