Report "Self Evaluation and Transition Plan for The Graduate and Professional Schools of The University of Richmond"

Report "Self Evaluation and Transition Plan for The Graduate and Professional Schools of The University of Richmond"

This is the Self Evaluation and Transition Plan for The Graduate and Professional Schools at the University of Richmond, likely completed in early 1980. This plan lays out the guidelines for the Graduate and Professional Schools to transition into compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which was aimed at eliminating discrimination of people with disabilities from programs and institutions receiving federal funding. This document evaluates the situation regarding accessibility to disabled individuals at the university. The committee for the this evaluation was chaired by Dr. William Leftwich, Vice President for Student Affairs. There were other members from the university involved in this evaluation. This included Dr. D. Robert Moxley, William Rhodes, Ronald Hicks, Dr. William Woolcott (noted as a disabled individual in the report), Walter Van Klein, Mary Thoephanos (noted as a student who uses a wheelchair in the report), Michael Decker, and Eva S. Tashjian-Brown. After the evaluation a plan was drafted for the transition and the plan was to be fully implemented by June, 1980. Dr. Leftwich was mainly in charge of enforcing the plan and overseeing the execution of the plan from different departments and programs. Physical and structural changes were to be made to almost every building on campus to make it more accessible. In addition, redesigning equipment, reassigning classes to accessible buildings, providing aid to students with disabilities and rescheduling classes/activities was being considered as alternatives. The recruitment and admissions process would be made more accessible and a statement of non-discrimination would be included in every step of the admissions process. Changes would be made to make sure that disabled individuals can excel academically with policies which would provide longer attending periods for qualified individuals with disabilities. Campus facilities like Financial Assistance, Physical Education and Athletics, Counseling and Placement services and Social Organizations will be enforcing a non-discrimination policy and have equal opportunity for disabled individuals. The Committee suggested that a more specific contingency plan be designed for specific situations and the faculty and staff be reminded of the new law to prevent discrimination. The document expresses the promise of compliance to the legislation several times for reassurance.

"Self Evaluation and Transition Plan for The Graduate and Professional Schools of The University of Richmond," undated, R.G. 6.2.5 Box 25 Folder 6 University Archives, Virginia Baptist Historical Society.

undated

English

UA6.2.5.25.6-undated.pdf

Richmond (Va.)