Student Rights & Accommodations

Section 504, the ADA and FERPA give students more than most schools volunteer. An accommodation is not a favor a professor grants; it is an obligation attached to federal funding, and nearly every private university takes federal funding through its students’ aid. FERPA governs who sees your record and what a school may say about you.

These posts cover what you can require, how to ask so that the request is on the record, and what to do when a school delays, waters down or quietly stops honoring an accommodation it already approved.

What Actually Follows You: Transcripts, Disciplinary Records, and Who Gets Told

The transcript, the disciplinary file, and the dean’s certification are three different records. What applications really ask, and what can still be changed.
FERPA vs. Attorney–Client Privilege: What Students Can Access

FERPA requests often turn into a tug-of-war over the school’s claim that documents are “attorney–client privileged.” What students can actually access.
How FERPA Empowers Students in Academic Challenges

Imagine a safeguard that not only protects your academic privacy but also empowers you to face university challenges head-on.
Understanding Student Legal Rights in Higher Education

Navigating the legal landscape of higher education is more important than ever.
Retaliation Against Students

You do not have to win the underlying complaint to win a retaliation claim. That is why it is frequently the strongest thing in the file — and the most overlooked.
Harassment & Hostile Environment

A hostile environment claim is not about the harasser. It is about what the school did after it knew — which is why the first thing to build is proof that it knew.
Free Speech, Protest & Expression on Campus

At a public college the First Amendment applies, and there is no general exception for offensive speech. At a private school it generally does not apply, but the school’s own promises of free expression often do.
International Students: Discipline, Visa Status & SEVIS

For an international student, a conduct case is two problems: the campus process and your immigration status. A suspension or dismissal typically ends your SEVIS record, and that runs on a different calendar.
Student Government & Organization Issues

A student government can usually remove you, if it follows its own constitution. Removals are often run without written charges, notice, or a chance to respond before the vote, and that is where the defense lives.
Testing Accommodations: LSAT, MCAT, USMLE, NCLEX & Bar

The ADA covers every entity that gives admission, licensing, or certification exams. “Substantially limited” does not mean unable: a candidate who reads accurately but far more slowly may qualify.