New Centralized Funding for Faculty/Staff Workplace Accommodations

Monday, May 1, 2017

Dear Colleagues,

The Office of Equal Opportunity, Inclusion, and Resolution Services (EOIRS) collaborates across all divisions of the University to build community and cultivate a culture of respect, safety, and equity that recognizes the value of diversity. We want to make you aware of a recent change in procedure related to faculty and staff workplace accommodations.

In its efforts to implement the recommendations from the Chancellor’s Workgroup on Diversity and Inclusion, the University created a central fund to assist sponsoring schools, colleges, and other responsibility centers and administrative support units with costs related to faculty and staff workplace accommodations.

As of September 1, 2016, ADA accommodation costs in excess of $5,000 annually will be charged to the University’s central fund.

To qualify for such funding:

1.  EOIRS shall work with faculty or staff members to determine that a reasonable accommodation is required.
2.  The cumulative accommodation expense incurred for each center or support unit must exceed an annual dollar threshold of $5,000. A journal entry will be initiated to transfer accommodation expenses above the established threshold to the central fund. The Office of Budget and Planning will track total expenses charged to the central funding source during fiscal year 2017.
3.  Any request for expenses in excess of $20,000 will be transmitted by the ADA coordinator to the provost, the senior vice president and chief human resources officer, and the senior vice president and chief financial officer for joint consideration and approval.

This is a pilot program for the 2017 fiscal year, with appropriate changes made after an assessment at the end of the year.

If you have any questions about this funding or the budgeting process, please contact the Office of Budget and Planning at bplan@syr.edu. To request a disability workplace accommodation, please contact Dana Butler, leaves and disabilities accommodation coordinator, at butlerdl@syr.edu.

Sincerely,

Aaron Hodukavich
Director and ADA/503/504 Coordinator