Grad Student Rejoins Classes After Discriminatory Disenrollment

Missy is a graduate student in Tampa living with schizoaffective disorder. Following an episode related to her disability, the university's administration forced her to disenroll and prescribed a remediation plan, which she was required to complete before being allowed to resume her studies. Missy contacted Disability Rights Florida, and we determined that the university's actions were discriminatory because they were punishing her for disability-related behavior beyond her control. We worked with Missy and advocated for her re-enrollment to the university. However, despite our efforts, the university still refused to allow her to rejoin classes. As a result, Disability Rights Florida filed an administrative complaint with the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights (OCR). OCR facilitated mediation for the parties involved, resulting in the university discarding the remediation plan and allowing her to immediately re-enroll. We are glad to have supported Missy and that she was able to rejoin her courses to continue her higher education aspirations.