OPERATING PRINCIPLES

On May 19, 1992, the President’s Cabinet approved the following eight operating principles regarding the University and people with disabilities.

1. The University of Minnesota prohibits and actively discourages discrimination against people with disabilities. Toward this end, the University community will continue to develop training and resources to promote sensitivity and awareness of disability issues.

2. The University is committed to providing equal access and reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities. Toward this end, the University will continue to develop and coordinate policies and procedures, and provide services and access to employment, academic programs, co-curricular activities, and facilities.

3. The president and administrative officers will provide leadership in improving access for people with disabilities and will be responsible for implementing the principles of equal access at the University.

4. The University will organize its disability services in a way that promotes, to the greatest extent possible, self-determination for people with disabilities and that engages the entire campus community in access issues.

5. The goal of reasonable accommodations will be toward increasing rather than decreasing opportunities for people with disabilities.

6. In order to respect the independence, rights, and dignity of people with disabilities, requesting an accommodation or identifying oneself as having a disability will be voluntary.

7. The University will treat data on people with disabilities with confidentiality in accordance with data privacy laws and established University regulations. No information will be collected for administrative purposes except information that is essential for program development, implementation, determination of reasonable accommodation, or required by law.

8. University administrators, faculty, and staff will encourage interinstitutional cooperation to collect, develop, and disseminate knowledge about creating accommodating environments for people with disabilities.