As students, faculty, staff and members of the public express concern regarding a student’s experience in a history class at Memorial, it is important for all to know that the concerns are being heard and that steps are being taken to rectify this matter.

Memorial deeply regrets this unfortunate situation. The university is committed to accommodating the human rights of students and employees. Work should have been done in advance of classes to arrange a mutually acceptable accommodation.

We are exploring a range of accommodations to meet the needs of the student while respecting the rights of the professor teaching the class, including new communications technologies for hearing impaired students, examining alternative ways to deliver the academic content of the course, as well as other options.

Considering it has been almost 20 years since the original accommodation agreement with the professor was made, we are examining the agreement.

We are also taking steps to ensure a student does not undergo a similar experience in the future.

We care deeply about the success of all of our students, and we are committed to ensuring Memorial is a safe, inclusive, academically rigorous place to study, work and live. The high quality, customized accommodations for students with disabilities that we have facilitated through our Blundon Centre will continue and this current unfortunate situation will receive our full attention until it is resolved.

We will share further updates regarding this matter as they become available. Thank you for your passionate commitment to students and to our university community.

Signed,
Dr. Cecilia Reynolds, deputy provost (students) and associate vice-president (academic) undergraduate studies