North Carolina State University ("the University") agrees to take the following actions in order to voluntarily resolve the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights ("OCR") complaint numbers 11-98-2046, 11-99-2055, and 11-99-2142. OCR accepts this Agreement to resolve the complaints. This Agreement does not constitute an admission of liability on the part of the University, nor does it constitute a determination by OCR of any violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 or any other statute.

1. By September 1, 2000, the University will submit a plan to OCR for its review that will describe the efforts the University has made and will make for the use of assistive technology to ensure that students with disabilities have access to computer hardware and software that is comparable to that provided to other University students, where providing such access would not fundamentally alter the nature of the University's programs, and where such access is attainable with available assistive technology. This plan will include: (1) an inventory of current assistive technology on campus; (2) the identification of key offices on campus that will be responsible for providing and maintaining assistive technology; (3) the process by which current technology will be assessed for accessibility; (4) the process by which training on assistive technology will be provided to faculty and staff; (5) the process by which the University will ensure comparable access for students with disabilities to official University web sites; (6) the process by which the University will ensure comparable access for students with disabilities to University computer hardware and software and whenever computer hardware or software is upgraded, enhanced, or otherwise significantly altered; and (7) timelines for implementation of the plan. In formulating this plan, the University will consult with appropriate groups, on and off campus, to devise and implement campus-wide accessibility standards for information technology. The phrase "computer hardware and software" does not include such items when they are in the developmental phase of use.
2. By October 2, 2000 or within two weeks of OCR’s approval of the plan referenced in Item One, above, whichever occurs later, the University will begin implementation of the plan. The University will notify the campus community, including the groups it consulted pursuant to Item One, above, of the initial implementation of the plan.
3. For the 2000-01 academic year, the University will notify OCR, within 30 days after hardware or software purchases of more than $100,000 by its Information Technology Division, of how it is meeting its obligations under Item One, above.
4. Beginning September 1, 2000, the University will provide students with disabilities with access to University notices that is comparable to that provided to other students concerning all academic requirements (e.g., course schedules and syllabi, DSS Services and the Student Handbook), University sponsored non-academic activities (e.g., housing and dining services) and University notices required by law (e.g., FERPA and the Campus Crime Act).
5. By September 1, 2000, the University will provide students with visual disabilities access to campus emergency blue light telephones by including the location of the phones on mobility tours sponsored or arranged by the University for students with visual disabilities, or it will provide students with visual disabilities with safety alert devices that are functionally comparable to campus emergency blue light telephones.
6. By September 1, 2000, the University will revise the language of its grievance procedures to identify the categories of civil rights that are protected under federal law, including disabilities. The University will make conforming amendments to notices of grievance procedures that appear on its website and in handbooks and other media.
7. By June 30, 2000, the University will pay in full XXXXXXXX's outstanding loan balance to the College Foundation, Inc. in the amount of $6224.42, provided XXXXXXXX executes a release of liability and it is submitted to the University by June 20, 2000.
8. By July 31, 2001, the University will provide a report on and documentation of its implementation of this Agreement and the plan referenced in Item One during the 2000/2001 academic year.
9. By July 31, 2002, the University will provide a report on and documentation of its implementation of this Agreement and the plan referenced in Item One during the 2001/2002 academic year.
10. OCR agrees to close its investigations of complaint numbers 11-98-2046, 11-99-2055, and 11-99-2142 and to take no further action with respect to these complaints. OCR has the right to enforce this Agreement and the plan referenced in Item One, above. OCR will notify the complainants in these cases that the University and OCR have entered into this Agreement to resolve their complaints and that these cases are closed.

Marye Anne Fox Alice Wender

Chancellor Office Director

Date: ___________________________ Date: ___________________________