In 2024, the Minnesota legislature passed the Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower (RISE) Act, effective January 1, 2025, as part of the Minnesota Higher Education Act. This act strengthens the process for students requesting disability-related accommodations.
Key Provisions:
- Self-Disclosure: The RISE Act defines self-disclosure as the point of contact when a student informs the University that they identify as disabled and intend to request accommodations. This self-disclosure is sufficient to initiate the interactive process.
- Disability Resources Support: Each University of Minnesota campus has a dedicated Disability Resources unit that works with disabled students to facilitate access and coordinate accommodations.
- Policy Alignment: The University’s Board of Regents policy on Disability Resources supports the implementation of the RISE Act. Additionally, the University’s administrative policies prohibit Discrimination and include detailed FAQs on procedures for requesting and implementing accommodations.