Notifying the Public of Rights Under Title VI

Southeast Missouri State University Transit Service

• Southeast Missouri State University Transit Service operates its programs and services without regard to race, color, and national origin in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
• Any person who believes she or he has been aggrieved by any unlawful discriminatory practice under Title VI may file a complaint with Southeast Missouri State University Transit Service by completing, signing, dating and submitting the SMSTS Title VI Compliance Form with the complainant’s contact information included.
• For more information on the Southeast Missouri State University Transit Service’s civil rights program, and the procedures to file a complaint, contact (573) 986-6187, (TTY (573) 651-2383); email transit@semo.edu; or present in person at 1401 N. Sprigg, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701. For more information about Transit Services, visit our website.
• A complainant may file a complaint directly with the Federal Transit Administration: Title VI Program Coordinator, East Building, 5th Floor-TCR, 1200 New Jersey Ave., SE, Washington, DC 20590
• Complaints must be filed within one hundred eighty (180) days following the date of the alleged discriminatory occurrence and should contain as much detailed information about the alleged discrimination as possible.

Southeast Missouri State University Transit 2018-2021 Title VI Program
If information is needed in another language, contact SMSTS at (573) 986-6187.

Procedure for Filing a Title VI Complaint

The complaint procedures apply to the beneficiaries of SMSTS’s programs, activities, and services.

Right to File a Complaint:

Any person who believes they have been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, or national origin by SMSTS may file a Title VI complaint by completing and submitting the agency’s Title VI Complaint Form. Title VI complaints must be received in writing within one hundred eighty (180) days of the alleged discriminatory complaint.

How to File a Complaint

Information on how to file a Title VI complaint is posted on our agency’s website, and in public areas of our agency.

You can complete the SMSTS Title VI Complaint Form online or request a copy by writing to: SMSTS, 1 University Plaza, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701. Information on how to file a Title VI complaint may also be obtained by calling SMSTS at (573) 986-6187.

You may file a signed, dated complaint no more than one hundred eighty (180) days from the date of the alleged incident. The complaint should include:

• Your name, address and telephone number.
• Specific, detailed information (how, why and when) about the alleged act of discrimination
• Any other relevant information, including the names of any persons, if known, the agency should contact for clarity of the allegations.

Please submit your complaint form to:
Southeast Missouri State University
Transit Supervisor
1 University Plaza, MS 7275
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701.

Complaint Acceptance

SMSTS will only process complaints that are completed using the complaint form and submitted within the one hundred eighty (180) day period. Once a completed Title VI Complaint Form is received, SMSTS’s Transit Manager will review it to determine if SMSTS has jurisdiction. The complainant will receive an acknowledgment letter informing them whether or not the complaint will be investigated by SMSTS.

Investigations

SMSTS will generally complete an investigation within ninety (90) days from receipt of a completed complaint form. If more information is needed to resolve the case, SMSTS may contact the complainant. Unless a longer period is specified by SMSTS, the complainant will have ten (10) days from the date of the letter to send requested information to the SMSTS investigator assigned to the case.

If the requested information is not received within that time frame the case will be closed. Also, a case can be administratively closed if the complainant no longer wishes to pursue the case.

Letter of Closure or Finding

After the Title VI investigator reviews the complaint, the Title VI investigator will issue one of two letters to the complainant: a closure letter or letter of finding (LOF).

A closure letter summarizes the allegations and states that there was not a Title VI violation and that the case will be closed.

A Letter of Finding (LOF) summarizes the allegations and provides an explanation of the corrective action taken.

If the complainant disagrees with the SMSTS’s determination, the complainant may request reconsideration by submitting the request in writing to the Title VI investigator within seven (7) days after the date of the letter of closure or letter of finding, stating with specificity the basis for the reconsideration. SMSTS will notify the complainant of the decision either to accept or reject the request for reconsideration within ten (10) days. In cases where reconsideration is granted, SMSTS will issue a determination letter to the complainant upon completion of the reconsideration review.

A person may also file a complaint directly with the Federal Transit Administration, at the FTA Office of Civil Rights, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

If information is needed in another language, contact SMSTS using the above contact information.

Notice of Reasonable Modification

 Southeast Missouri State Transit Service provides reasonable modifications to operational policies, practices, and/or procedures, for individuals with disabilities if needed to enable that person's participation in Southeast Missouri State Transit Service’s services. The modifications may be subject to several exceptions, including when the modification might cause a direct threat to the health or safety of others, could result in a fundamental alteration of the service, may not actually be necessary for the individual with a disability to access Southeast Missouri State Transit Service’s service or would result in undue financial or administrative burden.

Requests for accommodation can be submitted in writing by posted letter, email, fax, or the form link available below.  means of filing a request, such as personal interviews, phone calls, or taped requests will be made available for persons with disabilities if one is unable to communicate their request in writing or upon request.

Requests for reasonable modification must include the following:

Name:

Address:

Preferred phone number:

For which policy or process are you requesting modification?

What modification of the policy do you require?

Why do you need the modification to use the service?

The request from the individual with a disability should be specific and include the purpose for which the modification is necessary to allow use of Southeast Missouri State Transit service. 

Please submit your request to:

Southeast Missouri State University
Transit Supervisor
1 University Plaza
 Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
transit@semo.edu
Fax:  573.651.2707