Student retaking class after complaining about me last time.

[financeguy]

I'm the only guy who teaches a specific class. Last time a student did one week of work for an eight week course and then wanted an extension after going AWOL until the final few days. He attempted to invoke a disability accommodation that was never formally filed with the relevant office. He complained about me to the department chair and program chair afterward, although both of them just notified me that they would handle from there since he'd done it before. Minor contact with disability services afterward. He's back in the same class again now, which I assume is unavoidable. How would you handle aside from documenting all interactions? Reach out to the contact at the disability office to have her ask him if he wants an accommodation formally early on? As him to do so if desired? Nothing? just go about business as usual? Everyone is already fed up with this student from previous encounters but I still want to limit his ability to cause problems for me at a school I'd like to remain teaching this course at. (Just adjunct but it's a "name" that helps in my career outside...)

Edit: this is an online class. His intro "hello" post and mine were pleasant.

[Parasaurolophus]

I defer to others with more experience, but I think I'd just forget about it and do mostly nothing for now. With luck, the student's grown up some.

Mostly nothing, except that I'd make sure to save any and all emails to/from the student, and keep a paper trail. Since there was a formal complaint about you to the department and program chairs, I'd also take steps to ensure my assessment of their work was above reproach (either anonymised, automated, or done by a TA/colleague), to avoid any possible charges of retaliation. But I wouldn't be any more active or proactive than that.

[financeguy]

Sounds good. I was leaning toward inaction, in part to try not to open a can of worms unnecessarily.

[polly_mer]

I agree with Parasaurolophus on every point.  Let the student have a clean slate and document everything.  I've had students be much better on their second or third go.  I've also had students just go away after their third go when the system takes care of students who run out of chances.

[fishbrains]

Follow your syllabus policies and college policies to the letter (students like this are why your syllabus is so long in the first place) and keep all documentation--which is easy to do in an internet class. Be professional and pay attention to your Spidey-Senses if they go off. That's about it. 

[the_geneticist]

I agree with the "document everything", be clear and consistent with all of your course policies, and follow the accommodations (when/if formally started).
Don't hold his past behavior against him.  The great thing about an online class is that ALL interactions are documented (emails, posts, assignments, etc.).  This includes electronic data about when assignments were submitted, when/if students accessed the materials, etc.  I hope it goes well for all of your students.

[hungry_ghost]

He complained about me to the department chair and program chair afterward, although both of them just notified me that they would handle from there since he'd done it before.

I would contact your department chair and program chair and in a brief note, say that this student has reappeared in your class, and you hope he will be able to complete the course successfully this time, and you also would like to avoid any further trouble. Since he complained about you last time, you wanted to touch base with them, and please let you know if they have any advice or guidance in dealing with him.

It sounds like he is a known trouble-maker, and they may have some suggestions that will reduce the amount of trouble he can make, or at least the amount of stress he can generate. Also, by preemptively contacting them, you'll be able to set the tone for future conversations about this matter (should it come up). This sends the message that you're being collegial, collaborative, open to guidance, not defensive (you have nothing to hide) and invested in student success.

Beyond this, I agree with the rest of the comments about doing nothing different in class apart from document, document, document, and make sure your syllabus is very clear about policies. I would not direct him to disability accommodations; that is on him. If this comes up, my line to students is "University policy prohibits me from providing special accommodations without a letter from the disability accommodations office. This is in order to be fair to all students, and to prevent instructors from being arbitrary."

(A little late to the party here, oops.)