Students with Disabilities

Definitions

An “individual with a disability” is someone with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more “major life activities.” Physical or mental impairments include, for example, specific learning disabilities, emotional or mental illness, blindness and visual impairments, deafness and hearing impairments, mobility impairments, and some chronic illnesses.

“Major life activity” means functions such as caring for oneself, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, working, and learning. A person is considered to be an individual with a disability and protected by the law if he/she has the disability, has a record of having the disability, or is regarded as having the disability.

A “qualified person with a disability” means an individual who, with reasonable modifications or “accommodations” (if necessary) to rules, policies or practices, the removal of barriers or the provision of auxiliary aids and services, meets the eligibility requirements for the receipt of services and the participation in programs or activities.

“Accommodation” refers to a change in the status quo. A “reasonable accommodation” in the student setting is a modification or adjustment to a course, program, activity or building that allows the person with a disability to participate as fully as possible in the programs and activities offered by the university.

Overview

The Office of the Provost evaluates and maintains all disability records for students with disabilities.

Students should identify themselves to the Office of the Provost to request services or accommodations. Documentation of a disability is required. All information regarding a disability is considered confidential.

After evaluation of academic records and disability documentation, the Provost or her designee will provide the student’s instructors with a message directing the approved accommodations. Faculty members are responsible for implementing accommodations directed by the Provost in a confidential manner.

The Provost and school deans ensure that faculty and students are informed about the institution’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) policies and procedures and that faculty fulfill their roles in assisting with approved accommodations. Only the Provost has the right to waive, substitute or adjust course or degree requirements. The University Hearing Officer resolves conflicts in the provision or denial of reasonable accommodations.

Accommodation Requests

Students with disabilities are required to meet the same academic standards as other students at the university. It is only through a student’s voluntary disclosure of disability and request for accommodation that the university can support disability needs.

 Students with disabilities who wish to receive accommodations or services must officially register with the Office of the Provost. To register, the student submits the required disability documentation and formally requests services, including accommodations. A disclosure of disability or request for an accommodation made to a faculty or staff member, other than the staff of the Provost, will not be treated as a request for an accommodation.

Requests for services or accommodation should be made as early as possible to allow time to review requests and documentation and make proper arrangements. Newly accepted students with needs for disability services should report information regarding that need directly to the Office of the Provost. Accommodation arrangements may be compromised or denied if a request is not made in a timely manner. Requests for accommodation must be renewed each semester.

Documentation Requirements

Students requesting accommodations are required to submit documentation to verify eligibility under ADA and Section 504.

Disability documentation must include a written evaluation from a physician, psychologist or other qualified specialist that establishes the nature and extent of the disability and includes the basis for the diagnosis and the dates of testing. The documentation must establish the current need for accommodation.

The type of documentation will vary according to the disability; for example, a psycho-educational or neuropsychological assessment that includes cognitive and achievement testing for learning or other cognitive disabilities and attention deficit disorder; a psychiatrist’s report for psychological disabilities; a letter from a doctor or other specialist for physical and most other disabilities, etc. More specific information on documentation requirements can be obtained by contacting the Provost.

Documentation may need to be updated or augmented in order to be reviewed more fully. Students who submit documentation that does not meet the guidelines will be required to submit an updated evaluation before being considered for services.

The institution reserves the right to determine eligibility for services based on the quality of the submitted documentation. All documentation is confidential.

Determining Accommodations

Appropriate documentation of the disability must be provided so that the Provost can: 1) determine the student’s eligibility for accommodation; and 2) if the student is eligible, determine appropriate academic accommodations.

Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the learning needs of the student, the requirements of the learning task, the course standards and essential requirements, and the educational environment.

Confidentiality

The university recognizes that student disability records contain confidential information and are to be treated as such. Therefore, documentation of a student’s disability is maintained in a confidential file in the Provost’s Office and is considered part of the student’s education record. Information related to a disability may be disclosed only with the permission of the student or as permitted by the university’s student records policy and federal law. At the same time, however, a student's right to privacy must still be balanced against the university’s need to know the information in order to provide requested and recommended services and accommodations. Therefore, in the interest of serving the needs of the student, the provision of services may involve the Provost or her staff disclosing disability information provided by the student to appropriate university personnel participating in the accommodation process.

Implementing Accommodations

Student Guidelines. A student who wishes an accommodation is responsible for submitting documentation to the Office of the Provost. The Provost’s Office is responsible for informing and instructing faculty of the action required to provide an accommodation for the student. Students are not required to divulge the nature of their disabilities or provide copies of their disability documentation to faculty or staff. Students are responsible for working directly with the faculty or staff member involved in the provision of an accommodation. Contact should be maintained throughout the semester.

Students need to provide feedback to the Provost on the effectiveness of accommodations. The Provost should be notified if an accommodation is not provided. Questions about the provision of reasonable accommodations should be directed to the Provost.

Faculty and Staff Guidelines. A faculty or staff member is responsible for the implementation of the accommodation identified in a message from the Provost. Faculty and staff must implement approved accommodations. Individually, faculty members have a legal responsibility to make sure that each course, when viewed in its entirety, is accessible. Accessibility, the primary consideration of disability law, should be in the forefront of course and technological planning. Further information on this legal obligation may be obtained from the Provost.

Faculty members are required to include a notice on the course syllabus referring students to contact the Provost if they need accommodation related to a disability.

Questions regarding the provision or appropriateness of an accommodation or related to offering a course in such a manner that disabilities are accommodated should be addressed to the Provost. Faculty questions regarding alterations to a course or program should be addressed to the Provost.

Denial of Accommodation

The university reserves the right to deny services or accommodations in the event that documentation does not comply with its published guidelines for service eligibility or documentation is out-of-date or incomplete. If the documentation provided by a student does not support the existence of a disability or the need for an accommodation, the student will be so advised. Students will be given the opportunity to supplement the initial documentation with further information from a physician, psychologist, or other specialist.

The university is not required to provide an accommodation that compromises the essential requirements of a course or program, imposes an undue financial burden based on the university’s overall institutional budget or poses a threat to the health or safety of the student or others.

Student Appeal

A student who disagrees with a determination of eligibility or accommodation is encouraged to meet with the Provost to resolve the matter informally.

A student who disputes the determination by the Provost regarding the existence of a disability or denial of an accommodation may file a written complaint with the University Hearing Officer within 30 days of the date of the Provost’s determination. The decision of the University Hearing Officer shall be final.

Students who believe that the university has discriminated against them on the basis of their disability may contact the Title IX Coordinator to discuss filing a formal complaint of discrimination.

Information Requests

For additional information or questions regarding policies, procedures, and services for students with disabilities, contact the Provost.