AccessAbility Services

Reasonable accommodations that may be made by the University depend on the particular needs of the student as supported by documentation and may include: additional time to complete tests, course work, or graduation; recording of classes, use of a note-taker/scribe, audio books and modification of test taking/performance evaluations. Students who received special educational services in secondary school through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are not automatically qualified for post-secondary services. IDEA entitles school age children with disabilities to a free, appropriate education designed to facilitate successful learning outcomes. The rights of postsecondary students are governed by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and also the Americans with Disabilities Act. These are civil rights statutes requiring that all postsecondary institutions make reasonable and necessary modifications to rules, policies, and practices to prevent discrimination and ensure access and opportunity for students with disabilities. Such reasonable accommodations must not compromise the academic integrity of the College or the student’s educational program. Equal access and opportunity generally means the same access and opportunity available to the general student population.

Accommodations will meet the particular needs of the requesting student. However, accommodations cannot compromise course goals, standards or essential course content, or impair the rights or opportunities of other students. All reasonable accommodations must recognize the right of faculty to determine the content and academic performance standards in the classroom and related course work.

 Responsibilities of the Student:

• Disclose a disability to the Coordinator of Student AccessAbility Services in a timely manner when requesting accommodations.
• Complete a written request for accommodations using the Accommodations Request form.
• Meet with the Coordinator of Student AccessAbility Services  to review the request.
• Provide appropriate, current documentation supporting the disability. The documentation must include a report from a qualified professional identifying the disability and establishing the need for accommodation.
• Understand the attendance policy and attend classes unless illness or emergency prevents the student from doing so.
• Meet the academic requirements of the student’s courses and major.
• At the beginning of each academic year, update the student’s request for accommodation with the Coordinator of Student AccessAbility Services.
• Assess the extent to which the accommodations agreed upon and implemented for the semester are meeting the student’s needs and share the student’s conclusions with the Coordinator of Student AccessAbility Services in a timely manner.

Responsibilities of the University:

• Through the Bashevkin Academic Center for Excellence, the University provides a variety of services to students with disabilities based on individual documentation and need. The responsibility of the University is to provide reasonable accommodations on a case-by-case basis and to afford equal opportunity for student participation in the University's programs, activities, and services unless doing so would compromise the academic integrity of the University or the student’s educational program, or impair the rights or opportunities of other students. The University, at its discretion, may require additional testing or evaluation if the student-provided documentation is inadequate or needs to be updated. The student may be asked to sign a release or authorization as part of the accommodation process.

Confidentiality:

Records are maintained in a confidential manner and are not included in a student’s academic record.