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I.   POLICY STATEMENT. 

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (as amended in 2008) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, ÂÌñÉç’s Disability Services and Student Support Office (DSSS) provides reasonable academic accommodations to qualified students who request them. This policy outlines the process for requesting academic accommodations and highlights important considerations for students when making a request.

II.  APPLICABILITY. 

This policy applies to all admitted students who request academic accommodations through the Disability Services and Student Support Office.

III. POLICY.

Students may request accommodations at any time while enrolled at ÂÌñÉç. However, it is recommended that students submit their requests 3–4 weeks before the start of the semester to allow sufficient time for review and implementation. All requests are evaluated by the Disability Services and Student Support Office (DSSS), and accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis based on the student’s individual needs and supporting documentation.

A. Process for Requesting Accommodations

To receive accommodations and support services, you must be an admitted student at ÂÌñÉç and complete the following steps:

1. Submit a Request:

Complete and submit a . During high-volume periods, it may take 1–2 weeks to process accommodation requests.

2. Provide Documentation

Submit current documentation from a qualified professional that describes the nature of your disability and its impact on academic functioning. Please review the documentation guidelines carefully and share them with your healthcare provider to ensure that all necessary and relevant information is included.

When necessary, the Disability Services and Student Support Office (DSSS) may request additional documentation to evaluate the need for a specific accommodation. Such requests will be limited to what is directly relevant to the accommodation being considered.

All documentation must be:

• In English

• Typed and legible

• Printed on official letterhead from the qualified professional or organization

If the original documentation is in another language, the student is responsible for providing an accurate translated version.

Note: While documentation may establish that a student has a disability, this does not automatically guarantee approval of specific accommodations. The determination of appropriate accommodations is made separately and based on an individualized assessment of the student’s needs and course requirements.

3. Participate in an Intake Meeting

Students can schedule their intake meeting through the , which is an essential step in the process of determining eligibility for accommodations. During this meeting, students will discuss their needs and review relevant documentation with a DSSS staff member.

Under applicable disability laws, the accommodation process must be interactive and collaborative, involving active participation from both the student and the Disability Services and Student Support Office (DSSS). This process is designed to be individualized and based on a case-by-case evaluation. In some cases, it may be straightforward; in others, it may involve multiple conversations or additional documentation to fully understand the student's needs and the appropriateness of the requested accommodations.

Once approved, students must renew their accommodations each semester by submitting a semester accommodation request through the . Returning students are expected to complete this renewal prior to the start of each academic term to ensure continued access to their approved accommodations.

As part of the intake and renewal process, DSSS will review all relevant policies and procedures related to the student’s accommodation plan.

4. Accommodation Letters and Notification

Once students have submitted their accommodation request for the semester, an accommodation letter will be sent to both the student and their professor. Students and faculty can access these letters as needed throughout the semester via the Accommodate system. 

Please contact the Disability Services office if any of the following occur:

• You have questions or concerns about your accommodations

• You experience difficulties arranging your accommodations

• You need to make changes to your accommodation plan at any time during the academic year

B. Accommodation Considerations

Factors Considered in Accommodation Decisions

Accommodation decisions are based on the following factors:

• Whether the proposed accommodation is necessary to prevent discrimination based on the student’s disability in academic requirements or technical standards.

• Whether the accommodation provides the student with meaningful access or an equal opportunity to benefit from the educational experience, comparable to their non-disabled peers.

• Whether the accommodation is directly related to the student’s disability and addresses the specific barriers they face in the academic or campus environment.

• Whether the accommodation is reasonably designed to remove or reduce the identified barriers to access.

• Whether the accommodation, if implemented, would effectively eliminate the identified barrier.

The proposed accommodation does not:

• Lower an essential program standard

• Fundamentally alter a core program element or requirement

• Create an undue administrative or financial burden

IV.  POLICY HISTORY.

Responsible Officer(s):  Associate Dean for Student Academic Affairs

Effective Date: 2005

Last Revision Date: August, 2025
 

VI.  RELATED POLICIES AND RESOURCES.

Disability Services Documentation Guidelines