Support for Students with Disabilities
Our Office of Disability Services, located in Francis hall, room 121, will make reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities using the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended in 2008, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
By federal law, a person with a disability is any person who has: a physical or mental impairment; a record of such impairment; or is regarded as having such an impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities such as self-care, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, or learning.
Services Available
Faculty members do not lower academic standards, but instead the University provides support to help students demonstrate their academic abilities.
- Personal mentor/academic advisor who works with students with disabilities
- Alternative exam arrangements, including a private testing site and extended time
- Liaison with state vocational rehabilitation agencies
- Classroom and facility accommodations
- Audio recordings of class lectures
- Tutors for individual courses and general study skills assistance
- Supplemental Instruction for traditionally difficult courses
How to Request Services
Students who require accommodations must submit a email request at the beginning of the semester to the Office of the Vice President for Student Development.
Students are required to provide documentation of their disability from a qualified professional in the appropriate field. Documentation should include a formal diagnosis and a list of recommended accommodations. In most cases, a recent Individualized Education Plan (IEP) from a secondary school will be accepted as sufficient documentation. If a student does not have appropriate documentation, Disability Services will provide the necessary forms.
After documentation is reviewed and the student meets with Disability Services to discuss reasonable accommodations, official accommodation verification letters will be sent to faculty within the first two (2) weeks of the semester.
