Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do if a student reports to me a diagnosis of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (or some other diagnosis) and asks for a classroom accommodations?
This student should be directed to the Student Development & Counseling Center. The instructor is under no obligation to provide accommodations without recommendations from the Student Development & Counseling Center. Instructors are not expected to make decisions regarding disabling conditions or appropriate accommodations. To receive approved accommodations, students must register through the Student Development & Counseling Center. The Student Development & Counseling Center will interview the student, request and review documentation and make decisions regarding appropriate academic modifications. This process protects both the instructor and student rights by establishing and ensuring consistent access to programming. 

What if I do not agree with the recommended accommodations from the Student Development & Counseling Center? 
Contact the Student Development & Counseling Center. The Student Development & Counseling Center will work with the instructor and the student to reach a solution which will allow the student to work within his/her abilities and not compromise the academic standards of the program.  Should agreement not be found, a complaint may be submitted to the Student Affairs Committee. The accommodation in question should be afforded until another solution is agreed upon.

What do I do if a student requests additional accommodations from me after the term has begun and/or after providing me with a letter of verification?
Call or refer the student to the Student Development & Counseling Center. All accommodations must relate to functional limitations, which are usually established during the initial intake interview and review of documentation. As with initial requests, an instructor is discouraged from providing accommodations which have not been justified by documentation nor recommended by the Student Development & Counseling Center.

What is a “reasonable accommodation” and are there limits to what is considered reasonable?  
Academic adjustments most relevant to staff and faculty include: the use of auxiliary aids, alternate media, alternate evaluation methods, and modifications to instructional delivery or program requirements. However, an accommodation may be considered unreasonable in several situations:  

  1. if an accommodation violates the “essential academic requirements;”
  2. if an accommodation is an individually prescribed aids or equipment for personal use;
  3. if the accommodation would substantially alter the program; or
  4. if the accommodation would pose an undue burden on the institution. 

How are requests for accommodation evaluated?
Requests for accommodation are evaluated by the Assistant Director of the Student Development & Counseling Center, with input from the student, documentation, and faculty. However, first a student must self-identify. Students may be required to provide appropriate documentation (medical evaluations, psychoeducational evaluations, and so forth) to verify the existence of a disability and to justify their request for accommodation. The disability must disproportionately impact the student’s performance in the academic setting. Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis; that is to say, a particular disability does not necessarily afford a particular accommodation. The student has the responsibility to assist the University in locating appropriate services and funding. When more than one equally effective method of accommodation exists, the University may choose among them.

Can I refuse to grant an accommodation recommended by the Student Development & Counseling Center? 
If an instructor/department feels the accommodation compromises the integrity of the course work, the accommodation can be challenged. It is recommended that the instructor/department contact the Assistant Director and discuss his/her concerns. Ideally, an accommodation that addresses the functional limitation and the academic requirements of the course can be negotiated.

Some accommodations seem so simple, may I provide them without the input of the Student Development & Counseling Center? 
Instructors are highly discouraged from providing accommodations for the purpose of addressing a student’s disability without the recommendations of the Student Development & Counseling Center. Although in many cases it may seem as if appropriate accommodations may be provided without this input, in doing so, an instructor risks becomes personally liable for the accommodation decision making process.

What do I do if I am providing the recommended accommodations, but the student is still not doing well in the course?
Assure yourself that the recommended accommodations are being provided in a consistent and meaningful manner.  Academic adjustments are designed to ensure equal access to the University’s programs and services.  Because they are not designed to remediate nor treat a specific condition, they do not ensure academic success.  Students with disabilities must be held to the same academic standard as other students.



Last Revised March 6, 2006