For Faculty

The information linked to this page is offered as a practical guide to assist faculty members in providing the accommodations that enable students who have disabilities to meet and maintain the academic standards of their program. Often the key to a successful experience for students in the college environment is effective communication between stakeholders. Faculty members and staff play a critical role in shaping students’ postsecondary experience. We encourage faculty and staff to contact the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to discuss the learning and service needs of students.

Faculty Rights

On those rare occasions when an accommodation request raises a concern, it is important that SAS and faculty work together to assure the rights of the faculty and the student are protected.

• Faculty members should realize that while civil rights are not negotiable, accommodations certainly are. Almost all accommodations requested by SAS are negotiable.
• Faculty members are content experts and their assistance is sought in determining how best to provide accommodations.
• No accommodations that prevent the student from learning the essential elements of a course may be granted. Faculty members determine essential elements.
• Students with disabilities do not have to be successful. They must be provided with an equal chance of success via accommodations.
• Faculty members are not obligated to provide accommodation until the student provides them with a current semester Accommodation Memo.
• Students may refuse their accommodations. If they do, they, not the professor, are responsible for the consequences.
• Professors unable to proved testing accommodations may utilize the alternative testing services of SAS.

Accommodation Memos

Faculty will receive accommodation memos every semester directly from the student. The memo lists the recommended academic accommodation. It may also be accompanied with information on alternative test services provided by SAS.

Faculty members should discuss the memo privately with the student, sign and return it to the student, and retain the alternative testing information.

https://marcomm.formstack.com/forms/tgweh3