FAQ
Faculty FAQ
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How will I know if a student has accommodations?
At the beginning of each semester, faculty will receive an email notifying them of approved accommodations for students in their courses.
Students do not need to disclose their disability to their faculty member to receive accommodations, but they are encouraged to meet with their faculty to discuss their accommodations and how best to implement the adjustments needed to ensure their full access to and participation in the course.
Faculty may receive notices of accommodation in the middle of a term. Accommodations are not retroactive but should be granted from that point forward.
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How do I make sure my students receive their accommodations?
Many common accommodations, like the use of notetaking software, do not require involvement from faculty. Other accommodations, such as testing accommodations or providing class materials in accessible formats, require working with the Testing Center or the Student Accessibility Services (SAS) office to ensure equal access for the student. It is okay to ask a student if their accommodations are being delivered in a way that meets their needs or to ask how you can best support their learning.
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How do I manage testing accommodations?
The purpose of testing accommodations is to make sure students have an equal opportunity to show their understanding of the material being assessed. Common testing accommodations are additional time and alternate testing sites.
For the McNichols Campus, the most common way to ensure students receive their testing accommodations is to use the Student Success Center’s (SSC) Testing Center, located on the third floor of the Library. A Test Proctor Form will be delivered to your email at the beginning of each semester, or you can email Lauri Moore, access specialist, at moorela2@udmercy.edu, for a copy. The SSC asks that you deliver tests in person or email to ssc@udmercy.edu at least 48 hours in advance of the test date. For students who require a reader, scribe or private room, reservations should be made one week in advance by emailing Lauri Moore.
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What if an accommodation conflicts with an essential part of the course?
Determining reasonable and appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities is an interactive process that includes input from faculty. If you are concerned that providing a student’s accommodation will fundamentally alter the goals of your course, please contact Megan Novell, executive director of Equal Opportunity, at novellme@udmercy.edu, to discuss the issue and find a resolution.
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I have a student who I think could benefit from accommodations. How do I approach this?
Our goal is to ensure that all students have equal access to our programs, activities and opportunities to learn. However, it is the responsibility of the student to contact our office and initiate the accommodations process. Students receive information about our office during orientation as well as on every course syllabus.
There are several reasons that a student could appear to have a disability but not have approved accommodations. It is possible that the student has accommodations but has chosen not to use them, has a disability they have chosen not to disclose, or has a disability that has not been diagnosed. Students’ privacy is an important concern, and faculty should not approach students to offer opinions about a possible diagnosis or to recommend they seek accommodations.
If a student asks for information about seeking accommodations for a disability, please share information about our office! Describing the multiple modes students can use to make contact is helpful: we can be reached by email, phone, via a form on our website and in person.