Below are procedures for the most common academic adjustments:
Testing Services provides a testing space for students who have alternative testing as an approved accommodation. Students may opt to test in the general classroom on any given test date.
Testing Services Hours | ||
---|---|---|
Fall - Spring Quarter | Monday - Thursday | 8:00 am - 6:00 pm |
Fall - Spring Quarter | Friday | 8:00 am - 4:30 pm |
Summer Quarter | Monday - Thursday | 8:00 am - 4:30 pm |
Summer Quarter | Friday | 8:00 am - 3:00 pm |
Students are required to schedule their tests with Testing Services at least 3 business days in advance and 10 business days for finals.
Students need to test at the same time as students are testing in the classroom. Exceptions apply ONLY when extended testing time overlaps with other classes OR testing in the classroom occurs outside of Testing Services hours. Students who have back to back classes are expected to communicate testing time conflicts with their faculty member in a timely fashion.
Disabilities Services can loan FM listening systems, Livescribe Pens, and audio note taking software to students who have a documented need for them on a short term basis until the student obtains their own equipment.
Before borrowing equipment, the student will meet with Disability Services Staff to determine the type of equipment needed and to discuss its use and care.
When checking out a device, the student will be asked to sign an "Items on Loan" and "Recorded Lecture Agreement" forms at Disability Services. Borrowed equipment must be returned in working order at the end of the quarter. Students are responsible for any damage due to improper use of the equipment.
In some situations equipment can be borrowed for additional quarters per approval from Disability Services.
Students with a disability may qualify for early registration based on the criteria listed below:
All students with early registration will receive an appointment time and date from the Registrar via SUOnline. Early Registration typically occurs on the first or second day that registration opens to students. If this does not occur please contact the Registar.
Students whose disabilities have a significant documented effect on learning a foreign language may request approval for an alternative option that satisfies the foreign language requirement. Substitution of global history and culture classes for the usual language sequence are the most common alternatives approved. Upon approval, Disability Services Staff will send a letter to the Registrar’s Office explaining the language substitution accommodation.
To request a substitution, the student must meet with their academic advisor and complete a “Petition for Exception to Policy” form. Copies of this form are available at Disability Services.
Disability Services will create a Foreign Language Substitution (FLS) list each quarter.
Some students may be granted permission to audio record class lectures as an accommodation. Students with this accommodation may use their own recording device or check one out temporarily at Disability Services. Students planning on audio recording class lectures are encouraged to communicate this with their faculty prior to recording.
Disability Services can arrange with the Registrar’s Office and/or Facilities to change the location of a class or to provide accessible classroom furniture for students who have a documented need.
To ensure enrollment in courses which accommodate a student's need for a specific class time, location, or accessible classroom furniture the student may be approved for early registration. Students should contact a Disability Services staff member after registering for their courses, minimally 2-3 weeks prior to the start of the quarter, to begin this process.
Students who have a documented need can arrange to take fewer than 12 credits per quarter (normally considered a part-time credit load), while maintaining their full-time status for financial aid purposes.
Full-time equivalency must be requested each quarter using the Faculty Notification Letter (FNL). After the request is received, a Disability Services staff member will notify the Financial Aid and Registrar’s Offices of the need and specify the amount of reduction for the requested quarter.
The student needs to understand that the amount of some kinds of financial aid varies in proportion to the credit load of the student. Therefore, since 10 credit hours is considered to be 3/4 of a full load (or 1/4 less than a full load), some portions of the aid package may be reduced by 1/4. For details on the specific financial aid effects of reducing course load, the student needs to consult with a financial aid counselor.
Students who have a documented need for access to shared notes may choose to arrange their own note sharing with a classmate or ask Disability Services to arrange a volunteer on their behalf.
If the student receiving shared notes is absent for three or more classes, Disability Services will assume that the student has dropped the class and services will be discontinued. To discuss the reinstatement of services, the student must meet with a Disability Services staff member.
The Disability Services Staff can arrange peer note takers to share their class notes with a student. To request this service, the student indicate that they need a note taker via the Faculty Notification Letter (FNL). Requests which include staff arrange notes should be submitted 2-3 weeks prior to the start of the quarter. Switching sections or making other schedule changes may cause delays service. Students should inform Disability Services immediately when such changes arise.
To request shared notes, Disability Services staff will email the class roster to obtain a peer volunteer. Should no volunteer come forward after two emails, the professor will be asked to make a confidential announcement in-class that a note taker is still needed.
Once a note taker has been assigned, the student and volunteer note taker will be given directions regarding how to upload and download lecture notes to myDS.
A student may choose to find their own volunteer note taker. To request this service, the student indicate that they need a note taker via the Faculty Notification Letter (FNL) and contacting the Media and Technology Coordinator. Once a volunteer has been arranged, the student receiving shared notes may ask to have the note taker's Seattle University ID added to the Disability Services printing account. The volunteer will need to sign a confidentiality agreement at Disability Services Office.
Interpreters or Captioners are provided for students with disabilities who require them in order to have effective access to classes. Technological alternatives may also be used when they provide effective access. Students should read the following procedures for interpreting and captioning services:
Books and other required reading materials are provided in accessible formats to students who have documented visual limitations, learning disability, or other barriers that affect the reading of printed materials.
NOTE: The Media and Access Technology Coordinator will not process “Electronic Book Requests” for books in accessible format that are available for purchase in digital format from the SU bookstore or outside vendor. However, the Media and Access Technology Coordinator will work publishers in obtaining an accessible format or permission to copy when the book is not available in accessible format.
When the required text is not offered in an accessible format, the student will continue with the following procedures:
Other accommodations will be worked out on an individual basis between the student and the Disability Services Staff. If a student does not believe that they are receiving requested academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids, the student should contact a Disability Services staff member immediately.