Frequently Asked Questions: Faculty
A student who contacts AES and requests accommodations must provide documentation of that disability. AES reviews this documentation and, in conjunction with a discussion with the student, determines the functional impact of the disability on the student's opportunity for equal access in the academic setting. AES then approves or rejects the student's request for accommodations based upon an analysis of the functional impact of the disability, department and university policies, and applicable state and federal laws.
You are not required to provide accommodations for students if they do not provide you with a letter from AES indicating that it is an approved accommodation. You should tell the student to contact AES if they need disability-related accommodations. Faculty members are, of course, free to make academic adjustments for their students as needed.
AES encouraged students to contact our office and have their letters delivered at the start of the semester. However, students can request services or have their letters delivered anytime during the semester. Accommodations cannot be applied retroactively and will be in place from the moment that the student delivers the official letter to the professor. There can be many reasons why students may not deliver letters at the beginning of the semester, from believing that they do not need accommodations at that time to discovering that they have a disability halfway through the semester.
The student has the right to self-disclose a disability or not. If a student mentions that they have a disability, then it is appropriate to recommend that the student contact AES. If a student does not disclose a disability but you suspect a disability, you can mention the AES office as a possible resource along with other services on campus, such as the ACE tutoring center. You should not tell a student that you suspect they have a disability, nor should you require them to reach out to the AES office.
No, the additional time applies only to tests and quizzes timed for less than 24 hours. For assignments done outside of class, the student is expected to manage their time to complete the assignment by the standard due date. If a student would receive more time on the exam than you have planned to be in the classroom, and you cannot provide the student with this extra time yourself, then you should ask the student to schedule the exam with the AES office.
Class attendance requirements are established by the faculty member. It is AES practice not to approve an accommodation that requires attendance requirements to be waived because of a disability. However, many students have a disability that can result in missed class time. In this case, AES will include a statement on the accommodation letter indicating this. It is up to each individual professor whether to excuse missed class or class work. It is important to note, however, that should a student decide to challenge an attendance requirement formally, the faculty member should be prepared to defend the assertion that a change in the attendance policy would fundamentally alter the academic integrity of the course.
Please contact the AES office whenever you have a question or concern about accommodations. Providing classroom accommodations for students with disabilities is most effective when there is good communication between the faculty member, the student, and the AES Office. Students must speak with their instructors regarding how their accommodations will be provided and voice concerns if they are not satisfied. However, they are not required to disclose their disability or to explain or justify why they have accommodations. Questions of this nature should always be addressed to the AES Office.