Frequently Asked Questions
Matriculated students and special students may register for accommodations and services by contacting the Director of Disability and Support Services, and providing appropriate documentation of their disability or disabilities. Registration for services is strictly voluntary. After documentation is received, the Director will then determine, with the student and in consultation with necessary faculty and administration, accommodations and services which are necessary and appropriate to student's needs, academic program, and campus life experience. Accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services are reviewed and updated each semester, as appropriate.
A student with a disability is any person who has a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such an impairment. A qualified individual with a disability in the context of post-secondary education is a student who meets the academic and technical standards requisite to admission and participation in Vassar's programs and activities. It is the responsibility of the student with the disability to self identify to the Office of Disability and Support Services, to provide appropriate documentation, and to request accommodations in a timely manner.
To insure the provision of appropriate accommodations, individuals must provide documentation of their disability by an appropriate professional. The cost of obtaining documentation is the responsibility of the student. If documentation is considered to be incomplete or inadequate to support an accommodation request, additional documentation may be required. Documentation should be sent to the Office of Disability and Support Services in care of the director. All disability documentation must indicate:
- a specific diagnosis,
- information regarding onset, longevity and severity of symptoms,and
- information on how the disability and/or related medications and treatments interfere or limit any major life activity including participation in the courses, programs and activities of the college.
Documentation Guidelines:
Individuals with disabilities are entitled to privacy and discretion in the handling of all disability-related information. Disability information provided to the Office of Disability and Support Services will be used solely for the purpose of enabling Vassar to provide supportive, academic and other services related to the individual's disability, including the comprehensive documentation that individuals with disabilities must provide to establish the existence of a disability and their need for disability related accommodations and services. Disability related information is collected and maintained on separate forms from other academic or employment information and is kept in secure files with limited access. Disability information is not considered a part of a student's permanent academic record or of an employee's personnel file, and is shared only on a need to know basis.
Evaluation of accommodation requests by the Office of Disability and Support Services involves consideration of the following criteria:
- whether the person meets the criteria for being otherwise qualified as an individual with a disability under the ADA and Section 504;
- whether the disability is appropriately documented in writing by a qualified professional. The amount and type of required documentation will be based upon the nature of the disability and the nature and duration of the requested accommodation;
- whether the requested accommodation or support service is appropriate to the needs of the person with the disability and appropriate for the academic course, program, activity or work environment;
- whether the student, faculty or staff member will have equal access or opportunity without the accommodation or support service;
- whether the accommodation will fundamentally alter the academic course, program or essential requirements of the job;
- whether an alternate accommodation or academic modification could be implemented to provide equal access and opportunity.
The Office of Disability and Support Services has established an early self-identification policy for students who anticipate needing any type of classroom and/or test accommodation. Students should meet with their instructor(s) in person to discuss their need for disability accommodation. To help facilitate this dialogue, the Office of Disability and Support Services provides students with letters that identify their academic accommodations and services each term. During the meeting, the student and the instructor should talk about the student's accommodation needs, establish how specified accommodations will be arranged throughout the semester, and explore any questions or concerns that either the student or the instructor have regarding the accommodation plan. While it is not a requirement, the student may also disclose specific information about their disability and explain how accommodations assisted them in the past. This policy encourages an early and ongoing dialogue between students and their instructors. The director is available to meet and speak with faculty about students' accommodations or help facilitate a three-way conversation between the instructor, student and the director of Disability and Support Services.
Students receiving "in-class" accommodations require that they assume specific responsibilities, as follows:
- Students in need of any type of academic accommodation or support service should complete an Academic Accommodation and Service Request Form at the beginning of each semester and return it by the end of the "add period".
- Students in need of books on tape, braille documents, enlarged print course materials, readers, lab assistants, sign language interpreters, or other accommodations which require advance preparation should schedule an appointment with the director during pre-registration.
- At the beginning of each term, students should present a copy of their accommodation letter from the Office of Disability and Support and discuss with their instructor their accommodation needs. Although most students self-identify their disabilities and related needs at the beginning of each semester, other students may wait until a couple of days before the exam, or when they start having difficulty meeting their academic responsibilities. DSS does not recommend that students wait until there is a problem (refer to no. 4). Students may also refer instructors to the Director of Disability and Support Services for additional questions or assistance, and/or request a meeting between themselves, the instructor, and the director to discuss accommodations in detail.
- It is the student's responsibility to request accommodations in a timely manner; notification must be made within a time period which allows the Office of Disability and Support Services and the instructor a reasonable opportunity to evaluate the request and offer necessary adjustments. Without reasonable notice, it may not be possible for the requested accommodation to be provided.
- Throughout the semester, students should meet with their instructors on a regular basis to discuss their accommodations and their progress in class.
- Students should contact the Director of Disability and Support Services if they have any questions or concerns about their accommodation plan, if they have difficulty arranging their accommodations, or if there are any needed changes to their plan at any point during the semester. Students are also strongly encouraged to work closely with the Office of Disability and Support Services throughout the academic year and make use of available support services.
What Should I do if I need Exam Accommodations?
- Exam accommodations should be scheduled at least a week in advance. Requests for accommodations for final exams should be made at least a week to two weeks in advance and no later than the last day of the class period. Without reasonable notice, an accommodation may not be provided.
- You need to meet with your instructor(s) throughout the semester to establish how specific exam accommodations will be delivered. For example, will you take the exam with the class or in a separate room? Will you start the exam early or stay late? Do you need to take the exam at a time that is not in conflict with either your instructor's schedule or your class schedule? Do you need DSS to proctor the exam or provide a particular aid, such as a computer?
- It is preferred that instructors proctor their exams and provide you with exam accommodations within the context of his or her department, under their supervision. This provides students with the opportunity to ask questions during the exam or receive additional instructions, as appropriate. If the instructor is unable to provide accommodation(s) or if the student prefers to take the exam at DSS, they should contact DSS by contacting Belinda Guthrie at least a week in advance of the exam date. Please provide the following information:
- course number and instructor's name,
- date and time of scheduled exam,
- accommodations needed, and
- preferred exam time with accommodations.
- Exam proctoring services through DSS include, but are not limited to, the provision of extended time, availability of a private testing space, use of a computer, access to a reader, scribe and transcription services, and provision of exam materials in an alternative format such as in braille or enlarged print. As with all disability accommodations, exam-proctoring services are determined according to the current nature of your disability or disabilities, supporting documentation, and the specific requirements of the course, program, or activity.
- Students with and without disabilities are expected to meet their academic obligations in accordance with the schedule specified by the instructor and the college. The Office of Disability and Support Services encourages students to request information about papers in advance, or work with their instructor to identify staggered deadlines for assignments rather than asking for extensions beyond the scheduled due date. (Please refer to your Student Handbook, page 29 section H: Incompletes and Extensions for more information).
- If you anticipate needing more time to work on a paper or project due to a disability-related need, talk to your instructor at the beginning of the semester to see if you can get paper assignments in advance. In addition, meet regularly with your professors throughout the course of the assignment to discuss progress or address questions or concerns that you may have regarding the assignment.
- If necessary, you may also request staggered deadlines in consultation with the instructor, your class advisor in the Dean of Studies Office and the Office of Disability and Support Services. Staggered deadlines are used when a student has several papers or projects due on the same day or within a very short period in two or more classes. Staggered deadlines are always established well advance of the scheduled due date. As with all disability accommodations, the accommodation of staggered deadlines is determined according to the current nature of your disability or disabilities, supporting documentation, and the specific requirements of the course, program, or activity.
- Staggered deadlines are set first by contacting Ms. Guthrie at DSS. Ms. Guthrie will review with you your semester schedule and propose staggered deadlines for assignments to your class advisor and your instructor(s). If approved, you will then need to meet with your class advisor and your instructors to work out the specific arrangements. Ms. Guthrie will remain available for consultation as necessary.
To request on-campus housing accommodations, students with disabilities must first meet with the Director of Disability and Support Services. The Director of Disability and Support Services, in consultation with Residential Life, Campus Dining Services, and/or the Dean of Students Office, will coordinate housing and meal plan accommodations. It is important for students to contact the Office of Disability and Support Services as early as possible to discuss specific details of their accommodation needs. Meal plan accommodations, such as medical meal plans, are coordinated with the Office of Disability and Support Services through the Dean of Students Office and the Director of Campus Dining Services each term. As with housing accommodations, meal plan modifications must be supported by appropriate documentation.
In all instances, requests for housing must be made within the published deadliness set by the Office of Residential Life. Typically, requests for disability-related housing accommodations by current students should be made to the Office of Disability and Support Services no later than two to three weeks prior to general room draw. For first year or transfer students, requests should be made through DSS in early June for August matriculation and in early December for January matriculation. Students approved for summer housing by the Office of Residential Life should contact the DSS by May 10st make arrangements for summer housing accommodations. Documentation on file in the Office of Disability and Support Services must support the housing accommodation request.
Current students with disabilities still participate in House Room Draw and should draw when their number is called. If only one room remains available which will meet a student's particular disability-related needs and the student has not drawn for a room, Residential Life will hold the room for the student. Like students without disabilities, students eligible for housing accommodations are not eligible to draw into rooms designated as Language Fellow (LF), Student Fellow (SF), or firstyear (FR). Students should contact their House Advisor for more information about room draw procedures. Please note that there may be instances in which a student is offered housing which meets their disability-related needs, but which may not be their first choice of house or room on campus.