The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
Student Accessibility Services Office of Student Life and the Dean of Students
Faculty Fast Facts
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Attendance Accommodation
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Why would a student need this accommodation?
An attendance accommodation is a modification of the course attendance policy by providing flexibility to the student. This is a reasonable request for students who are not able to abide by the policy due to disability-related reasons. Students’ disabilities addressed through this accommodation are typically chronic or episodic in nature or the student is undergoing an intensive treatment regimen.
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How is this accommodation determined?
- An attendance accommodation allows for a reasonable number of approved absences, in addition to the number of allowed absences identified in the course syllabus.
- SAS approval of this accommodation is determined on an individual, case-by-case basis depending upon the extent to which supporting medical or psychological documentation, from a licensed professional qualified to diagnose and treat the disability, supports the need for modification to an attendance policy.
- In determining the appropriateness and reasonableness of this accommodation request, SAS staff will review the course syllabus and consult with faculty, as needed, to determine the essential requirements of an academic course. In this evaluative process to determine the number of allowable absences, SAS will consider the functional limitations of a student’s disability along with the interactive or participatory nature and structure of each course. Department, college, or accrediting agency rules are also considered. The number of disability-related absences approved by SAS will be noted on the student’s accommodation letter.
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What happens if a student misses an exam due to a disability-related absence?
This accommodation affords the student an opportunity to make up missed assignments, exams, and quizzes within a reasonable period of time (i.e. if the student is absent several days due to a disability-related condition, the student should be allowed several days to make up missed assignments or tests). For absences requiring make-up exams or quizzes, the test should be provided in the same format and cover the same content at the originally scheduled test. For instance, if the original exam is multiple-choice format, the make-up exam should also be multiple-choice format rather than short-answer or essay format. -
Student Responsibilities
- Students should attend class regularly, arrive prepared for class, and be knowledgeable of the course material previously covered.
- Students should complete the essential components and objectives of the course, as stated in the syllabus.
- It is the student’s responsibility to communicate in a timely manner with each instructor and SAS in the event of a disability-related absence so that any missed assignment deadlines or exams can be rescheduled.
- It is important for a student to realize that even if excused, absences can impact the student’s academic performance since the student will not have the benefit of full classroom interaction and the opportunity to ask questions while the material is being presented. If a student finds that he or she is not doing well in a class due to extended absences, the student is urged to discuss options with the instructor such as dropping the class, withdrawing from the class, or the possibility of an incomplete. The student should also inform SAS of such communications.
- Students may only use this accommodation for disability-related reasons which are documented through SAS. It is important for the student to not abuse the modification of the attendance policy. An attendance accommodation does not mean that unlimited absences will be permitted.
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Faculty Responsibilities
- In the event an instructor believes that the number of approved disability-related absences noted in a student’s accommodation letter interferes with essential curriculum requirements, the instructor should immediately contact SAS.
- Neither the University, nor an individual faculty member, is required to waive essential or fundamental academic requirements of a course regardless of the nature of a student’s disability. If an instructor or academic department can demonstrate to SAS that attendance is an essential or fundamental academic requirement for the course or for any directly-related licensing requirement, reasonable attendance requirements may be put in place.
- An attendance accommodation is not intended to serve as a blanket approval for missing class. Absences that are not disability-related (e.g. absences due to common illnesses, car trouble, child care, etc.) are not included in this accommodation and should be addressed according to the attendance/absence policy in the course syllabus.
- Instructors should retain the student’s accommodation letter for the remainder of the semester/ module for reference.
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Verifying Disability-related Absences
A student’s diagnosis is considered private health information. In many cases students may not seek out medical care for each individual health crisis or flare-up. As faculty, you should not request medical documentation to verify student absences. SAS can assist with verifying disability-related absences.
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Emotional Support Animals (ESA)
ESAs are animals that provide assistance or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability or provide emotional support that alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person’s disability.
- While ESAs are often used as part of a medical treatment plan as therapy animals, they are not considered Service Animals under the ADA. Rather, they are viewed as a “reasonable accommodation” under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) in those housing communities that have a “no pets” rule, including campus housing.
- Unlike a Service Animal, an ESA is not granted access to all places of public accommodation . Under FHA, an ESA is viewed as a "reasonable accommodation" in a housing unit. In order for a student residing in a residence hall to house an ESA, the student must register with SAS and provide documentation related to the disability and the need for the ESA.
For additional information about ESA, please contact Student Accessibility Services:
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- Edinburg: 956-665-7005
- Brownsville: 956-882-7374
- ability@utrgv.edu
Please also see the SAS Procedural Guidelines:
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Extended Time for Assignments
Why would a student need this accommodation?
Students with disabilities would need extended time for individual assignments when the functional limitation imposed by their disability creates a barrier between the student and the task of meeting certain deadlines. This may be due to the symptoms of the diagnosis, the effects of medication or the need to use assistive technology to complete a task. This accommodation is meant to provide the student access, not ensure his or her success.
What is extended time for assignments?
Extended time for assignments applies to assignments which the student would complete on his/her own. In-class or Blackboard discussions and group activities or projects, whether limited to a single meeting or longer project, are not covered under this accommodation. Extended time for assignments is not a reasonable accommodation with time-bound discussions or group work, as it might fundamentally alter the assignment or the assignment’s objectives.
Approved extended time for assignments applies to a period of days - not weeks - and should be determined collaboratively between the student and each individual faculty member. Students should be informed that the accommodated due dates agreed upon must be met prior to the end of a semester. Incomplete's are not accommodations, they are academic decisions, and are at the discretion of each individual instructor. According to UTRGV policy, any student requesting an Incomplete must be currently passing the course (See Undergraduate and Graduate Catalogs).
How is the extended time for assignments accommodation implemented?
The following steps are recommended by Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to implement extended time for assignments:
- Communicate: Communication between the student and each instructor is required. Students are advised to contact each instructor to initiate communication early in the semester.
- Mutual agreement: The student and instructor should reach mutual agreement regarding a reasonable amount of extra time for each individual assignment.
- Document: Once the accommodation is agreed upon, document using the Extended Time on Assignments form provided by SAS.
Additional Note for Instructors:
Instructors should keep in mind that accommodations must be meaningful but are not meant to lower academic standards. Instructors are the primary source of information about the course objectives, requirements and assignments, and should therefore guide discussion about a reasonable amount of time for assignment extensions. Knowledge of how long an assignment should take to complete for students without disabilities can provide a baseline for determining a reasonable extension period for students with various disabilities.
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Extended Time on Testing
Testing accommodations are intended to change some part of the testing environment to compensate for limitations imposed by an individual’s documented disability. Some students who are registered with Student Accessibility Services qualify for an accommodation for extending time on testing. The amount of extended time is correlated to the test-taker’s disability or limitations. Accommodations may affect how a test is taken, but not the content being assessed. Extended time on testing does not provide an advantage, but rather, prevents a student’s disability from interfering with his/her ability to demonstrate knowledge.
Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis through a review of the student’s disability documentation (including functional limitations of the disability) and an interactive interview with the student. The determination of testing accommodations may also include a review of the student’s academic history, test-taking skills on various test formats, past testing accommodations, and the use of assistive technology, scribe or reader on tests.
Providing an entire class with extended time on a test does not satisfy a student’s accommodation for extended time on testing. If the class is given 2 hours for a test, a student with an accommodation for time and a half on the exam should receive 3 hours total. Students with an accommodation for double time should receive 4 hours total, and so forth.
Accommodations are not intended to alter fundamental curriculum requirements. There may be instances where a faculty member believes that extended time on testing conflicts with an essential course requirement. In such cases, Student Accessibility Services staff and faculty will deliberate regarding the reasonableness of an accommodation for extended time on testing.
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Extended Time on Testing for Online Courses
Extended time on testing does not provide an advantage, but rather, prevents a student’s disability from interfering with his/her ability to demonstrate knowledge. When approved by Student Accessibility Services as an accommodation, extended time should be provided for any type of test, including online exams and quizzes.
If students in an online course are given 60 minutes for an online test, a student with an accommodation for time and a half on testing should receive 90 minutes total. Students with an accommodation for double time should receive 120 minutes total, and so forth.
Professors should not determine the amount of extended time, but rather, hold to the time stated in the student’s accommodation letter. If the professor believes the amount of time should be adjusted, he/she should contact SAS for discussion.
Only the testing time should be extended and not the window of time given for the students to take an exam. For example, if an instructor has provided students a window of five days (e.g. Monday-Friday) to complete a 60-minute exam, the window of one week does not need to be extended. Rather, extended time will apply only to the length of the 60-minute exam.
Instructors who have access to manually change the students testing time in the online course may do so according to the students’ approved academic accommodation. If assistance is required to adjust the time for an online exam, instructors should contact COLTT (Center for Online Learning and Teaching Technology).
COLTT
Brownsville Campus | Edinburg Campus
Office: Rusteberg 108 | Education (EDUC) 2.202
Submit a Ticket: UTRGV.edu/coltthelp
Phone: (956) 882-6792 | (956) 665-5327
Fax: (956) 882-6751 | (956) 665-5276
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Implementing Accommodations
Faculty should implement only those accommodations which have been approved by Student Accessibility Services (SAS), as indicated in a student’s accommodation letter for the current semester or module
- Accommodation letters are sent to students and faculty who are identified in ASSIST as the instructor of record. On occasions where an instructor is “TBA” (to be announced) in ASSIST, it is the student’s responsibility to provide the letter directly to the instructor in a timely manner.
Although an instructor may want to assist a student by providing an accommodation independent of SAS approval, this is not recommended due to the following reasons.
- Faculty should follow institutional policy and procedures and provide only those accommodations which have been approved through SAS.
- The University has established a clearly articulated procedure for students with disabilities who are seeking accommodations. This process can be found using this link: https://www.utrgv.edu/accessibility/students/new-sas-students/index.htm
- If a student discusses his/her disability with an instructor and/or reviews documentation related to the disability, this can establish the instructor as a “gatekeeper,” even though this may not be intentional.
- Reviewing confidential disability documentation and decision-making regarding accommodations are responsibilities of Student Accessibility Services (SAS), the department designated by the University to provide accommodations to qualified students with disabilities.
- The Office of Civil Rights has been clear: Faculty should not unilaterally deny an accommodation.
- If an instructor is concerned that a specific accommodation may fundamentally alter the academic integrity or nature of the course and should therefore not be implemented, the faculty member should contact Student Accessibility Services as soon as possible so that the concern may be addressed. SAS staff are available to communicate with faculty regarding how the University can meet its obligations under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
As a faculty member, if you are ever unclear about your obligations related to students with disabilities or accommodations, please contact SAS.
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Service Animals
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Service Animals are defined as dogs (or miniature horses in some circumstances) that are “individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability.” The work or task of a Service Animal must be directly related to the person's disability.
When it is not obvious what service or task an animal provides, only limited inquiries are allowed (two questions) by law:
1. Is the animal required because of a disability? (A “Yes” or “No” response is required. Do not ask about the person’s disability).
2. What work or task has the animal been trained to perform?
Where are Service Animals allowed?
Service Animals may accompany persons with disabilities into places that the public normally goes, including buildings on campus unless admitting the Service Animal would be a fundamental alteration to the service or program or if there are environmental hazards or risks.
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Under the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations §36.202, there are two instances where a public entity may exclude a Service Animal:
- The Service Animal is out of control and the handler does not take effective action to control the animal.
- The Service Animal is not housebroken and urinates or defecates inappropriately.
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If a handler is asked to remove a Service Animal due to the animal’s behavior, the unaccompanied handler must be provided the opportunity to obtain goods or services. For example, if the handler is purchasing stamps at a post office or conducting business at a bank, the service or purchase of goods still needs to be allowed once the animal is removed by the handler. Only the animal can be excluded from the premises.
For additional information about Service Animals, please contact Student Accessibility Services:
- Edinburg: 956-665-7005
- Brownsville: 956-882-7374
- ability@utrgv.edu
Please also see the SAS Procedural Guidelines:
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What are accommodations?
Accommodations are academic adjustments arranged by Student Accessibility Services (SAS). They are designed to enable qualified students with a documented disability an equal opportunity to participate in the university experience through equal access in courses, programs, activities or services.
Accommodations ensure that individuals with a disability have rights and privileges equal to students without disabilities. However, they should not require a substantial change in an essential element of the curriculum or substantial change in a program or service. Accommodations may include academic adjustments, auxiliary aids or adaptive technology, or services.
There are no pre-determined accommodations for specific disabilities. Each student is treated as an individual.
SAS thoroughly reviews all information provided by the student, including supporting documentation, and is cognizant of the need to uphold academic requirements when determining accommodations. SAS partners with faculty as needed to help determine the appropriateness of certain accommodations in the context of academic course requirement
Universities must provide equal access to educational programs and services and provide accommodations which have been approved by SAS.
If a student is not registered with SAS but reports a disability, faculty should refer the student to SAS. Unless an accommodation letter is provided by SAS, faculty are advised not to provide accommodations to students. Students registered with SAS will receive an accommodation letter each semester. Faculty with concerns or questions about accommodations are welcome to contact SAS.
Please also see the SAS Procedural Guidelines:
