Academic Accommodations

The purpose of academic accommodations is to give students with disabilities equal access to the learning environment. Accommodations level the playing field and give all students the opportunity to learn. Accommodations are not designed to provide an unfair advantage or to ensure success. Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the specific disability-related barriers that a student experiences.

Students with disabilities are held to the same academic and behavioral standards as other students. Workload and academic expectations should not be lowered in the process of accommodation.

Commonly recommended accommodations are explained below; however, the list is not exhaustive. There are times when a more individualized accommodation is justified.

Exam Accommodation

Educational support services (ESS) approves specific testing accommodations for students whose disability impairs their ability to demonstrate mastery of their courses on exams/tests. Once approved, accommodated exams can be administered by the professor or by ESS. Accommodations are not retroactive. Exams taken without accommodations cannot be retaken with accommodations to raise the grade.

Exam accommodations can include but are not limited to: extended time, testing in an environment with reduced distractions and the use of assistive technology during exams.

Examples of accommodations that may be considered unreasonable include, but are not limited to: transportation around campus, unlimited time on testing, ability to retake a test after it has been graded, individual tutoring and a decrease in the amount of work required in a class.

Notetaking and Lecture Recording

Students whose disability impairs their ability to take comprehensive notes during lectures are provided with access to assistive notetaking devices (e.g., Smart Pen, digital recorder) or permission to use personal technology (e.g., cellphone, laptop) during class.

Modified Attendance

Students whose health is stable but who still experience periodic, unpredictable flare-ups that may prevent them from attending classes may be approved for modified attendance. This accommodation does not mean that unlimited absences are permitted. Students and faculty meet at the start of the term to discuss the individual attendance agreement. The number of absences permitted are determined on a case-by-case basis and must not create a fundamental alteration of the course. It is the student's responsibility to obtain the material and notes from missed classes from classmates.

Accessible Textbooks

Students with visual impairments or learning disabilities may require print material converted to an accessible medium, such as braille, HTML or an electronic format. Because alternative text production is a time-consuming process, students should request materials as soon as they register for classes.

Communication Access Services

Services provided for students who are deaf or hard of hearing include captioned video presentations, real-time captioning and sign language interpreters.

Accommodations are determined based on the functional limitations of a student's disability. The above list is not comprehensive, and students needing accommodations not listed above should contact ess@whitworth.edu to discuss their specific situation.