Seattle Pacific University can provide academic accommodations for students with disabilities. These accommodations may be available during regular class time and also during tests, mid-term exams, and final exams. Not all students are entitled all these accommodations.
Class-time accommodations
Permission to record lecture or lab
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It is the student’s responsibility to provide their own recording device.
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In some classroom situations, such as nursing classes where specific patients may be discussed (although we understand patients should not be identified), the need for confidentiality may take precedence over this accommodation. When this occurs, the assistant director for DSS may work with the professor to find another accommodation that gives the student access to the material. If there is any concern about the need for confidentiality, the student and/or professor should contact the assistant director for DSS to discuss the situation.
Assignments and handouts in alternative format
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Students may need printed materials in alternative format in order to access the material. Alternative formats may include enlarged print, Braille, or a readable-text digital copy.
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Students should contact their professors during the first two weeks of the quarter if they will need this accommodation.
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Whenever possible, the professor should put the information into the format requested. The DSS office can help transfer materials to other formats as needed. Materials should be brought to the DSS office at least three days in advance for a four- to six-page document. Larger documents will require more advanced notice.
Study guide or lecture outline
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Students with this accommodation should notify their professor to request this accommodation.
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Whenever possible, the professor should give the student a study guide or lecture outline prior to the beginning of each class session in either digital or hard copy, depending on the student’s disability.
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Not all professors use study guides or lecture outlines. When these are not available, the student can request a note-taker instead.
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Test- and exam-taking accommodations
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For testing accommodations, professors may need to identify a location for the student to take the exam.
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The DSS office has limited space for students to take tests, if no other location is available.
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Students taking tests in the DSS office should not be allowed to bring any personal items into the testing room, except as permitted by the professor, or as otherwise permitted.
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If scratch paper is need for the exam, the DSS office proctor should provide it.
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Students are responsible for bringing their own blue book or scantron when needed.
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Any other materials allowed during the exam must be identified by the professor on the Exam Accommodation Form.
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Because students may not have the opportunity to ask clarifying questions of the professor, the student may write a brief explanation of how they understood the question so the professor may have a better understanding of the point of view of the answer.
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Tests should be delivered to the DSS office prior to the exam time, so the student does not have to go to the classroom to get it. This may also help keep the student’s disability confidential.
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It is the student’s responsibility to let the professor and the DSS office know when they will be taking exams in the DSS office.
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Students should sign up with DSS for a test at least one week ahead of time to ensure space is available, and give the Exam Accommodation Form to their professor at least three days before the exam.
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Generally, the test should be taken during the normal class time.
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If the DSS office testing locations are full, then arrangements should be made with the professor’s permission to give the student the exam during another time or at another location.
Extra time on exams
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Extra time does not mean unlimited time.
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For most students, extra time may be one-and-a-half times the normal allotted time.
Quiet location
- Some students with disabilities need a quiet location for exams to reduce distractions.
Readers for exams
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The reader will read only what is written on the exam, and not offer clarification.
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To request a reader during the exam, a student must notify the DSS office at least one week in advance.
Scribes for exams
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Scribes are to write accurately what the student dictates, and are not to offer clarification.
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To request a scribe for the exam, a student must notify the DSS office at least one week in advance.
Computer use for exams
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Some students may need to use a computer due to physical limitations impacting writing or other disabilities. The DSS office has computers available for testing purposes.
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To request the use of a computer for an exam, the student must notify the DSS office at least one week in advance.
Exams in alternative format
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Alternative formats may include oral, multiple choice, or essay exams that differ from the exam given to the rest of the class.
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Documentation should be provided to support the need for an alternative testing format, and this should be discussed with the professor.
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If the professor can demonstrate that the alternative format considerably changes the nature of the course, then the professor has the right to refuse to provide such an accommodation.
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Students should contact DSS as soon as possible if they want to request an alternate format.
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Discussion of changes to alternative formats should begin as soon as possible, but in no event later than the second week of the quarter. Discussions should include the professor, student, and assistant director for DSS.
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Additional accommodations
Assistive listening devices
An assistive listening device works as a personal amplifier. Students who need an assistive listening device can check one out from the DSS office for the needed amount of time.
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It is the student’s responsibility to return the assistive listening device in working condition.
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Professors or speakers will need to wear a lapel microphone that will transmit their voice to the student’s headset.
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Information on how to use the assistive listening device can be obtained from the DSS office.
Absences
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Excessive absences due to a disability may not necessarily be accommodated, and requests for absences from class should be considered on an individual basis.
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The course syllabus should outline expectations and assignments with due dates so the student has notification of expected coursework and can work on assignments well in advance.
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The student should be aware of the potential adverse impact absences may have on learning the material and on course completion.
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If a portion of the grade is dependent on classroom participation or attendance, and the student has — or may have — too many absences, the student should contact the professor to explore what accommodations (if any) might be possible.
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It is the student’s responsibility to obtain any missed lecture notes or other information if not in class.
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The professor may want to work with the student to make reasonable due-date adjustments for assignments with short turn-around time, such as assignments given that day in class and due the following day.
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If at all possible, the student should plan ahead and attempt to address the issue of absences before any absences occur.
Incompletes
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The University’s academic policies regarding withdrawals and incompletes should be followed.
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If a student has gained the major portion of the information disseminated to the class and has failed to complete a final exam, project, or paper due to mitigating circumstances, the professor can choose to give that person an incomplete.
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The assistant director for DSS may act as liaison as needed.
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If the condition is such that it may not be possible to complete the coursework in one year, the assistant director may encourage the student to petition a withdrawal from the course so the student’s GPA will not be penalized by an incomplete becoming an E.
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Dependent upon the student’s financial aid, an incomplete could affect the financial aid for the upcoming quarter or year. Please refer to the Satisfactory Progress Policy [LINK] in the University Undergraduate Catalog for more information on financial aid.
Relocation of classes
Because not all classrooms are wheelchair-accessible, the assistant director for DSS should work with the University’s room scheduler two weeks prior to a new quarter to relocate classes for students who need wheelchair accessibility or who have other mobility difficulties that require a class be relocated. This should help ensure that the student has access to his or her program.
Students who have temporary disabilities that make mobility difficult may also need classes relocated. If a student has special mobility needs, they should contact the assistant director for DSS at least four weeks prior to the start of the quarter to make an accommodation request.
Books in alternative format
It is the student’s responsibility to notify the assistant director for DSS when he or she will need books in alternative format. Requests should be made at least four weeks before a quarter begins to give the DSS office enough time to order materials or assign readings.
Because reading assignments do not always follow the order in the book, readings of textbooks (except when ordered through Recordings for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFBD) or other talking book libraries) will not be started until the DSS office receives a syllabus or reading schedule from the student. Students must give the DSS office a copy of their syllabus in the first week of the quarter (or sooner if possible) to ensure readings are done in the correct sequence. Requests that are made after the quarter begins will start with the readings for the following week. Readings may be slightly behind until the production assistant has time to catch up.
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Audiobooks may be needed for a student to gain access to the reading material. Whenever possible, books may be ordered through Learning Ally or other talking-book libraries. When books are not readily available through those sites, the DSS office may produce the book in house from a hard copy of the book provided by the student.
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Books in Braille may either be borrowed through Braille libraries or translated into Braille at the University. This may also be a needed accommodation for classroom handouts or exams. Students should discuss these needs with their professors. Professors should then send electronic (whenever possible) or hard copies of the materials to the assistant director for DSS at least three days in advance for a four- to six-page document (larger documents will require more advance notice).
Technology accommodations/support
The University recognizes that having accessible computers for doing research, accessing the internet, and writing papers may be crucial to a student’s learning. Please contact DSS for support locating an accessibility tool on a SPU computer. We have access to several accessibility tools and programs and are happy to discuss.
Priority registration
Students may receive priority registration so the DSS office has time to arrange accommodations, such as interpreters or books in alternative format. Priority registration is keyed into the Banner system by the assistant director for DSS. Students should be notified of their registration times every quarter through an email from the registration office. Students may also check their registration time on Banner.
It is the student’s responsibility to make sure no holds are in place that would keep them from registering, and should register as early as possible. If a student does not register early, services and accommodations may be delayed.
Foreign language substitutions
When a student has a disability that impacts the student’s language acquisition, the possibility of a foreign language substitution may be explored. The substitution courses cannot count for another General Education category, and must be taken from the approved list. The procedures for substitution course approvals are included on the Foreign Language Substitution form.
Study abroad programs
Unless required by law, accommodations may not be provided for study abroad programs. However, a student with a disability may still apply to participate in overseas programs.
Participation should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. When a student with a disability cannot participate in an overseas program that is a part of his or her academic program or major requirement, the assistant director for DSS may work with the faculty of the academic program or major to determine if alterations can be made to the program or major that do not substantially alter the program or major.
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