Faculty and Staff Resources

Syllabus Statement

Students with disabilities are legally entitled to request accommodations at any time during the semester. Faculty members are encouraged to help students identify their needs early by including an accommodation statement on their course syllabi.  An accommodation statement may read:

Students with Disabilities

To obtain disability related accommodations, alternate formats and/or auxiliary aids, students with disabilities must contact the Office of Disability Services, Human Services Building, Room 325, or call 936-468-3004, as early as possible in the semester. Once verified, their office will notify the course instructor and outline the accommodation and/or auxiliary aids to be provided. Failure to request services in a timely manner may delay your accommodations.
 

Instructor roles and responsibilities

• Integrate accessibility into the planning process. 
• Provide access for persons with disabilities. 
• Seek guidance from Disability Services to identify resources available for providing access.
• If the disability is clear and you are awaiting official notification of needed accommodations, provide assistance as appears appropriate during the interim.
• Contact Disability Services for clarification when questions arise regarding accommodations. Do not refuse to provide an approved accommodation. A student may register for accommodations at any point during the semester.
• Utilize assistive equipment/technology or modifications that will facilitate effective communication for persons with disabilities.
• Include a statement on each course syllabus that informs students of the necessity to apply through Disability Services should reasonable accommodations be requested.
• Maintain confidentiality. 
• Refer students to Disability Services when appropriate.
• Provide alternative testing accommodations in the department OR provide the alternative testing contract and exam to the Disability Services testing center.

Inquiry about diagnosis is not permitted.

Faculty notification letters are initiated by the student and sent to our office. If your student submits this notification, you should discuss with them how reasonable accommodations will be provided throughout the semester.

The Office of Civil Rights enforces Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (Title II), which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability.  Every school district and nearly every institution of postsecondary education in the United States is subject to Section 504 or Title II.  Entities covered by these civil rights laws have an obligation to comply with legal requirements and to carry out their programs and activities in a manner that does not discriminate on the basis of disability.

Institutions of postsecondary education must provide an appropriate academic adjustment based on students’ disabilities and individual needs when necessary to avoid discrimination.  In providing an academic adjustment, a postsecondary institution does not have to eliminate or lower essential requirements, or make modifications that would result in a fundamental alteration of the programs or activities being offered or impose an undue burden on the institution.

Exam Proctoring

Prior to the first exam: an alternative testing location with minimal distractions should be arranged and agreed upon by the student and instructor. 

Location unavailable in academic department?

The student may reserve one of our testing rooms thought their online AIM student portal.

The testing rooms are monitored by staff through video cameras or by assigned proctors when testing occurs in rooms that are not video monitored. Exams are uploaded through a secure link, only accessible by our office staff.