FAQ

Lewis & Clark College, as a postsecondary institution, is required to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. According to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, facilities, educational and co-curricular programs, campus activities, and employment opportunities must be made accessible to qualified individuals with disabilities. All faculty and instructional staff share the responsibility, in collaboration with the Office of Student Accessibility (OSA), to implement approved accommodations and ensure course content is accessible, in compliance with the ADA and Section 504.

Accommodations are designed to provide equal opportunity, not an advantage, so that students with disabilities can fully participate in and benefit from their educational experience. They help remove barriers that would otherwise prevent equitable access to learning and assessment. Provision of accommodations for documented disabilities is required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. See, www.ada.gov for more information.

Students have accommodations to provide them with equal access and to allow them to fully demonstrate their learning. Accommodations are not intended to alter course objectives or academic standards. Students with disabilities should be graded using the same criteria as other students, based on the quality of their work and their achievement of course outcomes.

Accommodations are tailored to the individual. To learn more about the a types of academic accommodations that may be available, please visit the Accommodations page.

Federal law requires that colleges provide reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. If you have questions or concerns about a specific accommodation, please contact the Office of Student Accessibility. Accommodations must not be unilaterally modified or denied. Until a resolution is reached, faculty must provide the accommodations as outlined in the Accommodations Letter. Do not engage the student in negotiations about accommodations.

The student has requested that our office send you their Accommodations Letter to inform you of their approved accommodations. This letter is issued through a semester request initiated by the student at the beginning of each term. Please see the Important Student Deadlines page for further information. Students are encouraged, but not required, to meet with you to discuss how their accommodations may apply in your course. You may acknowledge receipt of the letter to the student. Students are expected to notify you at least 5–7 days in advance if they intend to use exam accommodations for an upcoming exam.  See, Faculty Rights and Responsibilities for more information.

Did you receive an Accommodations Letter for the student? If not, ask the student if they have met with someone in the Office of Student Accessibility to document their disability and accommodations. If they have not met with anyone, please refer the student to our office.

If you have received a Letter that approves the student for exam accommodations, you may handle the request in one of two ways:

1.  You may provide the accommodation (i.e. stay while the student with extended time takes their exam, relocate the student to your office or conference room near your office, etc.)

2.  Student may request to take the exam in our OSA Testing Center (located under Smith Hall)

• Students submit their exam request through Accommodate at least 5–7 days before the scheduled exam. This deadline is 2-3 weeks before final exams.

• Late Exam Requests: Exam proctoring requests must be submitted by 12:00 p.m. (noon) at least 48 business hours before the exam (e.g., by Thursday at noon for a Monday exam and by Friday for a Tuesday exam). Requests submitted after the deadline will not be approved, and students will be expected to take the exam with the class without accommodations.

OSA communicates testing procedures to students via the website and direct outreach. Faculty are encouraged to check in with students early in the semester to confirm plans for using exam accommodations.

 Please contact the exam coordinator, Carolin Thompson, for more information about exam logistics (x7192, access@lclark.edu).

OSA does not provide exam accommodations unless the student has been approved through our office. Students experiencing difficulty during exams are encouraged to meet with OSA to explore potential strategies, referrals, and the documentation process if a disability is suspected.

Information a student shares about their disability is confidential and protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Avoid discussing disability-related matters publicly or in the presence of others. All disability-related materials, including the Accommodations Letter, must be treated as confidential and shared only with college personnel who have a legitimate educational interest. Consult with the Office of Student Accessibility if you have questions regarding student confidentiality.

Universal Design for Instruction (UDI) promotes inclusive teaching strategies that benefit all learners. Learn more by visiting the Universal Design Resources page.

The Office of Student Accessibility does not proctor exams for students who miss an exam due to temporary illness. However, we assist students whose medical conditions significantly impact academic functioning over time. Faculty are encouraged to contact our office if they are unsure whether a situation may qualify for accommodations.

Please note: Lewis & Clark College does not have a general testing center for faculty-administered exams. Faculty are responsible for proctoring their own makeup exams.

We encourage faculty to exercise their own judgment regarding rescheduling exams, making up missed class time, and accepting late work, and to develop processes that apply equally to all students in their class. Students are under no obligation to share confidential medical information with faculty, and the Health Center does not provide doctors’ notes for short-term illness/injury. Please see our guidance for students on how to communicate with faculty about short-term illness/injury/emergency for more information.