Faculty Guide to Accommodations

Testing Services provides a testing space for students who have alternative testing as an approved accommodation. Students may opt to test in the general classroom on any given test date.

Students are required to schedule their tests with Testing Services at least 3 business days in advance and 10 business days for finals. 

Students need to test at the same time as students are testing in the classroom. Exceptions apply ONLY when extended testing time overlaps with other classes OR testing in the classroom occurs outside of Testing Services hours.  Students who have back to back classes are expected to communicate testing time conflicts with their faculty member in a timely fashion.

myDS Video Tutorials

• How to Submit an Alternative Testing Agreement
• How to Edit or Copy an Alternative Testing Agreement
• How to View If and For When Students have Scheduled Testing
• How to Upload Exams, Quizzes and Finals

Procedures for Faculty:

• Before students can schedule tests in the myDS system, they must have notified their faculty of their alternative testing accommodation via the Faculty Notification Letter (FNL).
• Faculty receive the FNL in their email. They can also view the students' letters in the myDS faculty portal.
• After a faculty member receives a request for alternative testing, they must submit a digital Alternative Testing Agreement (proctoring procedures) for their class.
• Faculty can choose to submit the Alternative Testing Agreement (ATA) through the link in the FNL or the myDS faculty portal.
• One Agreement is required each quarter per class per section. Agreements automatically copy to other students who have alternative testing for that class and section.
• Students are instructed to review the faculty's ATA prior to scheduling tests.
• Testing Services only approves students' schedule requests when the date and time matches the faculty's ATA OR we have written notification from the faculty of permission for an exception.
• Testing Services will reach out to faculty for clarification when there is a discrepancy between the requested date and time and the faculty's ATA.  
• If faculty observe a test time and date schedule request has been approved in error, please reach out to Testing Services as soon as possible. 
• When testing dates, time or other key test information changes, faculty need to update their ATA's.  
• Faculty can upload their tests securely to the myDS faculty portal. Tests may also be emailed to testingcenter@seattleu.edu  or delivered to Disability Services. Please be sure to include the faculty name, course  and section on testing materials. 
• Faculty need to submit their tests 24 hours in advance of the scheduled testing time. Students scheduled dates and times of testing can be viewed in the Alternative Testing tab of the myDS faculty portal.
• For timed Canvas exams, quizzes, and finals, faculty must manually add time for students who have extended time on exams as an approved accommodation. Canvas has posted instructions for how to add time to individual student exams. Additional instructions are available on the Disability Accommodations in Canvas page.

Disabilities Services can loan FM listening systems, Livescribe Pens, and audio note taking software to students who have a documented need for them on a short term basis until the student obtains their own equipment.

Before borrowing equipment, the student will meet with Disability Services Staff to determine the type of equipment needed and to discuss its use and care.

When checking out a device, the student will be asked to sign an "Items on Loan" and "Recorded Lecture Agreement" forms at Disability Services. Borrowed equipment must be returned in working order at the end of the quarter. Students are responsible for any damage due to improper use of the equipment.

In some situations equipment can be borrowed for additional quarters per approval from Disability Services.

Students with a disability may qualify for early registration based on the criteria listed below:

• The student has a documented disability that requires room changes and/or physical accommodations.
• The student will be using tape recorded and/or other materials that will require extra time to prepare.
• The student will be using a sign language interpreter.

All students with early registration will receive an appointment time and date from the Registrar via SUOnline. Early Registration typically occurs on the first or second day that registration opens to students. If this does not occur please contact the Registar.

Students whose disabilities have a significant documented effect on learning a foreign language may request approval for an alternative option that satisfies the foreign language requirement. Substitution of global history and culture classes for the usual language sequence are the most common alternatives approved. Upon approval, Disability Services Staff will send a letter to the Registrar’s Office explaining the language substitution accommodation.

To request a substitution, the student must meet with their academic advisor and complete a “Petition for Exception to Policy” form. Copies of this form are available at Disability Services.

Disability Services will create a Foreign Language Substitution (FLS) list each quarter.

• FLS AY 21-22 RQ21-SQ22

Some students may be granted permission to audio record class lectures as an accommodation. Students with this accommodation may use their own recording device or check one out temporarily at Disability Services. Students planning on audio recording class lectures are encouraged to communicate this with their faculty prior to recording.

Disability Services can arrange with the Registrar’s Office and/or Facilities to change the location of a class or to provide accessible classroom furniture for students who have a documented need.

To ensure enrollment in courses which accommodate a student's need for a specific class time, location, or accessible classroom furniture the student may be approved for early registration. Students should contact a Disability Services staff member after registering for their courses, minimally 2-3 weeks prior to the start of the quarter, to begin this process.

Students who have a documented need can arrange to take fewer than 12 credits per quarter (normally considered a part-time credit load), while maintaining their full-time status for financial aid purposes.

Full-time equivalency must be requested each quarter using the Faculty Notification Letter (FNL). After the request is received, a Disability Services staff member will notify the Financial Aid and Registrar’s Offices of the need and specify the amount of reduction for the requested quarter.  

The student needs to understand that the amount of some kinds of financial aid varies in proportion to the credit load of the student. Therefore, since 10 credit hours is considered to be 3/4 of a full load (or 1/4 less than a full load), some portions of the aid package may be reduced by 1/4. For details on the specific financial aid effects of reducing course load, the student needs to consult with a financial aid counselor. 

Students who have a documented need for access to shared notes may choose to arrange their own note sharing with a classmate or ask Disability Services to arrange a volunteer on their behalf.  

If the student receiving shared notes is absent for three or more classes, Disability Services will assume that the student has dropped the class and services will be discontinued. To discuss the reinstatement of services, the student must meet with a Disability Services staff member. 

Staff Arrange

The Disability Services Staff can arrange peer note takers to share their class notes with a student. To request this service, the student indicate that they need a note taker via the Faculty Notification Letter (FNL). Requests which include staff arrange notes should be submitted 2-3 weeks prior to the start of the quarter. Switching sections or making other schedule changes may cause delays service. Students should inform Disability Services immediately when such changes arise.

To request shared notes, Disability Services staff will email the class roster to obtain a peer volunteer. Should no volunteer come forward after two emails, the professor will be asked to make a confidential announcement in-class that a note taker is still needed.

Once a note taker has been assigned, the student and volunteer note taker will be given directions regarding how to upload and download lecture notes to myDS.

Arrange Own

A student may choose to find their own volunteer note taker. To request this service, the student indicate that they need a note taker via the Faculty Notification Letter (FNL) and contacting the Media and Technology Coordinator. Once a volunteer has been arranged, the student receiving shared notes may ask to have the note taker's Seattle University ID added to the Disability Services printing account. The volunteer will need to sign a confidentiality agreement at Disability Services Office.

Interpreters or Captioners are provided for students with disabilities who require them in order to have effective access to classes. Technological alternatives may also be used when they provide effective access. Students should read the following procedures for interpreting and captioning services:

• Students will participate in early registration and send their Faculty Notification Letter (FNL) as soon as possible. Switching sections or making other schedule changes may cause delays services.
• Disability Services makes the decisions regarding the employment of interpreters and captioners. This decision incorporates the student’s needs and preferences. It is important that the students give immediate feedback to Disability Services Staff as the interpreter’s continued employment is contingent on satisfaction among all parties.
• All requests for additional interpreter service (e.g. events outside of normal class times) require at least 3 week’s notification.
• The student should discuss specific expectations and needs with the interpreter or captioner.
• Any concerns or problems students have with an interpreter should be brought to the attention of Disability Services Staff. Every reasonable effort will be made to resolve the situation in a fair and timely manner.
• Students must provide the interpreter and Disability Services a minimum of 24 hours notice of any expected absence. If an illness or emergency prohibits the student from giving the interpreter timely notice, the student must notify Disability Services (DS@seattleu.edu or 206-296-5740) as soon as possible.
• If the student has not arrived by 15 minutes after a class session or event is scheduled to begin, the interpreter will leave and the student will be considered absent.
• After three absences by a student during the quarter, Disability Services will assume that the student has dropped the class and services will be discontinued. To discuss the reinstatement of services, the student must meet with one of the Directors of Disability Services.
• Interpreters are professionals working under a code of ethics. Students must respect this professional position. 

Books and other required reading materials are provided in accessible formats to students who have documented visual limitations, learning disability, or other barriers that affect the reading of printed materials. 

1. The student will register for classes during the early registration period and work with the Media and Access Technology Coordinator to obtain a reading schedule/list as soon as possible.
2. Once the student has registered for courses, the student should look up the required texts for each class from the Seattle University (SU) bookstore website.  
3. When the required texts are offered in accessible format, the student may purchase the texts directly from the SU bookstore or outside vendor, and the student will no longer need to submit an “Electronic Book Request.”  

NOTE: The Media and Access Technology Coordinator will not process “Electronic Book Requests” for books in accessible format that are available for purchase in digital format from the SU bookstore or outside vendor. However, the Media and Access Technology Coordinator will work publishers in obtaining an accessible format or permission to copy when the book is not available in accessible format.

When the required text is not offered in an accessible format, the student will continue with the following procedures:  

1. The student will submit a request on the “Electronic Book Request Form” from the Disability Services webpage.  Request must include the title of the text, author, publication date and ISBN number. The student should submit this information as early as possible. Requests will be filled within two weeks of submitting requests. 
2. The student will be notified by email when the text is ready. Before Disability Services will release the book to the student. 
   
3. The “Accessible Course Materials Agreement” form will be signed by the student. 
4. The student must provide proof of purchase for the books they’ve requested. The student may submit their receipts via email to AccessibleText@seattleu.edu. 
5. Students who use electronic books may need a “text-to-speech” software program in order to listen to their textbooks. The cheapest ones can be downloaded from the internet for free. Students may need to meet with the Media and Access Technology Coordinator to become familiar with how to use the software.
6. The student will inform the Media and Access Technology Coordinator of any changes in course materials. 
7. Issues might arise if assignment changes or additions are made with short notice. The student will discuss such issues with professors and convey updated information to Disability Services. 
8. The student will work with the instructor to ensure materials such as instructor class handouts are forwarded to Disability Services to be converted into alternative format  as soon as they are available. 
   
   If there is a problem with this process, the student should notify the Media and Access Technology Coordinator (206) 398-4116 or osorioevonne@seattleu.edu.