Rights and Responsibilities

Colleges and universities have an obligation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide qualified students with access to programs and services. Institutions also have an obligation to provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations, under the law.

Faculty

Faculty Responsibilities Include:

  • Upon receiving a faculty notification letter, ensuring approved accommodations are implemented in a timely manner
  • Contacting Student Accessibility & Testing to discuss concerns or questions related to the implementation of accommodations as soon as possible
  • Treating accommodation information as confidential and protecting the privacy of students who receive accommodations

Faculty have the right to:

  • Receive verification of a student’s eligibility for any requested accommodations in the form of a faculty notification letter
  • Maintain academic standards for courses
  • Determine course content and how it will be taught

Students

Students have the right to:

  • Equal access to courses, programs, services, facilities, and activities offered through the University
  • An equal opportunity to learn
  • Reasonable and appropriate accommodations with the goal of diminishing the effect of a disability on academic functioning
  • Appropriate confidentiality

Student Responsibilities Include:

  • Requesting faculty notification letters from Student Accessibility & Testing each semester.
  • Providing reasonable notice to implement accommodations (i.e. it may not be possible to apply accommodations to a test two days after faculty notification letters are requested).
  • Discussing the implementation of accommodations with each of their instructors; if there are concerns or questions, Student Accessibility & Testing (dss@mst.edu) should be contacted as soon as possible.

Student Accessibility and Testing

Student Accessibility and Testing has the right to:

  • Request current, appropriate and comprehensive documentation completed by an appropriate professional that supports a request for reasonable accommodations
  • Select the most appropriate or equally effective accommodation through discussion with the student
  • Refuse an accommodation that imposes a fundamental alteration of a program or activity of the University, poses a direct threat to the health or safety of others, or poses an undue financial or administrative burden on the University

Student Accessibility and Testing Responsibilities Include:

  • Determining reasonable and appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities on an individualized basis, with documentation verification
  • Facilitating accommodations for eligible students
  • Serving as a resource to assist in facilitating access for students with disabilities