The information on this page is for students who have already registered with Accommodative Services.
With the shift to a combination of in person and online learning, the Office of Accommodative Services has made their process for requesting accommodations fully online.
In order to receive accommodations during the semester, you must re-register with Accommodative Services by completing the semester request for accommodations online form. Once this form is submitted please allow 2-3 business days for our office to process your request and email your confidential accommodation plan to your professor(s). You will be CC’d on the email so that you know when it was sent out.
We will not send out any accommodation plans without your consent. This means letting us know what classes you would like your accommodations in. Let us know as soon as possible if you are struggling with an accommodation. That is the only way we will know if something is not working.
Students who meet eligibility requirements for a notetaker will be contacted by the Accommodative Services office with instructions on how to proceed.
To support an individual student's in-class notetaking the Office of Accommodative Services uses assistive technology. Glean is an Audio Notetaker App and application which is provided to students who qualify for this accommodation. Watch how Glean can help you succeed. Students who meet eligibility requirements for Glean will be contacted by the Accommodative Services office with instructions on how to proceed.
Other available technology devices include an Echo SmartPen or a digital recorder.
If you have a textbook that needs to be converted to a different format please email Jessica Burnett with a copy of your book receipts, class(es) you are requesting the format change in and the name, title and author of the book. All materials will be downloaded into your Kurzweil 3000 account.
Please provide the OAS office with sufficient time to convert your reading assignments. Requests made on Friday for reading assignments that are due on Monday is not sufficient enough time and no guarantee can be made that you will receive your materials within that timeframe.
The ability to record a lecture or create a live transcript will be noted on your accommodation plan. Any student that has qualified for these accommodations will have had to sign and return the agreement on use of recorded, electronic, or other alternatively formatted course material document. You must let your professor know how you will be recording the lectures or creating a live transcript.
Students are expected to schedule their time with consideration given the possibility that they may experience challenges as a consequence of their disability or chronic medical condition and with the knowledge that work for other classes may be due.
Students must use this form to request an extension needed due to a disability or chronic medical condition, and must already have this accommodation type on their record and have already discussed the possibility of needing an extension with their instructor.
A student with this accommodation assigned to their accommodation plan who is unable to meet a paper or assignment deadline as a consequence of a disability or chronic medical condition must first discuss this accommodation with their instructors and make them aware of this accommodation as soon as reasonably practicable. The student may then request a paper or assignment extension by completing the form. If the form is not submitted as soon as is reasonably practicable (and barring exceptional circumstances), the request will be rejected. Please note, this form will be submitted to the OAS office. Once submitted the OAS office will contact the faculty member and review the form together. The OAS office will notify the student of the outcome of the extension.
If the extension is granted, but the student is still unable to meet the deadline, a new extension request must be made.
Extension requests should usually be short, that is, a matter of a one to three day extension. A student who is experiencing a more significant challenges with meeting deadlines or who has multiple classes with deadlines which are difficult to meet, should meet with the office of accommodative services to consider alternative strategies.
Instructors (and OAS) should consider deadline extension requests ONLY when ALL FOUR of the following conditions are met:
- The accommodation is appropriate and reasonable in relation to the student's disability or medical condition, and the particular challenges the student experiences as a consequence of the disability or medical condition.
- The granting of the extension will not fundamentally compromise the critical, fundamental purpose or focus of the assessment task.
- Academic standards are not compromised as a consequence of the extension i.e. the student is able to meet the "essential," "academic," and "technical" standards of the class/program.
- Ordinarily, the student should submit the form at least three business days before the original due date. If the due date is within the next three business days please make direct contact with OAS at oas@potsdam.edu. Please note, the earlier the request is made the better.
Presently, OAS is only able to provide limited space for those students requiring Assistive Technology or have paper based in class tests. Tests provided on Moodle cannot be accommodated through this process.. Instructors are expected to provide accommodations to students who are registered with OAS and discuss logistics with the student on how those accommodations will be implemented.
For all students who have provided the office with documentation of a disability here is the review of the policies and procedures for taking exams and the Accommodative Service Office in Sisson Hall.
- You must fill out an exam scheduling form online (please check back for form) a minimum of 2 days prior to the exam. One week for finals.
*The exam scheduling form will not allow you to schedule an exam 36 hours or less BEFORE your exam. Please make proper arrangements prior to your exam so that you do not miss the time cut off. - Exams must be taken at the same time as the class unless permission is given by the instructor to take the exam at another time.
- You must arrive on time for the exam. If you arrive late you will not be allowed to take the exam and you will need to make other arrangements with your instructor.
- You may not bring any of the following items into the testing area electronic devices of any kind (smart watches, cell phones, laptops, tablets, etc.) coats, backpacks, purses, food and/or drink, calculators (unless allowed by the instructor).
- We will be inspecting any test booklets or papers that you bring with you on which you will write the exam.
- You are not allowed to leave the testing location unaccompanied once you have begun in exam. Please go to the bathroom before you start your exam.
- If you do not complete an exam and have to leave in order to attend another class you may not return to complete the exam unless the Office of Accommodative Services has permission of the instructor prior to starting the exam.
If you have any questions regarding these policies, please contact Jessica Burnett Assistant Director of Student Success Center - Accommodative Services.
Grievance & Complaint Resolution
The Office of Accommodative Services provides academic accommodations for all qualified students who have documented learning, emotional and/or physical disabilities (as defined by Section 504 and the ADA) and have need for accommodations. The evaluation and determination of accommodations is determined by an interactive, individualized process aimed at developing accommodations that are appropriate, reasonable, and effective for each student. It is the student's responsibility to notify the Office of Accommodative Services as early as possible in the event of any problems or unexpected barriers experienced in the obtaining of academic accommodations, services, or access. There may be instances in which a student may have concerns or complaints regarding the process, their eligibility, the determination or facilitation of accommodations and services, and/or believe they have experienced discriminatory harassment.
Students with a disability who consider themselves victims of discrimination and have been unable to arrive at a mutually acceptable resolution through the Accommodative Services Office may file a grievance with the Student Affairs Office.
Informal Grievance Process
If there are concerns about reasonable accommodations or their fulfillment, students are encouraged to first notify the Office of Accommodative Services. We will assist the student in identifying solutions and mediate with the faculty member, department, or program as necessary. Most disability-related issues or complaints about accommodations, services, faculty, and/or programs can be positively resolved at this level.
Formal Grievance Process - ADA Compliance Review and Appeal
If the student is not satisfied with the result of the Informal Process within the Office of Accommodative Services the student may initiate a more formal grievance with the Title IX Coordinator / ADA Compliance Officer. The ADA Compliance Officer shall receive any complaint of alleged discrimination, shall assist the complainant in defining the charge and shall provide the complainant with information regarding the options for filing internal complaints or external complaints through the federal Office of Civil Rights and/or the New York State Division of Human Rights.
Please note that formal complaints must be filed as soon as possible, but in no event later than 10 days after the end of the semester in which the concern arose.
Andrea L. Waters
Title IX Coordinator / ADA Compliance Officer
Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Sisson Hall S224/S246
Email: watersal@potsdam.edu
Phone: (315) 267-2224
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Accommodative Services at oas@potsdam.edu.