Below is a list of resources and opportunities for students registered with OAS.
Looking for ways to get involved?
Consider joining our student-led advisory group called OAC, which stands for Openness, Accessibility, and Community. Members meet at least twice a semester to plan and carry out activities with the goal of improving the experience for individuals with disabilities at SUNY Potsdam.
Activities include, but are not limited to:
- Sticker and poster campaigns
- Raising awareness about disability-related issues, including mental health
- Bringing engaging speakers to campus
- Providing focused feedback on accessibility
Active members wear the OAC Graduation Stole to honor their effort and commitment.
To learn more about the group or receive an Outlook invite to our next meeting, please contact Jacob Hammond at hammonjc@potsdam.edu, or visit room 140 in Sisson Hall.
To support an individual student's in-class note taking the Office of Accommodative Services uses assistive technology. Genio is the application which is provided to students who qualify for this accommodation. Students who meet eligibility requirements for Genio will be contacted by the Accommodative Services office with instructions on how to proceed.
If you have a textbook that needs to be converted to a different format please email Jacob Hammond 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 shared with the student in a personalized OneDrive folder.
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.
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.
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 in Accommodate 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 and calculators (unless allowed by the instructor or are part of your accommodations).
- We will be inspecting any test booklets or papers that you bring with you on which you will write the exam.
- Please go to the bathroom before you start your exam when possible. Leaving the exam area during a test is not encouraged and should be kept to a minimum.
- 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 email oas@potsdam.edu.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Accommodative Services at oas@potsdam.edu.