The mission of the Office of Accommodative Services is to ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to opportunity throughout their engagement in the university’s programs and activities. We work collaboratively with students, faculty and staff to build and sustain partnerships allowing for an inclusive educational experience for individuals with disabilities.
We recognize that each student brings unique aspirations, needs and goals, and we are committed to helping support students in reaching their academic and career ambitions.
All accommodations are determined on an individual basis and can include the following:
- Note-taking via assistive technology (Glean, SmartPen, or digital recorder)
- Text readers/e-text
- Classroom relocation
- Foreign language substitution
- Alternative testing arrangements — extended time and/or distraction-reduced environment, exam readers/scribes, word processor with spellcheck
- Loan of some equipment (Refer to the Assistive Technology webpage)
- Enlarged/alternative format materials
- Priority registration
Accommodative Services makes every effort to ensure access to academic accommodations. The office will assist students requesting non-academic auxiliary aids or services in locating the appropriate campus offices/resources to address the request. Personal care needs are the responsibility of the student.
Remote Participation in Classes
The academic programs at SUNY Potsdam have returned to face-to- face classes, following the disruption of the pandemic. While the colleges maintain a number of classes that are designed to be offered completely online, most classes are designed to be presented face to face and in a traditional classroom setting. Course design in such classes may include, active class discussion/ interactions, group projects, laboratory, or demonstration experiences and other elements that would be difficult to share remotely. Requests for accommodation of remote participation in classes that are designed to be offered in a face- to- face manner are essentially requests for leniency in the attendance policies that would otherwise require students to be physically present in class. Such requests will be reviewed in the same way as requests for attendance leniency.
Differences from High School to College
- Transitioning to College Accommodations
Students' rights and responsibilities change from high school to college. Self-advocacy skills are essential for the transition from high school to college. Students with disabilities are entitled to equal access to the programs at the college as long as it does not compromise the academic integrity of the programs. To view the legal and academic differences from high school to college, refer to the SUNY GCC webpage.
Letters to Parents
- Dear Parent letter from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (PDF)
- Open Letter to Parents - Jane Jarrow (PDF)
Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
The information on the website below, provided by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) in the U. S. Department of Education, explains the rights and responsibilities of students with disabilities who are preparing to attend post-secondary schools. The website also explains the obligations of a post-secondary school to provide academic adjustments, including auxiliary aids and services, to ensure the school does not discriminate on the basis of disability.
Note: Students who have already registered for Accommodative Services can find more information on the Student Hub & Community webpage.
Medical Singles
The medical housing accommodation application is intended for students who are seeking special housing consideration due to disability or medical necessity. The application can be found on the Residence Life "Forms" webpage.
Once a completed application is submitted to Residence Life, it is reviewed by the Medical Housing Committee, which consists of representatives from Accommodative Services, the Counseling Center, Residence Life/Student Affairs, and Student Health Services.
In situations where the accommodation request involves a student’s meal plan (to include seeking a release from living on campus), a representative from PACES will also join the committee.
Emotional Support Animal (ESA)
An “emotional support animal” (or comfort animal) is an animal that provides emotional or other support that ameliorates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person’s disability. Unlike service animals, emotional support animals are not required to be trained to perform work or tasks, and they include species other than dogs.
ESAs are generally not allowed to accompany persons with disabilities in all public areas of SUY Potsdam as a service animal is allowed to do but an ESA may reside in the Residence Halls when it may be necessary to afford the person with a disability an equal opportunity to use and enjoy housing. Students may not have an ESA in their residential hall unless approved by the ESA accommodation application process. The application can be found on the Residence Life "Forms" webpage.
Once a completed application is submitted to Residence Life, it is reviewed by the Medical Housing Committee, which consists of representatives from Accommodative Services, the Counseling Center, Residence Life/Student Affairs, and Student Health Services.
PACES can accommodate most food allergies and intolerances. We are a gluten-friendly and nut-free campus except for our Starbucks facility that serves items containing nuts.
PACES attempts to identify ingredients that may cause adverse reactions for those with food allergies or other intolerances. They strive to educate their food staff on the severity of food allergens and critical points of cross-contamination. Because allergens are present in the environment, there is a potential risk of cross-contamination. If you have a food allergy or intolerance to any of the ingredients prepared or served in our eateries, please keep this in mind when deciding which food items are right for you. We encourage you to advocate for yourself , identify your needs and ask questions of the serving staff. They are there to assist you in making your best food choices.
Our kitchen team can work with you individually to help meet your dietary needs. Ask to meet with PACES to set up dining accommodations.
Contacts
- Pat Gray, Director of Dining Services
graypb@potsdam.edu
(315) 267-3780.
Our campus dietitian is also available to answer questions and help you with safe food choices. Call (315) 267-2381 or email pfotenja@potsdam.edu.
The university provides reasonable academic and other adjustments to support equitable access to education to students who are pregnant or experience a related condition. Students who are seeking accommodations, should contact the Title IX coordinator. They will discuss what resources and accommodations may be available and will help facilitate conversations with the necessary offices or academic departments. Refer to the Pregnancy or Related Conditions webpage for more information.