ADMISSIONS PROCESS

Stetson University does not have a separate admissions process for students with disabilities.  All applicants must meet the admissions criteria as outlined in the University Bulletin. Once admitted, students should contact the ARC to apply for academic accommodations.

HOW TO REQUEST SERVICES

1)   Submit a recent evaluation conducted by a qualified professional that verifies a disability and the need for accommodations. 
-New students are encouraged to send their documentation after they have been accepted and have decided to attend Stetson University. 
-Current students are encouraged to send the documentation as soon as it is available.
Documentation should be mailed, faxed or hand-delivered to the Academic Resources Center, Attention: Karen Cole, 421 N. Woodland Blvd., Unit 8366, DeLand, FL 32723. 
-After documentation is mailed or faxed, please contact the ARC to verify that it has been received and is complete.  The Director of the ARC will review the documentation and consult with other professional staff, as appropriate. 

2) Attend an orientation of services at the ARC and complete the necessary forms.  Protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 is determined on a case-by-case basis. 
In addition, recommendations are based upon documentation of a disability that is substantially limiting to a current major life activity, as well as student input.  Please refer to the LD/ADHD Documentation Guidelines or Physical Disability/Other Health Impairment Documentation Guidelines for specifics.  

3) Sign the “Accommodations Notification Form,” then:
a) set up a meeting with each professor during office hours, available through the course syllabus or department secretary
b) present the accommodation form to your professor to sign
c) discuss the specific accommodations to ensure that they are consistent with the academic standards for each course
d) plan a strategy that will help you throughout the semester (e.g., future meetings with professors to monitor progress).  It is the student’s responsibility to maintain contact with his/her professors and to follow through with the arrangements. 
Please note that accommodations are not retroactive.  The student is eligible for accommodations based upon the date that s/he and the ARC devise the forms.  

4) Once fully registered with the ARC, it is very important that students make an appointment prior to or at the beginning of each semester (within the first three weeks) to request specific accommodations. 
Please note that some accommodations may take several weeks to arrange, so timely documentation of a disability is essential.  Students have the right to refuse any portion or all of the recommended accommodations.  In addition, they do not have to self-identify even after initially deciding to do so.  Students are responsible for maintaining contact with the ARC to update pertinent information, seek assistance for learning strategies, or discuss accommodation issues.

PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS 

It is important for students with disabilities to understand their rights and responsibilities as they transition to college.  Please refer to the following web sites for information about the differences between high school and college disability support.  Please note that since Stetson University is a private university, we fall under Title III of the ADA; public universities fall under Title II, as referenced in this article:
http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/transition.html

http://www.okahead.org/hndbkindex.html. 

http://www.stlcc.cc.mo.us/fv/moahead/guidebook/transition.html.  

http://www.ldonline.org/ld_indepth/transition/college_tips.html

TESTING FOR DISABILITIES

Stetson University does not conduct testing for disabilities. However, we will provide you with a list of local testing specialists. Any costs incurred are the responsibility of the student. 

ACCOMMODATIONS

The ARC recommends reasonable accommodations in accordance with Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), and the University’s academic standards to ensure that there will be no discrimination on the basis of disability. These recommendations are developed through the review of disability documentation and consideration of each student’s needs/strengths and academic program.

An academic accommodation is any change in the policies or procedures of a course/academic program for the purpose of allowing a student with a disability an equal opportunity to learn and demonstrate knowledge. There are two types of academic accommodations: 1) course (e.g., use of a note-taker, tape recorder, preferential seating, etc.) and 2) test (e.g., separate room, extended time, alternate format, etc.).

Other accommodations may include access to facilities (e.g., academic buildings and residential facilities). Please refer to the Service Animal Policy for information about live-in service animals. Please contact the ARC to request a copy of this policy.

Students with Disabilities: Accommodation & Course Substitution Policy

Stetson University’s conception of bachelor degrees (BA, BS, BBA, BM, BME) includes the requirement that students have a broad experience with foundational skills in courses introducing them to the breadth of human knowledge.  All students must be qualified to participate in a  program of academic study with or without reasonable accommodations.  Therefore, students with disabilities are not excused from course prerequisites, GPA requirements, or degree requirements. 

Accommodations.  Requests for accommodations will be coordinated by the Academic Resources Center (ARC) and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.  In most cases, we have found that auxiliary aids have allowed us to offer reasonable accommodations in our required courses.  Our broad range of degree programs also allows students to select degrees that draw on their academic strengths.

Course Substitutions.  Course substitutions in general education or major fields of study are not permitted when a course is deemed essential for a degree requirement.  Furthermore, any student who receives a substitution must fulfill the University’s requirements by completing an alternative course or courses as determined by the Department Chair and Dean. 

The following procedures must be followed if a student with a documented learning disability is seeking a course substitution as part of an approved accommodation plan:

1. The petition process should begin as soon as there is strong objective evidence (e.g., previous documented difficulties) that the student will be unable to fulfill the requirement.

2. The student must provide the Director of the ARC with current, relevant, and comprehensive documentation and assessment data from certified professionals.  This documentation must substantiate a severe disability and its specific impact upon the student’s ability in the specific area of required learning.  Please refer to our documentation guidelines, available from the ARC or on-line at www.stetson.edu/administration/academicresources/guidelines.php.

3. A complete case history is required to document the student’s history of problems in the specific area of learning from high school until the date of the petition.  This case history should include:

a. a personal statement by the student indicating the reasons for the request, including prior experiences with the subject matter; and

b. the names of courses and grades attesting to the student’s efforts and diligence in attempting to master the subject matter in high school, at a community college and/or at a four-year institution.
Upon completion of these steps, the Director of the ARC will review the documentation and consult with the student’s academic Dean, the chair of the department responsible for the requirement, and other professionals, as needed.  A recommendation for approval or denial of a request for substitution will be forwarded by the Director of the ARC to the student’s Dean, who will make the final decision. 

Deadlines for Requests. A student requesting a course substitution must submit all necessary documentation no later than the end of his/her sophomore year in order to allow sufficient time to review the material and update documentation, if necessary.  Thus, if a student plans to request a course substitution, it is in his/her best interest to do so upon enrollment in the university to ensure adequate time to complete the petition process.  A transfer student must submit all documentation by completion of his/her first semester of enrollment.

Please note that accommodations and adjustments are not retroactive.  That is, the student is eligible for disability support services based upon the date that he or she and the ARC Director complete the accommodations form, or the date that an academic adjustment is recommended. 

Appeals. If a student’s request for a substitution is denied, he or she may appeal the decision in writing within seven business days to the Council of Deans, Academic Affairs, Unit 8358.  The student will be notified in a timely manner when the Council completes its review of the appeal.

Approved 9/20/04

Council of Deans

GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

Students with disabilities are responsible for contacting the ARC if reasonable accommodations are not implemented in an effective and timely manner. The ARC will work with University personnel and the students to resolve disagreements regarding recommended accommodations.

-Conflict resolution should be attempted at the lowest level possible. Faculty members and students with disabilities should first consult with the Director of the ARC when accommodation-related concerns arise. If the dispute cannot be resolved at this level, the appropriate grievance procedures should be employed, as outlined in the University Bulletin or Connections Handbook.

-Qualified students with disabilities who believe they have been excluded from participation in, been denied the benefits of, or otherwise have been subjected to discrimination in University employment or program activities should direct such complaints to the ADA/504 Compliance Coordinator for students, Karen Cole (386-822-7127).

REFERENCES
American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV. Washington: American Psychiatric Association.

Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, Public Law 101-336, 42 U.S.C., 12101-12132.

Association on Higher Education and Disability. (1997). Guidelines for documentation of a learning disability in adolescents and adults.

Ellis, Dave. (2000). Becoming A Master Student. St. Charles,IL: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Florida Statutes, Rule 6A-10.041, FjtC.

Hallowell, E.M., & Ratey, J.J. (1994). Answers to Distraction. New York: Bantam Books.

Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, 29 U.S.C. 794.