Student Accessibility Quick Reference Guide

The mission of St. Lawrence University’s Student Accessibility Services (SAS) is to ensure that all students with disabilities can freely and actively participate in all facets of University life, to coordinate supportive services and programs that enable students with disabilities to reach their educational potential, and to increase the level of awareness among all members of the University so that students with disabilities are able to perform at a level limited only by their abilities, not their disabilities.  The role of SAS is to provide reasonable academic accommodations for students with documented learning, physical, and mental disabilities.  We also support students with temporary disabilities.

Student Responsibilities:

• Self-identify as a student with a disability (SWD) in order to receive academic accommodations
• Provide satisfactory documentation of their disability
• Request reasonable accommodations with respect to the courses, programs, or activities of the University in which they intend to participate
• Notify faculty (in advance) of their accommodations, particularly if they are going to require extended time or an alternate location for an exam           

        *Please note:  students have a right not to be identified/use the accommodations they are eligible to receive

Faculty Responsibilities:

• Maintain confidentiality of records and identities of students with disabilities
• Refer students who indicated that they have a disability to SAS
• Verify that those students who request accommodations have been in contact with SAS by requesting their written Individual Education Accommodation Plans (IEAP)
• Grant the accommodations that are listed in the student’s IEAP
• Maintain all expectations, standards and course objectives once accommodations have been made

In responding to each student as an individual it may be necessary to remember that these students are balancing their needs for privacy and independence with the desire to do their best in your course.  Please include a statement in your syllabus that encourages students to identify as soon as possible. 

For example:

If you have a disability and need accommodations please be sure to contact Student Accessibility Services (315-229-5537) right away so they can help you get the accommodations you require. If you need to use any accommodations in this class, please talk with me early so you can have the best possible experience this semester. Although not required, I would like to know of any accommodations that are needed at least 10 days before a quiz or test, so please see me soon.  For more specific information visit the Student Accessibility Services website: https://www.stlawu.edu/student-accessibility-services

Temporary Disabilities:

Depending on the nature and severity of the temporary disability (including concussions), a student may need to be excused from a number of classes or be provided extensions on exams or assignments while they are recovering.  However, it may reach a point where they are so far behind in the class that they will need to take an incomplete, medically withdraw from, or fail the class.  That decision will need to be made after a conversation between the faculty member and the student to determine whether the work can be made up, and if so, how and on what timeline.  The student is responsible for contacting their professors to agree on a plan to make up any of the work they have missed.  It is their responsibility to ask professors for clarification on deadlines or report to medical professionals any additional or adverse symptoms during their follow-up appointments.

SAS Exam Protocol

When coordinating the delivery of an exam with our office, please use the form located at https://www.stlawu.edu/student-accessibility-services - Exam Information For Faculty, Faculty Exam Proctoring Form,  and be prepared with the following information:

• Student’s name
• Department and course number
• The length of the quiz or exam
  • This is crucial information for us to determine the amount of extended time a student receives. It is likely that professors design their exams to last the duration of the class time.  More specifically, we need to know (in minutes) how long the exam will take out of your designated class time. 

• Method of exam return
  • Via email
  • Campus Mail
  • Student return to professor or mailbox upon completion of exam
  • Pick up in person (by department secretary, professor or student worker)
• Additional information
  • Is the exam an open book? Are notes permissible? Can the student be permitted to use the internet or T-Drive?
  • Your preferred method of being contacted should the student have any questions during the exam (email, office phone, cell phone. We do not text) 

If there is additional information for the student during the exam, please email the proctor at studentaccessibility@stlawu.edu.  All SAS staff has access to this email.  Or call 315-229-5537.

Protecting Academic Integrity:

Our exam proctor closely monitors students for academic integrity throughout the exam.

Students are asked to leave all personal items (including cell phones) with the proctor and are escorted to their individual testing room by the proctor or staff member.  All computers are logged in under a unique account that disables internet access.    The proctor will document any incident that violates the academic integrity of the exam and send a report to the professor.  However, it is the obligation of the faculty member to report the incident to the Academic Honor Council.  

Contact information:

Please feel free to email studentaccessibility@stlawu.edu or one of the SAS staff members with questions or concerns regarding any of the information above.

Sharmela Garcia-Martin, Director           Christine Dufore, Assistant Director    

sgarciamartin@stlawu.edu                     cdufore@stlawu.edu                                 

(315) 229-5533                                              (315) 229-1896