Access Services assists any Minot State University student with a disability requesting academic accommodations. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines an individual with a disability as someone who:
- “has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities,
- has a history record of such an impairment (such as cancer that is in remission), or
- is perceived by others as having such an impairment (such as a person who has scars from a severe burn).”
The main factor in determining reasonable accommodation is whether the proposed accommodation is fundamental alteration. In post-secondary education, a student with a disability is required to learn the same content as their peers without a disability. A student may choose to demonstrate the knowledge with or without accommodations, but they cannot be exempt from learning any content.
No, accommodations are about mitigating the effects of an individual’s disability to make the learning environment as equitable as possible. Accommodations are about access, not academic advantage.
Accommodations are determined by the Access Services Coordinator based upon the needs of the student with the documented disability to provide an equitable education. Fairness to others is not considered because accommodations only consider the individual’s disability, which isn’t based on fairness.
No, students can apply for accommodations at any point in the semester.
Students are not required to meet with their faculty to have their accommodations. However, students are encouraged to talk with their faculty about their accommodations if they feel comfortable doing that. Certain accommodations may require the student to set up a meeting for facilitation of the accommodation, such as the note card accommodation.
Although faculty can’t require students to meet regarding accommodations, the faculty should communicate about the best way to facilitate accommodations. For example, if a student has alternative testing accommodations and the faculty teaches right after so there isn’t time to proctor the students extended time, you could send the following email or have a conversation with the student away from the rest of the class.
“I received your accommodation letter from Access Services. I’m happy to have you in class! Can you please schedule all assessments for the semester with Access Services?
In college, students with disabilities are at varying levels of accepting their diagnosis. Some students have been receiving accommodations since kindergarten while others are just discovering their disability. In addition, individuals with disabilities come from different backgrounds that both positively and negatively shape their view of their disability. For these reasons, it’s important to approach this topic with care and sensitivity. Access Services' recommendation is to mention it as a resource. For example, if a student indicates an ADHD diagnosis, ask if the student has researched accommodations available through Access Services in the same way you would mention any of the other campus resources.
Sometimes a student doesn’t mention a disability, but students may mention symptoms of a disability rather than a diagnosis. Phrases such as “I have trouble focusing in class” or “I just get so nervous during exams” should be an indicator to refer the student to Access Services.
A referral can be made through Starfish. Upon making a referral, students will receive information on how to apply for accommodations. To make a Starfish referral, follow these instructions.
No, the details of the disability to provide accommodation. Each accommodation on the faculty notification has a description. If you have a questions, please contact Access Services at access.services@minotstateu.edu.
Under academic freedom, faculty can assist students as they see fit if it does not alter any of the educational content. However, the student should be encouraged to contact Access Services to see if the accommodation can be formally approved so that this support can continue in future classes.
No, students’ needs change throughout the semester and they may request changes to their accommodation letter. These changes become active once the letter has been sent to you.
Access Service provides an electronic text to qualifying students who have already purchased a physical copy of the textbook. Please be aware that if exams are open-book, students with electronic texts may have access to the ctrl +F feature which allows them to quickly search for keywords. If this feature is prohibited, make sure that expectation is clearly communicated with both the student and the proctor.
The instructions are listed on the Faculty Notification letter. For further support with Blackboard accommodations, please contact the Office of Instructional Technology For further support with Blackboard accommodations, please contact the Office of Instructional Technology.
Assessments must be provided in a Microsoft Word Document.
Access Services reserves the right to cancel assessments when students arrive late. In these cases, students will be referred to their faculty for next steps.
If students miss the scheduling deadline of 96 (4 days) hours in advance, the faculty will choose one of three plausible scenarios:
- The student will schedule on the soonest possible date with Access Services with instructor permission.
- Department faculty or staff can proctor the assessment with accommodations.
- The student will take the assessment with the class without accommodations.
Accommodations are not approved based on others. Only the needs of the individual with the disability are considered. If you are concerned about maintaining the student's privacy with this accommodation, you may ask the student to set up assessments with Access Services.
North Dakota is a one-party consent state regarding audio recording, and that one-party can be the person recording. That means that any student with or without accommodations can record at any time.
Service animals are dogs that assist individuals with tasks related to a disability. The Americans with Disabilities Act protects the right of service animals to accompany their handlers without prior accommodations. Two questions can be asked to distinguish a service animal:
Is this animal needed due to a disability?
What task does this animal perform related to disability?
Employees cannot ask the dog to perform the task. The animal must be leashed, under the control of the handler at all times unless it interferes with the animal’s task. Before denying access to the service animal, communicate with Access Services.
The animal may be removed by Campus Security if the animal is unleashed or poses a direct threat to other people. To make reports to Campus Security call 701-500-2423.
Students may also have emotion support animals. These animals provide comfort for a person with a disability but does not perform a specialized task related to the disability. Prior accommodation through Access Services is required for students to have emotional support animals in academic spaces.
As an instructor you are highly encouraged to contact Access Services to address your concerns. Access Services is tasked with providing reasonable accommodations and instructors cannot deny accommodations without first talking to Access Services. Please do not tell the student the accommodation isn’t allowable, without first discussing it with Access Services. If a liaison is needed, Access Services will involve the Director of the Academic Support Center and the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
