Faculty Rights
Disability law does not alter a faculty member's right to:
- Determine the curricula and assignments for courses.
- Maintain consistent standards when evaluating student performance.
- Expect that all students adhere to the Student Conduct Code.
- Question accommodations that may jeopardize the academic standards or integrity of a course.
Faculty Responsibilities
In keeping with the university's policy, faculty should:
- Provide accommodations to students who have been found eligible through DSS. Faculty are notified about approved accommodations by email from DSS. Students who request accommodation from faculty, but an email of accommodations has not been received, should be promptly referred to DSS. To assure that all students are treated equally, it is important that students claiming a disability are evaluated by DSS.
- Protect the privacy of students with disabilities whenever possible.
- Students with disabilities should not be actively identified in the classroom.
- DSS encourages students to discuss their need for accommodation with their faculty, but they are not required to discuss their disability with faculty, even in private.
- Information pertaining to disabilities is deemed privileged information. DSS alone must review pertinent records. Before providing information about a student's disability to faculty, DSS must have the student's written permission, unless there is an emergency.
- Provide approved accommodation in a consistent and timely manner. To comply with laws and regulations, it is important that approved accommodations be provided without interruption. Before any changes are introduced, DSS must concur that the changes are needed and appropriate.
- Grade students based on their performance with accommodation; i.e. students cannot be penalized for using accommodation.