Providing academic accommodations for students with disabilities is a collaborative effort between the student and their instructors. Students are responsible for informing Birmingham-Southern College of their disability and need for academic accommodations and services by providing the Office of Accessibility with the appropriate documentation verifying their disability. The documentation must state a specific diagnosis, describe the history and symptoms of the disability, specify which major life activities are substantially limited by the disability, and recommend accommodations to lessen the negative effects of the disability. Faculty and staff are responsible for supporting and enabling students with disabilities to have access to the same programs and services available to other students.

The Office of Accessibility will provide faculty members with an academic accommodation letter for each student receiving services for which they have been approved to receive. Students are encouraged to follow up with students individually outside of the classroom to discuss their academic accommodation for that specific class and ensure both you and the student understand the accommodation and how it fits best in your course. Some students may not wish to meet regarding their accommodations and may never use them in your course - that is okay and the student's right. However, any student with a documented academic accommodation has the right to use that tool as appropriate during the term.

Academic accommodations are designed to enable students to succeed academically while upholding Birmingham-Southern College's rigorous academic standards. The academic expectations you have set for your course should be the same for all students, including those with disabilities. Academic accommodations may change the manner in which a student participates in the classroom or collects the information (e.g. extra time for testing, reduced distraction testing, note taking assistance, being seated near the front of the classroom, etc.). Academic accommodations are not meant to give an advantage to students with disabilities or alter academic expectations. If you feel an accommodation is not compatible with the structure of your course or alters essential or required components, please contact the Office of Accessibility immediately.

For more information on academic accommodations including examples of academic accommodations, meeting with students with academic accommodations, instructional strategies, and the grievance process, please review the  Academic Accommodation Handbook for Faculty and Staff.

All faculty members should include a statement in their course syllabus to inform students about methods for receiving academic accommodations. The syllabus statement should inform your students that academic accommodations are available for students with disabilities and you are willing to provide these accommodations.

You may use one of the sample statements below in your syllabus:

• If you have a registered academic accommodation with the Office of Accessibility Services, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss these accommodations. If you have a disability but have not contacted the Office of Accessibility Services, please contact them as soon as possible at one of the following email addresses: [email protected] or [email protected]. If you prefer to call the office, the number is (205) 226-7909.
• If you have a documented disability and need academic accommodations in this course, please speak with me privately as soon as possible so I can be prepared to meet your needs. All disabilities must be registered with the Office of Accessibility Services which will provide an academic accommodation letter to me outlining your needs. If you have not already registered with the Office of Accessibility Services, please contact that office as soon as possible at [email protected] or [email protected]. If you prefer to call the office, the number is (205) 226-7909.
• Students who require academic accommodations due to a disability should make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss these accommodations. If you have not established your academic accommodations through the Office of Accessibility Services, but need assistance due to a disability, please contact that office as soon as possible at [email protected] or [email protected]. You may call the office at (205) 226-7909.
• If you are registered for accommodations/ academic adjustments, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss accommodations/ academic adjustments that may be necessary. During this discussion, you are not expected to disclose any details concerning your disability, though you may discuss these details at your discretion. If you have a disability but have not contacted Dr. Sandra Foster, Assistant Director of Accessibility Services at BSC, please call (205) 226-7909 or Olin 210 to initiate the process. You may also contact her at [email protected].

The Office of Accessibility provides proctoring services for students approved for testing accommodations (i.e. extended time for testing, reduced distraction environment testing, oral or tape recorded testing). The Office of Accessibility staff is dedicated to providing an excellent testing experience for students and faculty. 

Instructors are encouraged to provide the approved testing accommodations within the department. However, when this is not possible, the Office of Accessibility is available as an alternative to assist professors who are having difficulties finding space in their department for reduced distraction environment testing, or time in their schedule to proctor extended-time tests for students who receive those accommodations. 

For Faculty:

Work directly with the student(s) to determine an agreed upon test date and time. (Due to the testing accommodation of extended testing time, some students may not be able to take their tests during the normal class time. Students are expected to test at the same time as the class, unless doing so impacts course attendance for another class, or when two final exams with extended time are scheduled on the same day, or the scheduled testing time would fall outside of the Office of Accessibility's operating hours. If a conflict exists, the student must discuss this with their faculty member prior to scheduling a test with the Office of Accessibility.)

• Complete a Test Proctoring Form for each student and each test for which a proctor is needed.
• Students may be scheduled to take tests Monday through Friday, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and ending at 4:30 p.m.
• In order to assure space and a proctor, tests must be scheduled at least one week prior to the date the exam has been scheduled.
• Submit the completed Test Proctoring Form to the Office of Accessibility (#241 Norton Campus Center, Student Development Suite), via fax (205-226-3084), or electronically ([email protected]). 
• Submit the test and all necessary materials (Scantron, Blue Book, Formula Sheets, etc.) no later than 24 hours before the student is scheduled to take the test.
• Tests will be returned to the faculty member per the selected option on the Test Proctoring Form.

For Students:

• Distribute accommodation letters to your faculty members at the beginning of the term or as soon as you are approved for academic accommodations.
• Communicate your need for testing accommodations with faculty members before each test or exam. 

• Collaborate with the faculty member to find a testing time which is agreeable and can be arranged during the testing times provided by the Office of Accessibility (Monday through Friday, beginning at 8:00 a.m. and ending 4:30 p.m.)
• Arrive on time for the testing appointment and be prepared to take the test or exam. 
• Abide by the testing rules and sign the Honor Code testing statement. 

Testing Guidelines

• No backpacks, bags, purses, jackets, cell phones, or smart watches will be allowed in the testing room.
• Tests will begin at the appointed time and students who are late will forfeit the time they missed. 
• If there are questions during the testing time and previous arrangements were not made with the faculty member about how to contact them during the testing period with questions, the student will be given a blank sheet of paper to write out an explanation of the question and reason for the answer given. The paper will be submitted with the test or exam. 

In an effort to provide a fair and secure testing environment, the Office of Accessibility will follow strict testing guidelines and reserves the right to discontinue the test if there is any violation of the testing policy or rules. The faculty member will be made aware of any abnormalities in the testing process immediately.