Faculty
Faculty members play a critical role in helping students with disabilities succeed in college. If you are unsure about how to approach a situation, it is best to seek counsel from your department chair or the Office of Disability Resources.
Faculty members may:
- Discuss adjustment plans in a private location with identified students in their classes.
- Check on the validity of a student’s registration for services by contacting the Office of Disability Resources.
- Consult with both the staff of the Office of Disability Resources and the student in determining appropriate academic adjustments.
- Help students whom they suspect have a learning disability by suggesting that the student seek support from the appropriate campus service providers.
Faculty members may not:
- Violate student privacy. Faculty members should not single out students in class or mention any academic adjustment to them in front of their peers. These actions breach privacy.
- Receive or review a student’s documentation of a disability unless given written consent by the student. Likewise, faculty members cannot request information about the student’s disability from the campus service providers.
- Allow the right to academic freedom to affect the types of adjustments permitted in the classroom.
- Refuse a request for an academic adjustment. If an issue arises, such as a safety issue, the faculty member should contact the Office of Disability Resources to discuss the adjustment request.
- Ask the student if they have a learning disability, if the student is experiencing difficulty in class. The faculty member can suggest that the student seek support services and direct them to schedule a meeting with the Office of Disability Resources by emailing ODR@purchase.edu.