Disability Accommodations & Non-Discrimination Policy

Central Methodist University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, age, or federally defined disability/state defined handicap ("disability"). This includes but is not limited to recruitment and admission of students, educational programs, services, activities, financial aid, and scholarship programs. The University complies with all federal and state non-discrimination requirements.

The Law

Students with disabilities are protected from discrimination to ensure they have equal access to all aspects of college life by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

Services for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act states, "No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States…shall, solely by reason of his or her disability, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity received Federal financial assistance…"

Title II of the ADA states, "A public entity shall make reasonable modifications in policies or procedures when the modifications are necessary to avoid discrimination on the basis of disability, unless the public entity can demonstrate that making the modifications would fundamentally alter the nature of the service, program, or activity."

Postsecondary School Provision of Auxiliary Aids

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act states, "A recipient . . . shall take such steps as are necessary to ensure that no handicapped student is denied the benefits of, excluded from participation in, or otherwise subjected to discrimination under the education program or activity operated by the recipient because of the absence of educational auxiliary aids for students with impaired sensory, manual, or speaking skills."

The Title II regulation states, "A public entity shall furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services where necessary to afford an individual with a disability an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy and benefits of, a service, program, or activity conducted by a public entity."

Disability Accommodations

The Center for Learning and Teaching at Central Methodist University is committed to ensuring nondiscrimination and equal access to all programs, services, and activities for qualified students with a disability. The procedures described here are intended to guide and assist faculty, staff, and students in complying with this policy, and in determining what reasonable accommodations must be made for the claimed disability. All materials and information regarding disabilities will be governed by the University's policies regarding privacy.

Student and University Responsibilities

1. It is the responsibility of any student who wishes to claim a disability and seek accommodations to file official documentation confirming the disability. To apply for reasonable accommodations, the student must use the Disability Services management portal to complete the application for disability services.
2. After the staff of The Center for Learning and Teaching responsible for Disability Services have reviewed the application, the staff will contact the student to request further documentation from a healthcare provider or other professional evaluator. Official documentation of the disability must be sent directly from the originating office (e.g. high school, testing center, certified professional center, or physician) directly to the Center for Learning and Teaching. All such official documentation must be for an evaluation dated no more than eighteen (18) months prior to being received by the University. All official documentation which the student wishes to have the University consider in providing a reasonable accommodation for the disability must be included (e.g. Individual Education Plan [IEP] and related materials, 504 Plan, professional diagnosis, and recommendations). Professional diagnosis must include a diagnosis of the student's current disability; the date of the diagnosis; how the diagnosis was reach; the credentials of the professional making the diagnosis; how the student's disability affects a major life activity; and how the disability affects the student's academic performance. The documentation should provide enough information for the student and the University to consider what may be an appropriate academic adjustment. Each student's accommodation(s) will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The University is not responsible for conducting or paying for a new evaluation to document a disability or the need for an academic adjustment.
3. The staff will work with the students to develop reasonable accommodations for the disability only after the application process supported by professional documentation has been received. Under extenuating circumstances, The Director of the Center for Learning and Teaching may approve temporary accommodations while the staff are waiting for adequate documentation. Any information received by the Center for Learning and Teaching will be held in confidence and not released directly or indirectly without the written consent of the student except for the purpose of providing services.
4. At the beginning of each new semester/term, the student who has been approved for disability accommodations must go to the Disability Services management system to choose which of their approved reasonable accommodations they wish to use in each class in which they are enrolled. Students should remember that a new request for an accommodation cannot be applied to a past assignment or exam, so students should select all their approved reasonable accommodations for each class.
5. In addition, to implementing reasonable accommodations for any confirmed disability, students should make full use of the various learning resources available to all students. These include having regular conversations with their instructors and faculty advisor; working with available tutors in the Center for Learning and Teaching and in the Writing Center; and seeking assistance and support from the Center for Learning and Teaching, campus computing, the Office of Student Development, and counseling services.
6. Students should understand that all requests for reasonable accommodations for documented disabilities must be made in advance. Faculty and staff will not be asked to adjust grades or to provide alternative evaluation measures for work that students have already completed prior to the request for reasonable accommodation based on disabilities being made.

Auxiliary Aids of a Long-Term or Permanent Nature

Central Methodist University believes that its mission can best be met by assisting students with disabilities in obtaining auxiliary aids of a long-term or permanent nature from governmental units (such as state vocational rehabilitation agencies) or from private charitable organizations (such as the March of Dimes, etc.). Students with disabilities are expected to exercise initiative in identifying and obtaining auxiliary aids and assistance through every reasonable channel available to them. The primary role of the University in this effort should be informative/supportive of the active self-advocacy on the part of the student. The Director of the Center for Learning and Teaching will serve as a resource in this process. If outside agencies cannot provide the auxiliary aids that the student needs, the University has a responsibility to determine the aid necessary to ensure that the student is not denied the right to participate in a program, benefit, class, or a service because of the absence of an auxiliary aid that would make participation possible. It is the responsibility of the University to provide the auxiliary aid or find a reasonable alternative that will allow the student full participation, unless the request is determined to be unreasonable or will impose undue hardship on the University.

Every attempt will be made to ensure availability of necessary aids at the time the student begins classes. A minimum of four weeks' notice should be given to ensure this result. In any event, the University must have sufficient time to evaluate the request, determine the necessary aid to be provided, and identify sources for obtaining it. Late requests cannot be guaranteed but will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and, when determined necessary, provided as soon as reasonably possible under the circumstances presented.

It is the student's responsibility to keep The Center for Learning and Teaching informed about the need for auxiliary aids such as timely semester-to-semester schedules for the use of an interpreter, ordering large print books and materials, or any other specific needs. If the student does not keep the Center informed, the Center cannot be expected to provide the auxiliary aid determined to be required.

Academic Accommodations

The appropriate academic accommodation(s) must be determined based on the student's individual disability needs. Academic accommodations include modifications to academic requirements, auxiliary aids, and services (for example, extended time for testing, testing in a quiet area or providing notetakers, recording devices, and sign-language interpreters). The University does not have to provide academic accommodations personal attendants, individual prescribed devices, readers for personal use or study, or other devices or services of a personal nature, such as tutoring and typing.

Housing (Residential Life) Accommodations Dates for Application

Housing accommodations include housing, dietary, ESA, etc. Students must apply early for any type of housing accommodation.

New Students (Incoming Freshmen or Transfers)

• Priority Deadline:
  June 1 for fall semester
  November 1 for spring semester
  Late Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis

Returning Students

• Priority Deadline:
  March 1 for fall semester
  November 1 for spring semester
  Late Requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis

Disability Grievance Process

1. Students who are registered with the Center for Learning and Teaching as having documented disabilities and who believe they have been discriminated against on the basis of their disability may file a grievance with the Director of the Center for Learning and Teaching.
2. If the complaint is against the Center for Learning and Teaching, the student may appeal any decisions regarding reasonable accommodations provided by the Center for Learning and Teaching and faculty to the Vice President and Dean of the University.