S97-10 TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Legislative History:

At its meeting of May 12, 1997, the Academic Senate approved the following Policy Recommendation presented by Shirley Reekie for the Instruction and Student Affairs Committee.

Supplements: PD 95-04

ACTION BY THE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT:

Awaiting signature 7/30/97.

POLICY RECOMMENDATION ON TESTING

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Whereas: The ad hoc Committee on Testing Accommodations for Students with Disabilities has devoted many hours to consideration of the matter of appropriately accommodating all students; and

Whereas: The technology to identify students with disabilities and our knowledge of disabilities have improved; and

Whereas: The number of students so identified has increased greatly in recent years, without corresponding increase in University resources; and

Whereas: Some faculty have expressed concern that accommodations may be overused and have indicated that more information related to understanding disabilities is desired; and

Whereas: Some students have expressed concern that some faculty are not knowledgeable about the legal and practical considerations concerning this matter; and

Whereas: The Disability Resource Center may not be able to meet students' needs regarding testing in a timely manner; therefore be it

Resolved: That possible new and innovative solutions to these problems should be explored jointly by faculty and the Disability Resource Center; and be it further

Resolved: That the attached policy be implemented immediately.

Testing Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

1. In order that faculty may be well acquainted with their responsibilities when students with disabilities are enrolled in their courses, a Faculty Guide shall be distributed as needed to all faculty, and every year to all new faculty. Both full and part-time faculty shall be included. Funding for this shall be allocated from University allocation to the Disability Resource Center.

2. The Disability Resource Center shall schedule a representative to attend a meeting with each department during Fall, 1997, to answer any questions regarding working with different disability populations, ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements, test accommodations or related matters. The Disability Resource Center and departments are expected to work together to share information about ADA material and disability matters as needed.

3. The Academic Senate of San Jose State University supports the position that adequate funding for the Disability Resource Center shall be considered a University funding priority to keep the University in compliance with ADA. Funding shall be made available from the University to hire additional personnel so that students who need to be tested to determine whether they have a disability may be tested in a timely manner.

4. Departments should include material about students with disabilities in any future workshops on diversity.

5. The University should consider it a priority to identify, and make available, rooms that may be used for testing accommodations.

6. Faculty are encouraged to include the following information (or words to this effect) on each course syllabus:

If you need course adaptations because of a disability, if you have emergency medical information to share with me, or if you need special arrangements in case the building must be evacuated, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible, or see me during office hours.

7. Any disputes regarding accommodations are to be resolved according to PD 95-04.

8. Faculty have the right to request signed verification of a student's disability from the Disability Resource Center.

9. Nothing in this policy shall be construed to imply that faculty must alter the essential elements of the program/curriculum to accommodate students with disabilities.