the quick 411

The Quick 411

We know you are busy and hope you will read all the resources in the Faculty Guide; however, in the meantime, here’s some basic information to get you started.

  1. Syllabus preparation: Include a statement in your syllabus.
  2. First day of class: Announce it.
  3. The Accommodation Letter: Students must bring you an Accommodation Letter before you can accommodate them.
  4. Scheduling/Rescheduling Exams: Students will need you to sign their Exam/Quiz Schedule/Change form during the first week of classes.
  5. Test administration: The Pink Sheet Testing Conditions Form (completed by you) must accompany every exam we administer for you.
  6. Please Don’t: A few reminders.
  7. Please Do: Use us as a resource.

Syllabus Preparation

Include a statement in your syllabus. Students with disabilities must self–identify. To encourage self–identification, it is highly recommended that you include a statement in your syllabus such as: Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act in making reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. If you need disability accommodations in this class, please see me as soon as possible. Please have your accommodation letter from Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi Disability Services (DS) Office with you when you come see me. If you suspect that you may have a disability (physical impairment, learning disability, psychiatric disability, etc.), please contact the Disability Services Office (located in Driftwood 101) at 825.5816.

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First Day of Class

Make an announcement. Whether or not you typically read through your entire syllabus with your class, we suggest you make an oral announcement which:

  1. Encourages self–identification
  2. Directs students with disabilities to meet with you to discuss their accommodation needs
  3. Provides students with information about the Disability Services Office.

Going over a statement such as the sample in item #1 above is adequate; however, also let students know the variety of ways they may deliver their accommodation letter to you (e.g., before or after class, during office hours, your mailbox).

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The Accommodation Letter

Students must bring you an Accommodation Letter before you can accommodate them. Students registered with the DS office will receive an Accommodation Letter to deliver to you which describes in general terms the appropriate academic accommodations for their disability and for your class. Because general terms are used in the letters, it may be necessary to contact the DS office (extension 5816) to determine exactly how to implement the accommodation.

If a student identifies herself or himself as having a disability and has not presented you with a letter, ask, "Do you have your Accommodation Letter from the Disability Services’ office?" If the student does not have a letter, feel free to continue to discuss the concerns with the student; however, make sure the student knows you will need the letter before you can implement any accommodations. Students are required to register with the DS office every semester. If a student says, "I registered last semester," remind the student that they have to register every semester and refer them to our office.

Students who have preregistered with the DS office should have letters by the time classes start. Students who have not preregistered or who have added your class after the preregistration period will receive their letters within 7 business days of notifying our office that they need a letter for your class. If the student states that she or he placed the letter in your box, but you don’t have it, please contact our office to verify that a letter was generated for your class for that student.

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Scheduling/Rescheduling Exams

Students will need you to sign their Exam/Quiz Schedule/Change form during the first week of classes. Students who receive testing accommodations must present you with a form entitled, "Exam/Quiz Schedule/Change" during the first week of classes. They are to complete this form based on the syllabus and list the times and dates of all exams and quizzes. After the student completes the form, they will present it to you. Before signing the form, you will indicate both of the items listed herein:

  1. The amount of time you are allotting in class for each exam or quiz.
  2. How you prefer the exams to be exchanged between you and the DS office. This allows us to begin scheduling proctors to administer the exams. If you can administer the accommodation (e.g., extended time) in an area that is relatively free from distraction, you are welcomed to do so. Contact the DS office for more information regarding this option.

If tests have to be rescheduled, the student will complete an "Exam/Quiz Schedule/Change" form and request your signature. Tests may be rescheduled due to a change in the syllabus. If a student no–shows for an exam, a test may only be rescheduled with your approval. We ask you to use the same decision rules regarding make–up exams for DS students as with any other student. Please consult with our staff for assistance in these matters.

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Test Administration

The "Pink Sheet" Testing Conditions Form (completed by you) must accompany every exam we administer for you. You will complete a brief checklist to accompany every exam that you send to our office for administration. This checklist will let us know exactly what items students may have with them during the exam (e.g., notes, calculator, scratch paper). We will provide 3 "pink sheets" Testing Conditions forms at the beginning of the semester with the faculty Accommodations Letters. If you allow the same items for all your exams, you only need to fill out one, however, if your allowable items change with each exam, we ask that you fill one out for each exam. REMINDER: This form is extremely important. It helps us maintain the integrety of your exam. If you need additional forms, let us know.

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Please Don’t: A Few Reminders

  1. Ask students to disclose their specific disabilities. They may voluntarily do so, but it is a violation of their rights for you to ask them.
  2. Include student names in e–mails that identify them as a student serviced by our office unless you have verification from our staff that the student has given permission for us to communicate with you in this manner.
  3. Tell the students they have unlimited time or as much time as you want on an exam. An accommodation may be extended time [typically 1.5 to 2 times the amount of time allotted in class]. Sometimes the accommodation is not extended time, but rather testing in a reduced distraction environment. Unlimited time is never an accommodation.
  4. Ignore the Accommodation Letters. To do so is a violation of federal law and places the University at great legal risk. Once specific accommodations are approved, only the student has the right to decline them.
  5. Provide additional accommodations for which you have not received documentation from the DS office without talking with the Director, Assistant Director, or an Accommodation Specialist first. Some students may choose to bypass registering with the DS office and attempt to arrange accommodations directly with you. Always refer these students to our office unless it is a modification you plan to offer to every student in your class.

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Please Do

Use us as a resource. Call us or come by anytime you have a question, concern, or suggestion related to a student with a disability or her/his academic accommodations.

At times you may suspect that a student has a disability but the student has not self–identified. Feel free to contact the DS office about ways in which to refer these students to our office. Keep in mind we are also available to speak to your class or campus organization on topics related to individuals with disabilities.

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