We are writing to remind you of key Student Disability Services (SDS) accommodation policies and procedures. Attached is an important letter on these matters from Kevin Kregel, Associate Provost for Faculty.

As required by the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, instructors must provide reasonable academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities who present an official SDS letter to the instructor about such accommodations. A list of common accommodations is available here.

Students without an official letter from SDS should be referred to that office for further help.

Student Disability Services
3015 Burge Hall (located in the lower level)
Phone: 319-335-1462
sds-info@uiowa.edu

Please review these key points about procedures and exam proctoring services for students with SDS accommodations.

1. A statement about SDS accommodations must be included on the course syllabus. The statement below is recommended by the College and is included on the official CLAS syllabus insert, available for any instructor to use. Many departments also provide this official insert for instructors.

   Accommodations for Disabilities: Syllabus Statement
   The University of Iowa is committed to providing an educational experience that is accessible to all students. A student may request academic accommodations for a disability (which includes but is not limited to mental health, attention, learning, vision, and physical or health-related conditions). A student seeking academic accommodations should first register with Student Disability Services (SDS) and then meet with the course instructor privately in the instructor's office to make particular arrangements. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between the student, instructor, and SDS. See http://sds.studentlife.uiowa.edu/ for information. 
    

2. Instructors should announce in class at the beginning of each semester the procedures for arranging for official accommodations as approved by SDS. Remind students that they must present the official letter from SDS that outlines the student’s entitled accommodations before accommodations are arranged.
    
3. Accommodations and SDS status should be handled discreetly, keeping in mind the importance of a student’s privacy as required under FERPA. Remind students that because of privacy concerns, you will meet with each student during your office hours rather than before or after class.
    
4. During this private meeting, the accommodations as well as the responsibilities of the student and instructor should be clarified. A student without the SDS letter should be referred to SDS for help.
    
5. Information on notetaking accommodations and how to provide them may be found on this page while attendance related accommodations may be found here. Some students require captioned films and online media while others are allowed to use a calculator. Please see the SDS website for more information.
    
6. Students with accommodations allowing for 100% time or more for exams and/or very specialized services (such as assisted technology, a scribe, or a reader or any accommodation marked by an asterisk*) take proctored exams at the SDS office.  According to the SDS policy, exams during the semester must be scheduled at least 7 days in advance of the exam date while final exams must be scheduled at least 21 days before the exam. SDS must receive exam materials at least 2 business days before the exam or the exam will be cancelled. Other guidelines are on this page. The instructor and student should decide on the date and time of exams as soon as possible, with the instructor submitting this form: Request Form for SDS to Proctor Exams.  Remind students that SDS exam rooms fill quickly.
    
7. Exam Services in the Division of Continuing Education, located downtown on the upper floor of 30 S. Dubuque Street, provides exam proctoring for students needing 50% more time for exams and/or reduced distractions accommodations. A form is available for instructors to use and to fill out during the student’s visit to the office to discuss accommodations; visit this website. Please remember that students may not request this proctoring service themselves; the form must be submitted by the instructor. The instructor must also submit the exam materials in a timely fashion. See the detailed instructions on the page with the form for more information.

We appreciate your attention to these very important matters. As questions arise, please let us know since we are more than happy to discuss these policies and procedures.