Accommodative Services
Union College is mandated by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities. Union College is committed to providing individualized support to students based on their unique needs to ensure equitable access to education programs and activities.
Eligibility
Students with a documented disability should proactively contact Accommodative Services in order to request assistance. It is recommended this communication take place prior to the start of the term.
The registration process will require students to complete forms, submit supporting documentation, and meet with our director for an intake meeting. This information will be used to determine eligibility for services and appropriate types of accommodations.
If you initially qualify for and receive services, you may be required, depending on the nature of your disability, to periodically update your verification and accommodations.
If you need additional testing or updated testing, visit your medical professional from home or make an appointment with a local professional.
To be eligible for accommodations at Union College, what criteria do I need to meet?
- You must be officially enrolled at the College
- You must provide the required documentation and participate in the intake process
- You must request your accommodations each term to allow our office to notify your faculty of your accommodations
Your responsibilities as a student with a disability:
- To meet and maintain the College’s academic standards
- To identify yourself to the Accommodative Services Office
- To provide required documentation and meet with the director to discuss your needs
- To maintain compliance with the College’s documentation requirements
- To bear the cost of the evaluation(s) necessary to provide the documentation required by the College
- To request each term via Accommodative Services’ online portal that your faculty notification letters be sent
- To actively participate in the search for accommodation and auxiliary aids
- To communicate with instructors about how accommodations will be implemented in each classroom, preferably during the first two weeks of classes; be advised that some faculty may require different communication periods
- To notify instructors a minimum of 48 hours prior to the intended use of testing accommodations
- To communicate with the Accommodative Services Office should your accommodative needs change or you have a concern
What are the College’s responsibilities to a student with a disability?
- To review documentation, conduct an intake meeting and activate reasonable accommodations in a timely manner (Note: This process can take up to 2 weeks to complete.)
- To provide reasonable accommodations once they are activated (accommodations will not be provided retroactively)
- To request additional documentation if that which is provided is inadequate or outdated (this may result in delayed activation of accommodations)
- To share information regarding a student’s accommodations only with those individuals involved in the assessment and implementation of their accommodations
- To make prudent effort to reasonably accommodate students with disabilities unless unreasonable notice, undue hardship, or fundamental alteration of a program is corroborated
- When feasible, to assist temporarily injured and impaired students although not required by applicable law
- To provide students with information on their rights to file a complaint through the College’s non-discrimination process if accommodations are denied after being implemented
For information regarding required documentation, please review Documentation Requirements & Guidelines
We’re here to help! If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the Office of Accommodative Services:
Laura Galt
Director of Accommodative Services
222 Schaffer Library
P: (518) 388-8785
E-mail: galtl@union.edu