The Office of Accommodative Services can no longer deliver physical exams/quizzes to office mailboxes or individual offices. Exams/quizzes can either be emailed back and/or picked up in Sisson 110. If an exam is not picked up within a few days, it will be emailed to you.
Testing Accommodations
These are the most common testing accommodations you will see on a students confidential accommodation plan.
- Distraction Reduced - An environment outside the usual classroom with minimal interruption and other environmental influences. If the environment/location you have identified is next to a busy office and people within the environment can hear what is going on outside, then this would not be considered low distraction (also think about ringing telephones, pinging emails etc.).
- Test Read - Students who have this accommodation may choose to have their tests read to them using Text aid, a computer generated text to speech software.
- Exam Reader Pen - Some students prefer to stay in the classroom to take their test but need the use of assistive technology to have their tests read to them. An exam reader pen allows the student to highlight the questions directly from their test and listen to their test in the classroom using headphones.
- Computer for essay or short responses - Some students may need the use of a computer to allow them to type their essays. Some students using the computer may also be using a speech to text software.
- Scribe Present - If a paper/pencil "bubble answer sheet" is necessary, the proctor (with the student present) should transfer the student’s answers from the exam to the answer sheet. The proctor should then have the student double check if the answers have been transferred correctly. Student may also use a scribe if they need help keeping information aligned such as setting up a math equation.
- Breaks - Some students may need extra breaks instead of or in addition to extended time. A break provides students with an opportunity to step away from the test/exam to regroup or attend to a disability or medical need, and then to re-engage with the test/exam with no time penalty. Ordinarily this should be for no more than 10% of the total testing time, but some students will have a stopped clock accommodation with a greater allowance specified.
Please remember that your administration of the examination in the class should mirror your administration of the exam for students with disabilities. For example, if you give the entire class an additional 10 minutes to complete the examinations then this time (plus extended time) should be given to the student with a disability.
Can a student be forbidden from recording my lectures?
No, not if it has been approved as an accommodation for the student’s disability to provide meaningful access to the educational experience. The recording of lectures is one of the accommodations specifically mentioned in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The issue of copyright as a concern is referenced within Auxiliary Aids and Services for Postsecondary Students with Disabilities (See Questions Commonly Asked by Postsecondary Schools and Their Students question number 2).
According to the regulations
- Students with disabilities who are unable to take or read notes have the right to record class lectures only for personal study purposes.
- Lectures recorded for personal study may not he shared with other people without the consent of the lecturer.
- Information contained in the audio-recorded lecture is protected under federal copyright laws and may not be published or quoted without the express consent of the lecturer and without giving proper identity and credit to the lecturer.
Instructor's right to privacy / protect copyright
If an instructor objects to the use of a recording device, it is typically because they maintain that their right to privacy of information discussed in the classroom is being violated or because there is a concern about a breach of copyright. The instructor’s right to privacy or concern over copyright does not override the student’s right to accommodation. It is the responsibility of the Office of Accommodative Services to see that the instructor’s concern for privacy and protection of copyright is respected and addressed while still assuring the availability of accommodation for the student. In some instances, instructors are reassured about this through the adoption of an agreement between the instructor and student that details the specific limited use of the recordings and arranges for their disposal when the purpose of the recording has been fulfilled. OAS can assist with the completion and oversight of such an agreement.
Classes involving self-disclosure from students
Occasionally, instructors object to the use of a recording device in classes that involve a great deal of self-disclosure from students as part of the class, fearing that the use of a recording device will inhibit students from freely sharing. The use of a recording device is to replace the student’s note taking ability. If these open discussions are not appropriate subject matter for any student to be taking notes, it would be appropriate to issue a general announcement to the class to request that any students who are using a recording device turn it off.
Students and responsibility
Students must agree to the following statement to be approved for recording lectures/classes:
Recorded Lecture Agreement - Office of Accommodative Services
Students who are registered with Disability Services have the right to record class lectures for study use only.
- Information contained in the audio recorded lecture is protected under federal copyright laws and may not be published or quoted without the consent of the lecturer.
- Audio recorded lectures may not be used in any way against the faculty member, other lecturers or students whose classroom comments are recorded as part of the class activity.
- The student must sign this agreement before lectures can be recorded.
- The instructor will be notified before the first class is recorded that a student may be recording lectures due to his/her disability.
I further understand that the reference to recordings includes any transcript produced from the recording.
*84.44 of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112, amended P.L. 93-156).
I have read and understand the above agreement on audio recorded lectures at SUNY Potsdam and I pledge to abide by the agreement with regard to any lectures I record while enrolled as a student at SUNY Potsdam.
The means of audio-recording
OAS loans smart-pens, digital recorders and smartphone / computer applications (Glean) to students for the purpose of making audio-recordings in a lectures. In addition, there is an increasing number of apps designed for this task. Typically, students for whom this accommodation is granted, are those who have difficulties attending to the lecture content and making cogent written notes at the same time; the audio recording allows the student to 'fill in the gaps' after the lecture or clarify meaning in their written notes.
Regardless of a disability, all students are responsible for fulfilling the essential requirements of courses/programs/degrees, including meeting completion dates for assignments. However, some students have disabilities which can impact their ability to complete assignments by the due date, including, but not limited to, students whose conditions are episodic in nature, conditions that change and result in problematic symptoms, and conditions that require treatment and in some cases hospitalization.
If OAS approves an accommodation request that supports extensions to due dates, the Confidential Accommodation Plan which is attached in an email will note this accommodation. At any time of asking OAS can verify that a student has a disability which may address the legitimacy of an extension request.
Instructors should not compromise or lower essential requirements of the course and are not expected to take on an undue administrative burden. Under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, reasonable accommodations are intended to provide equal access and not necessarily success. When it comes to accommodations involving extensions, we ask that you work with the Office of Accommodative Services to determine a reasonable amount of time and set a new deadline. However, this provision cannot be applied retroactively and is not considered to be reasonable if it would constitute a fundamental alteration of an essential element of the program.
If OAS approves an accommodation request, any accommodations are prospective only; accommodations are not granted retroactively and do not excuse any prior unexcused late assignment submissions or mitigate any consequences from failing to meet deadlines. Any such consideration or provision would be an exception, at the discretion of an instructor.
In general, extensions on assignment due dates may be considered reasonable in an academic setting if the student's disability will have a direct impact upon their ability to devote sufficient time to the assignment or may have unpredictable impact upon the student's ability to complete essential work. OAS will work with you if you have questions about what a reasonable amount of time is given the context of your course. All accommodations must be determined on a case-by-case basis.
OAS reminds students with this accommodation that they have a responsibility to anticipate their need for and request an extension in good time. In addition, students should not plan on the granting of an extension as matter of course and that they should use this accommodation, if available, with care. Students must use the Extension on an Assignment request form to request an extension.
Determining the Reasonableness of an Extension
The ultimate decision regarding extensions and the resulting influence extensions may have on grades is at the discretion of the instructor. OAS encourages instructors to consider the following questions in relation to an extension request:
- What are the essential course requirements?
- Would an extension (or multiple extensions) fundamentally alter the course?
- What does the course description and syllabus indicate regarding late work or completion deadlines?
- Does the fundamental nature of the course rely upon timely completion of assignments as an essential method of learning?
- Does timely completion of assignments constitute a significant component of the learning process?
- To what degree does a student’s failure to submit timely completion of assignments constitute a significant loss of the educational experience for other students in the class
In consultation with OAS, instructors can often offer an extension as a reasonable accommodation or can find reasonable, equivalent options for students to successfully complete essential course requirements without compromising course standards. Where granted, extensions should usually be short, that is, a matter of one to three days. A student who is experiencing a more significant challenges with meeting deadlines or who has multiple classes with deadlines which are difficult to meet, should meet with OAS to consider alternative strategies.
It is essential to consider what has been granted in the past and the selected option should be individually tailored to the impact of the disability, the course requirements, and the instructor’s expectations. If an extension is granted the Office of Accommodative Services will send out via email specific information about the revised due date and time to the student.
Instructors should include the following in the syllabus: an explanation of course goals and objectives, the name of the text and any other materials required of each student, the instructor’s office hours, an explanation of how the grade is to be determined, and an explanation of any additional reading, papers, projects and examination which the instructor expects to give or assign. The advance notice allows students to be able to begin work earlier and be proactive.
Some options that may be considered include
- Provide advance notice of completion deadlines.
- Offer to meet students or check-in with a student who have this accommodation in advance of the due date in an attempt to keep them on track and accountable.
- Offer a certain number of “grace days" to be used proactively throughout the semester.
- Giving an incomplete grade to allow an opportunity to fulfill course requirements by an agreed date.
- Ask student to submit everything completed by the completion deadline with a small extension on what remains to be completed.
- Should an extension not be an option on a particular assignment, consider providing the option of an additional assignment to makeup for points which may have been lost due to the late submission.
- Encourage the student to make use of campus resources such as the Learning and Writing Centers and CAPS.
Please feel free to contact OAS to discuss the granting of extensions in your course or academic program in more detail.
To support an individual student's in-class notetaking the Office of Accommodative Services is making the transition from peer note-takers to Glean an Audio Notetaker App and application. Other available technology devices include an Echo SmartPen or a digital recorder.
In addition, Instructors can: