Overview
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 Student Disability Services (SDS) Letter of Accommodation (LOA) to the instructor about such accommodations.
Students also have obligations related to accommodations. It is up to the student to provide the official letter of accommodation to the instructor. Accommodations are not granted without this letter and begin only after this letter is provided. Accommodations are not retroactive. Accommodations are only granted if listed in the letter. Many students have more than one accommodation listed on the official letter. For more information about accommodations, see the SDS webpage on accommodations. Students asking for accommodations but without a letter should be referred to SDS.
In some rare cases, accommodations may fundamentally change the nature of the course and its learning objectives. In this situation, it may be better for the student to enroll in a different course. The student must be informed of this as soon as possible. As questions arise about these types of courses and situations, please consult with CLAS Undergraduate Programs, clas-undergrad@uiowa.edu or 319-335-2633, and with SDS.
Please see the Information for Instructors page on the Student Disability Services website for information on how to address requests for accommodations, manage student accommodation requests with the SDS Summary tab using MAUI in ICON, and tips for common accommodations.
The SDS website also has information regarding Instructor Rights and Responsibilities and Student Rights and Responsibilities.
Required syllabus template
All instructors are required to include in their syllabi a statement about accommodating students with disabilities. This statement, provided by the Office of the Provost, affirms the University of Iowa’s commitment to accessible education. It also explains the process students should follow when working with Student Disability Services and instructors to establish and use accommodations. This statement should be used verbatim in all syllabi, and CLAS encourages instructors to discuss the policy in the first week of each course, to help students understand their rights and responsibilities related to accommodations.
More information about required and recommended syllabus content, including the most current phrasing for each required university policy, is provided by the Office of the Provost. Please also see the CLAS syllabus template, which includes all required and recommended university and college policies and is updated annually.
Implementing accommodations in the classroom
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 provide the official Letter of Accommodation (LOA) from SDS that lists the student’s entitled accommodations before accommodations are arranged. This is the student's responsibility. Accommodations begin after the student provides the LOA and are not retroactive. See the SDS website for more information about accommodations.
Accommodations and SDS status should be handled discretely, keeping in mind the importance of a student’s privacy as required under FERPA. Remind students that because of privacy concerns, if a meeting is required by the instructor to discuss accommodations it should occur during office hours rather than before or after class. Please note that information about why accommodations are approved is not included in the letter. A student may reveal the nature of their disability or its cause if the student wishes to do so, but instructors should never inquire about these health issues or ask for details. This is private information and is protected by law.
Faculty and students together should discuss and implement an accommodation plan for the accommodation in the student's official letter.
Students without an official letter from SDS but who are asking for disability-related accommodations should be referred to Student Disability Services for further help.
SDS exam accommodations
The SDS website has information on implementing exam accommodations, including a quick start guide for the Proctored Exams Portal (PEP) if using a campus test center. Please note that exams should be uploaded using the PEP as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours prior to listed exam times.
Deadline Modification and Disability Related Absence and Deadline Modification (DRADM)
Both Deadline Modification and Disability Related Absence and Deadline Modification (DRADM) can be more complicated, and typically require an interactive process to plan how approved accommodations may be met for the individual student in the specific course. Typically this is accomplished through one-on-one discussions with the student. Any agreement between the student and instructor should be documented using the DRADM form and/or by sending a confirmation email.
Please remember all accommodations are prospective and not retroactive. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Student Disability Services at 319-335-1462, sds-info@uiowa.edu, or CLAS Undergraduate Programs at 319-335-2633, clas-undergrad@uiowa.edu.