Policies

Individualized Testing Policy
Students with disabilities may receive test accommodations determined on an individual basis, and are responsible for informing instructors each time they plan on utilizing these accommodations (as verified by the Special Needs Advisor) by:

• Going to the Learning Center as soon as a test is announced to fill out an Individual Test Request Form and schedule the test to be taken in the Learning Center;
• Giving the top copy of this form to the instructor at least one week prior to the test;
• Going to the Learning Center, instead of class, at the time of the test.

Note-taking Assistance Procedure
Students whose documentation warrants note-taking assistance must sign the accommodation agreement at the beginning of each term and meet with the instructor to determine how notes will be obtained.

• The instructor may identify a suitable peer note-taker, and it is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements with the instructor or peer to obtain notes. 
• Carbonless note paper is available through the special needs advisor at no charge. 
• The instructor may provide the student with a copy of his/her notes, which are for the student’s private study only and must be returned to the instructor at the end of the term/class. 
• The instructor may advise the student to use the copy of his/her notes in the Center for Academic Support.

Service Animal Procedure
The Special Needs Advisor will determine the appropriateness of a service animal based on whether a student has a disability and the role of the service animal. To request the presence of a service animal, the student must meet with a Special Needs Advisor.

Alternate Format Procedure
Students who require alternate access to printed material may receive textbooks in alternate format (as determined by the special needs advisor). Students are responsible for:

• Forwarding all relevant textbook information to his/her special needs advisor as soon as it is available.
• Purchasing all books.
• Contacting Recordings for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D) to determine if books are available (800-221-4692).
• When requesting electronic text (etext), the special needs advisor must contact the publisher to determine its availability.
• If the book is not available from the publisher, the special needs advisor will obtain permission from the publisher to scan the book (alternatively, the student will use one of the University’s Kurzweil 3000 software to “read” the book).

Grievance Procedure
The following procedures must be followed by any student with a complaint or grievance:

• The written request for review is to be submitted to the University Compliance Officer, One Cookson Place, Sixth Floor, Providence, RI 02903 or call 401-598-1423. 
• The University Compliance Officer will attempt to facilitate a mutually acceptable accommodation agreement. 
•  If no acceptable agreement can be reached, the request for reconsideration will be forwarded to a committee consisting of the student’s academic dean, the director of the Center for Academic Support, and the director of Payroll and Personnel Services, or any of these individual’s appointees.

Classroom Relocation Policy
Students with limited mobility and/or physical challenges are assisted by having their classrooms moved to an accessible location. Students needing such an accommodation should participate in the priority scheduling process so that accessible classrooms can be arranged. It is the Student’s Responsibility to:

• Provide documentation to verify his/her disability and validate his/her request for relocation of classrooms with the special needs office.
• Participate in priority scheduling.
• Review the class schedule to determine which classes need to be relocated with his/her special needs advisor.
• Immediately inform the special needs advisor of any changes in class schedule or problems with classroom accessibility.

Special Needs Advisor Responsibilities: The Special Needs Advisor will present student's need for relocation of classroom to Student Academic Services, and the respective department will relocate the class to an accessible location.

Documentation and Guidelines
Students requesting services must provide the Center for Academic Support with the required special needs or disability documentation. Download the required guidelines (43K PDF) and chronic disability form (40K PDF).