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Faculty Role & Responsibilities

The Center for Disability & Access is committed to partnering with faculty to provide students with disabilities the opportunity for success and equal access at the University of Utah.  We believe that providing reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities is a shared responsibility.

Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, requires the University to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified students with disabilities.  

Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education

While CDA strives to work collaboratively with Faculty, there are some guidelines that must be followed to protect the confidentiality of the student.

  1. Faculty are not entitled to know the diagnosis of a student and should not ask students to disclose the specifics of their disability.
  2. Documentation related to accommodations (i.e. accommodation forms and memos) must be kept separate from a student's departmental file.

Faculty are not permitted to deny an approved accommodation issued by the Center for Disability & Access without engaging with CDA to discuss their concerns.  CDA may or may not authorize alternative accommodations based on the outcome of this discussion and any additional analysis.

 

Faculty at the University of Utah have:

  • The right to ask for verification from the Center for Disability & Access when the student requests an accommodation in their course or program.
  • The responsibility to inform the student of the procedure to request accommodations.
  • The responsibility to maintain confidentiality about any information disclosed in discussions with the student or their Disabilities Advisor.
  • The right to consult the Center for Disability & Access to discuss requested accommodations.
  • The responsibility to provide accommodations in a timely manner once they have been verified by the Center for Disability & Access.
  • The responsibility to inform students that all course material can be made available in alternative format with prior request.
  • The right and responsibility to identify and determine the abilities, skills and knowledge that are essential and fundamental to academic courses and programs.  (These standards are not subject to modification based upon disability.)
  • The right to expect the student with a disability to meet the same academic standards as peers in the course.

 

The accommodation process includes:

  • Student completes an intake appointment with a Disabilities Advisor in the Center for Disability & Access.
  • Student submits supporting documentation which establishes that a disability exists and what reasonable accommodations are appropriate.
  • The Center for Disability & Access determines approved reasonable accommodations.
  • Faculty receive official notice of accommodations from CDA, typically via the ClockWork 5 Faculty Portal.

ClockWork Faculty Portal

 

If you have any questions about your role in the accommodations process, or have a question regarding a specific student request, please contact CDA.

Last Updated: 8/3/22