Procedures for Students with Life Threatening Disabilities
Occasionally students apply for admission to the University with disabilities of such a serious nature that accommodations must be made by the University to ensure the overall health and welfare of the student while on campus. The following procedures are designed to guide faculty and administrators as they attempt to meet the needs of this group of potential students. Primary care must be taken to ensure that the rights of these students relative to admission to the University are not violated. Disabilities cannot be used to bar students from admission and the University is required to offer auxiliary aids and services. Once it is determined that students are academically admissible, they are invited to contact the Office of Disability Services if services are requested. Students may alternatively have self-disclosed their disabilities to the Office of Disability Services. In cases where the Admissions Office is notified of an applicant with severe disabilities, they will attempt to expedite the admissions process to allow time for planning to accommodate the student. As soon as is practicable, a group of appropriate faculty and staff should be convened by the Vice President Student Services & Enrollment Management to meet with the student to plan for accommodation. Such a group might generally include representatives of the Office of Disability Services, Affirmative Action Office, Public Safety, Student Health Services, Campus Facilities, ADA Council, and the student’s academic department. The group should always include representation from Risk Management and consult with University legal counsel as appropriate. The recommended plan for accommodation of the student, if such emerges from the discussion, should be noted in written form. The group should also recommend a process for monitoring of the success of the plan and for revisions should the student’s condition change. The recommended plan should be submitted to the Vice President Student Services & Enrollment Management.