PROCEDURE FOR STUDENT REQUESTS FOR ACCOMODATIONS IN INSTANCES IN WHICH IT IS DEEMED THAT THE ACCOMODATIONS WOULD RESULT IN A FUNDAMENTAL ALTERATION OF A UNIVERSITY PROGRAM.

It is the Policy of the University to provide students with reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Such reasonable accommodations include but are not limited to academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and other services as reasonably available.  The University is not required to provide accommodations that would fundamentally alter a University program or activity, or which would pose an undue administrative and financial burden (1).

Due to the rigor demanded of University programs, especially coursework intended to prepare students for careers with specific, standardized career requirements, student accommodations may need to be denied or altered. Student accommodations may need to be denied or altered if they would be constitute a fundamental alteration, or necessitate an undue burden, administratively and financially.

The following procedures set forth the procedures under which the University will review requests for reasonable accommodations.

1. SVSU students must self-identify and register with Accessibility Resources and Accommodations (ARA) as a student with a documented disability. Students are strongly encouraged to submit their requests in a timely manner to ensure that ARA is able to develop the accommodations through an interactive process prior to the add drop date (2).
2. ARA will review the student’s requests for accommodation and make decisions regarding the student’s accommodations individually and on a case-by-case basis. ARA will issue Accommodation Letter to the student, which must then be provided, by the student, to the faculty member for review as part of the interactive process.
3. Once the accommodations have been documented in the Accommodation Letter, as soon as practicable, and ideally prior to or during the first week of class, the student must provide their Accommodation Letter to their faculty member(s). It is the sole responsibility of the student to provide their Accommodation Letter to the faculty member.
4. Each faculty member must work directly with the student to plan for the accommodation.
5. If a faculty member determines that an accommodation proposed in the Accommodation Letter, based on an assessment that the accommodation would constitute a fundamental alteration or undue administrative and financial burden, they must inform the student, the relevant department chair, the relevant college dean, and ARA, in writing that the proposed accommodation may pose a fundamental alteration or undue administrative and financial burden.
6. The determination that a proposed accommodation may pose a fundamental alteration or undue administrative and financial burden may trigger a “Consultation.” The student, the faculty member (teaching the course in question), the department chair, the college dean, the provost, or an ARA staff member may call for the Consultation (3).
7. The Consultation will be made with a group of individuals which shall include ARA staff; pertinent staff or faculty, who are trained, experienced, and/or knowledgeable about the course or program in question (the assigned faculty member may not be excluded from the consultation unless they opt out of taking part); and may include academic administrators such as a department chair or program coordinator, when appropriate.
8. The Consultation deliberation will include a review of the specific student’s requests and needs, program/course requirements and available options and alternatives. The Consultation deliberation will result in a finding as to whether providing the requested accommodation would fundamentally alter the course or academic program in question or pose an undue financial and administrative burden. This decision will be made, and the student notified in writing by ARA, with members of the Consultation copied, in a timely manner to ensure that the student will have sufficient time to obtain alternative accommodations (4).
9. The student will be provided an opportunity to discuss the Consultation’s decision with their assigned professor. If they have any further questions, they may ask the Consultation to reconvene and discuss the decision with them at length.

(1) This evaluation considers the nature and cost of the accommodation, the overall financial resources of the University and the impact of the accommodation on the operation of the university.

(2) The interactive process, may, in appropriate circumstances, include a consultation with the relevant academic administrator, faculty member, dean, department chair, or other applicable university employee.  

(3) The relevant department chair or relevant dean are those under whom the course is being offered, not necessarily the home department of the faculty member. The student may choose to accept an alteration or denial on their own accord, thus a Consultation may not be required. The decision to accept an altered or denied accommodation shall be documented in writing. The faculty member should document, via email, that the accommodation was denied and the reasons for the denial. The student has the right to appeal the denial to the designated ADA Coordinator for Students. 

(4) Should the Consultation determine that it must deny an accommodation because it would result in a fundamental alteration or undue financial and administrative burden, then the University will engage the interactive process to determine what, if any, accommodations that would not constitute fundamental alterations or undue financial and administrative burden could be provided to address the student’s needs.