It is critically important that students understand and familiarize themselves with both their rights and responsibilities relating to their disability in an academic setting. All SVSU students with disabilities are entitled to the same rights, privileges and opportunities as any other student on our campus. These individuals are protected by federal, state and collegiate laws affording them the opportunity to enter a post-secondary setting for further education. Likewise, these self-identifying students who request accommodations have a responsibility to identify, educate, advocate, plan, and work on transitioning and accommodation implementation. For help with this transition and implementation, please contact the Office of Accessibility Resources and Accommodations (ARA).
Students have the right to have equal access to courses, programs, services, jobs, activities and facilities available through Saginaw Valley State University.
Students have the right to have reasonable, appropriate and effective accommodations, academic adjustments and/or auxiliary aids as determined on an individual basis.
Students have the right to appropriate confidentiality of all information pertaining to their disability. They have the right to not disclose their disability information with anyone except if there is a threat to an individual’s safety, an emergency or otherwise as required by law.
Students have the right to receive University information in accessible formats.
Students should understand that it is their responsibility to consult with their faculty members at the start of each term and provide the faculty members with their Faculty Notification Letter found via AIMS. This will ensure that the faculty member understands the student’s accommodation needs.
Each semester, students are responsible for scheduling an appointment with an ARA Representative, to review and renew their accommodations or to request services and discuss any additional accommodation(s) needed, such as special equipment or books.
It is the student’s responsibility to remain updated on the policies and procedures of Saginaw Valley State University and ARA. This includes the process to withdraw from courses, the advisement and registration process, financial aid eligibility, student code of conduct and so on.
Students must understand that accommodations cannot compromise the academic integrity of a course. Each student must meet the qualifications and essential technical, academic and institutional standards of each course, as decided by their faculty members.
Each student is required to follow the Student Code of Conduct, as established by Saginaw Valley State University.
It is necessary to request accommodations each semester. To do so, please follow these directions:
Should students need additional help please call the office at (989) 964-7000, email us at accessibility@svsu.edu or stop in at Wickes 260B.
Check their contact information in AIMS to make certain it is up to date.
Make an appointment with one of the ARA Professionals to ensure that their documentation approval hasn’t expired. If it has, they must make an appointment to update their accommodations. If their “Overview” indicates that their services have expired, they must contact the ARA to set up an update meeting.
Bring any updated documentation to the ARA.
Print their accommodation(s) letters in advance and meet with their instructors during the first week of class. They will have access to their Faculty Notification Letter via AIMS one week prior to the beginning of the semester.
Select which accommodations they require for each class.
If they plan to use the ARA area for testing, they must contact the office to schedule their exam as soon as they get their syllabus and know what their test dates are.
Shawn Wilson,
Director of Accessibility Resources and Accommodations
Wickes 260
swilson@svsu.edu
(989) 964-7000
Ryan McCracken,
Associate Director of Accessibility Resources and Accommodations
Wickes 260
rmmccrac@svsu.edu
(989) 964-7000
Debbi Abeare-Jacobs,
Administrative Secretary
Wickes 260
dabearej@svsu.edu
(989) 964-7000