Rights & Responsibilities for Students With Disabilities

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.

Disclosing a student’s need for accommodation means disclosing personal information about the student, and the Office of Accessibility Resources & Accommodations only does that with the student’s explicit authorization.

The confidentiality of disability-related information is not just a policy we follow, but it's also a legal obligation. Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, this information is protected. We strictly enforce this confidentiality to safeguard the student's privacy and to prevent any form of discrimination based on a disability. In fact, disability-related information is treated as medical information and is handled under the same stringent rules of confidentiality as other medical information.

Information concerning disabilities will be kept confidential, except that (1) faculty and instructors required to assist the student will be informed of the necessary accommodations, which may imply disability information if the student has signed an authorization form; (2) safety and health personnel may be informed as necessary if emergency treatment is needed; (3) government or University officials investigating compliance with applicable disability law shall be informed upon request; and, (4) as may be required by law.

Confidentiality and University Records

Disability-related information is kept strictly confidential even after the student has left the University. A student registered with the Office of Accessibility Resources & Accommodations will not have a notation appear on any University-generated transcript or report. This information will only be provided to graduate schools, transfer universities, or potential employers if the student requests us to do so. Without the student's written permission, the student’s status will not be released to anyone for any reason (except as noted above). Case notes and similar records are for ARA staff use only and are not shared with students or other University staff.

Students have the right to receive University information in accessible formats.

Students should understand that it is their responsibility to notify their faculty members at the start of each term and email faculty members with their Faculty Notification Letter found via AIMS. This will ensure that the faculty member understands the student’s accommodation needs.

Students must understand that accommodations cannot alter the learning outcomes and objectives of a course. Each student must meet the learning outcomes and objectives of each course, as decided by Saginaw Valley State University.

It is necessary to request accommodations each semester. To do so, email your accommodation(s) letters through the AIMS system. This can be done at minimum one week before the semester begins. 

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.

Email their accommodation(s) letters through the AIMS system. This can be done at minimum one week before the semester begins. Assistance sending faculty notification letters is provided in the ARA Office. 

Select which accommodations they require for each class.

If students plan to use Accessibility Resources & Accommodations for testing, they must schedule their quizzes, tests and exams as soon as they get their syllabus and know when their test dates are. Accessibility Resources & Accommodations requires a 7 business day advanced notice when scheduling quizzes, tests and exams. If an assessment date needs to be changed, students are responsible for letting their faculty know of the proposed change.