Faculty Information

Disability Accommodations:

Saginaw Valley State University views disability as an important aspect of diversity and is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students.  Accessibility Resources and Accommodations (ARA) is the campus office that collaborates with students who have disabilities to provide and/or arrange reasonable accommodations.

• If you have or think you have a disability in any area such as chronic or mental health, attention, learning, sensory or physical, please contact ARA to arrange for a confidential discussion regarding equitable access and reasonable accommodations. 
• Students with short-term disabilities such as a broken arm or pregnancy should be able to work with their instructors to remove classroom barriers. In situations where further assistance is needed, students should contact ARA.
• If you are registered with ARA and you have a Faculty Notification Letter dated for this semester, please contact your instructor as soon as possible to review your accommodations during her office hours and plan how they will be employed in your class.
• If you are registered with ARA and find that you have questions or concerns, please contact their office.

Contact Information: 

Phone: (989) 964-7000

Email: accessibility@svsu.edu

In-person: Wickes 260B

For further information please see www.svsu.edu/access

Mental health needs:

As a student, you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning. These issues can include strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce your ability to participate in daily activities. Saginaw Valley State University’s services are available to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. You can learn more about the Student Counseling Center’s confidential mental health services by going to their website at svsu.edu/studentcounselingcenter.

What I can’t do for you:

• The longer you wait to ask for help, the less I may be able to help you: I cannot accommodate disability-related needs retroactively.
• If you choose to stop attending class, I am unable to support your well-being and intellectual growth.

Extended Time for Tests typically means that students have time-and-a-half (1½x) to take an exam. This rule does not apply to take-home tests. This accommodation refers to timed tests, quizzes, writing in the classroom, timed online or in another designated location.  In very rare instances, students receive double time accommodation for testing (2x).

Quiet Area for Tests can be provided by the instructor or at the Office of Accessibility Resources and Accommodations. If provided by the instructor, the quiet area should be in a location with minimal distraction.

Reading Technology for Textbooks and Exams is software loaded onto a computer to help a student with their textbook reading or testing. Students approved for this accommodation may have to take their exams in Accessibility Resources and Accommodations to have access to the appropriate technology.

Software Testing Accommodation is available for students who may benefit from the use of assistive software during testing. 

Speech to Text Technology or Digital Scribing is most likely to be approved for students with physical impairments which limit the use of their hands.

Flexible Attendance is occasionally allowed if a student experiences complications associated with a disability which might impair their ability to attend class. Flexible attendance must be discussed directly with the professor.  The faculty member in consultation with their student determines how flexible attendance can be accommodated. Students should make arrangements with their faculty members to complete any assignments due or tests/quizzes given during the missed class.  If an assignment was due or a test or quiz was administered on the day of an absence, the assignment or test will be due the following class period.  

With flexible attendance, each instructor has the right to determine their own individual attendance policy and state this policy in her/his syllabus.  Instructors who have received a Notification to Instructor Accommodation letter stating that a student with a disability has a medical condition that may affect attendance is not required, by law, to waive the attendance requirements. The statement is merely to inform the instructor that the absence(s) may be related to symptoms or treatment of the condition.

Visit SVSU's Flexible Attendance webpage by clicking here.