Student Accommodation Policies

Procedure for Requesting Academic Accommodations

  1. The student completes an online application to request accommodations.
    (If students do not yet have a net ID, they can contact us to get started.)
  2. Once the application is submitted, the Office of Disability Resources ("ODR") contacts the student to schedule an intake interview with their respective access coordinator.
  3. The access coordinator and the student discuss the student’s disability and the impact it has on learning. The student and the access coordinator discuss what reasonable accommodations the student is requesting.
  4. All students are required to submit documentation of their disability pursuant to University of Rochester documentation guidelines as part of the intake process. The process of determining reasonable accommodations is collaborative among the student, the access coordinator, the qualified professional with knowledge of the student's disability, and the course instructor or program director, if necessary.
  5. If accommodations are granted, a notification of accommodations letter will be issued to the instructors of courses in which accommodations have been requested.
  6. Students are responsible for initiating requests for accommodations in their classes each term.
  7. Students may use the formal or informal process for dispute resolution, if they dispute the decision of the ODR.

Students who disagree with an accommodation determination may request review under the grievance policy.

Confidentiality and Release of Information

The University of Rochester recognizes that student disability records contain confidential information and are to be treated as such as described below. Documentation of a student’s disability is maintained in a confidential file kept separate from the school’s official academic file. Disability-related records, however, are generally “education records” under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Accordingly, information related to a disability will only be disclosed to those University employees who need to know the information as part of the accommodation process or as otherwise permitted by the University’s student records policy and applicable law.

Students may request access to their disability files by submitting a written request to the access coordinator. Access will be granted as provided in the student records policy.

University of Rochester Rights and Responsibilities

The University of Rochester has the right to:

  • Request and receive current documentation that identifies the existence of a disability and justifies that the requested accommodation is reasonable.
  • Suggest appropriate and reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments or auxiliary aids and services based upon documentation submitted to the access coordinators.
  • Establish essential requirements and standards for courses, programs, services or activities at the University of Rochester.
  • Provide adjustments or auxiliary aids and services that are equally effective as the specific ones requested.
  • Deny an accommodation, adjustment or auxiliary aid that fundamentally alters a course, program or activity, or poses an undue burden or direct threat to health or safety

The University of Rochester has the responsibility to:

  • Review submitted documentation without bias and seek appropriate relevant professional expertise when necessary.
  • Confer with the student and other relevant parties when determining accommodations, academic adjustments or auxiliary aids and services.
  • Provide information in accessible formats upon request.
  • Respond to requests in a timely basis.
  • Maintain appropriate confidentiality of documentation and information

Your Rights and Responsibilities

Students with disabilities at the University of Rochester have the right to:

  • An equal opportunity to access the courses, programs, services and activities at the University of Rochester.
  • Request reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments or auxiliary aids and services.
  • Appropriate confidentiality of information regarding their disability, except as disclosures are required or permitted by law.

Students with disabilities at the University of Rochester who receive reasonable accommodations have the responsibility to:

  • Maintain institutional standards for academic performance and conduct.
  • Follow published procedures for requesting accommodations, academic adjustments or auxiliary aids and services.
  • Provide appropriate documentation of a disability including the functional limitation(s) of the disability and its impact on the access to and participation in courses, programs, services and activities at the University of Rochester.
  • Request academic accommodations for each term the student is registered.