Augsburg and the CLASS Office are committed to facilitating equal access to education for all.
While in high school, the student’s home school district was legally responsible for initiating, developing and providing all academic supports required for the student’s full access to and involvement in the educational process. At the Post-secondary level, this responsibility changes. CLASS does not have the same legal obligation. CLASS does not seek students out to determine if there are services they need; rather, it is the student’s responsibility to initiate contact with CLASS. CLASS does not track or seek out those students who have disclosed to us, but have chosen not to access services.
In order for the accommodation process to go smoothly, it is important that all participants understand their rights, roles and responsibilities.
Every qualified Augsburg student with a documented disability has the right to:
- Equal access to courses, programs, services, jobs, activities, and facilities offered through the institution.
- An equal opportunity to work and to learn.
- Receive reasonable accommodations, appropriate academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids and services.
- Appropriate privacy of all information regarding their disability, except as disclosures are required or permitted by law.
- Receive information in accessible formats.
- Appeal a decision concerning academic adjustments, accommodations and/or services according to Augsburg’s grievance policy.
Students are responsible for:
- Providing CLASS with documentation of their disability.
- Keeping their CLASS Specialist informed and providing updated documentation if their disability or symptoms change.
- Requesting accommodations each term as far ahead of time as possible. Some accommodations cannot be effectively arranged if they are requested on short notice.
- Following specific University procedures for obtaining and arranging reasonable accommodations and/or services (e.g. scheduling exams).
- Communicating accommodations with faculty and staff members as needed.
- Notifying CLASS right away if there are any concerns or difficulties with receiving accommodations.
The CLASS Office is responsible for:
- Clarifying what documentation is needed to determine eligibility for accommodations and services, informing them when additional documentation is needed in order to receive requested accommodations, and discussing with students how their disability impacts them at the University.
- Maintaining student files in a private manner.
- Releasing disability-related information on a need-to-know basis to other University faculty and staff members.
- Notifying faculty or staff members regarding reasonable accommodations. Notifications will detail who is responsible for specific parts of providing accommodations and what to do if there are any concerns.
- Partnering with students to identify reasonable accommodations and/or academic adjustments.