Rights and responsibilities
Faculty, students with disabilities, and the Office for Disability Equity (ODE) have rights and responsibilities related to reasonable accommodations under the , , and the . Collaborative efforts among these three parties will ensure equal access.
Faculty is responsible for creating and maintaining an accessible learning environment, while at the same time maintaining academic standards. Faculty expects that students initiate accommodation requests so that faculty can ensure equal access by providing reasonable accommodations. Faculty also refers students to ODE when necessary and refrains from retaliation against individuals advocating for accessibility.
Students have the right to equal opportunities for education and participation in University activities. Students must meet or exceed the essential requirements of the 猎奇重口 with or without accommodations. Students initiate the request for accommodations and/or services in a timely manner, communicate with faculty regarding accommodations, and work with ODE as needed.
ODE determines the students' eligibility, coordinates, and provides reasonable accommodations. We respond in a timely manner to students who request accommodations and services. We emphasize collaborative partnerships with faculty and other campus community members to ensure that the UM programs are accessible and usable by students with disabilities.
Engaging in the interactive process: Fundamental alteration procedure
If a faculty member believes that an accommodation may fundamentally alter an essential requirement or objective of a course or academic program, the following interactive process will be initiated:
Step 1
Faculty contacts the ODE Access Consultant identified on the student’s accommodation letter to consult on the concerns.
Step 2
The Access Consultant obtains and carefully evaluates all available information, including course syllabus. The Access Consultant confers with the faculty member. If a reasonable alternative accommodation is identified, the Access Consultant notifies the student and updates the accommodation letter.
Step 3
The Access Consultant, in conjunction with the Assistant Director, may conduct confidential consultation with the faculty and a representative from the relevant academic unit or field, if necessary. The representative may include faculty members involved in the academic program or course, the chair of the department, and other knowledgeable and trained administrators.
This consultation seeks to identify the essential requirements of the course or program, determines whether the requested accommodation is reasonable, and explores appropriate alternative accommodations that to allow the student to meet the same fundamental objectives or demonstrate mastery of the required skills.
Step 4
The Assistant Director communicates the final decision to the faculty, student, and Access Consultant. If the requested accommodation is denied or modified, the Assistant Director will provide a written explanation outlining the reasons for the decision and offer the student an opportunity to respond.