Faculty and Staff Services
Faculty/Staff Handbook
Download PDF version of Faculty/Staff Handbook
Faculty Notification Procedure
When a student with a disability enrolls in a course, faculty and instructors can expect the following:
-
An email from our office detailing the specific accommodations assigned to the student will be sent.
-
Students have a responsibility to communicate their needs to each instructor. However, when a student requests assigned accommodations, they must be provided as soon as reasonably possible.
If sufficient notice is not provided in a timely fashion, please contact our office for how best to proceed.
Instructor or faculty member may find that an accommodation conflicts with an essential element of the course. In this case, contact our office.
In most cases, the notification email is sent approximately 10 days before the start of the semester. However, if a student registers with Accessibility Services Center after classes have begun, the email is sent as soon as possible.
It’s important to remember that the student's status as a person with a disability is confidential. Furthermore, the specific disability type can not be shared.
Making Referrals to Accessibility Services Center
Occasionally, a student may disclose a disability or disabling condition and ask a faculty member or instructor for accommodations directly, rather than going through the Accessibility Services Center registration process. While granting this request may seem easier in the short term, it creates problems for the student, faculty or instructor, and the university.
It is strongly recommended that any student who identifies as having a disability complete the registration process with our office before being provided any disability-related accommodations. If students identify themselves as having a specific disability, medical diagnosis, or psychological diagnosis, please refer them to Accessibility Services Center. Keep in mind that the referral is made after a disabling condition is disclosed. It is not only inappropriate, but illegal, to ask someone if they have a disability.
Syllabus Statement
It is recommended that faculty and instructors include in every syllabus a statement asking students to inform them of any disability-related needs to ensure that those needs are met in a timely manner. A further recommendation is that the statement be read aloud during the first week of class. This approach demonstrates to students that the University is sensitive to and concerned about meeting the needs of all students in the course. This affords students the opportunity to make their accommodation needs known early in the semester.
Statement for Course Syllabus:
"Reasonable accommodations are provided for students who are registered with Accessibility Services Center (ASC) and make their requests sufficiently in advance. For more information, contact ASC (Location: H&K 104, Phone: 402.554.2872, Email: unoaccessibility@unomaha.edu)"
Field Placement Syllabus Statement:
Please include this statement on syllabi for courses that include a field placement:
"In addition to accommodations in the classroom, the Accessibility Services Center (ASC) helps coordinate accommodations for students with disabilities at any practicum, internship, service learning experience, or other field placement. If such accommodation is required, it will be important to speak with an ASC representative early in the site selection process. Please make an appointment with the ASC (Location: H&K 104, Phone: 402.554.2872, Email: unoaccessibility@unomaha.edu) well in advance of the placement to ensure that reasonable accommodations can be made."
Testing Center Information
402.554.4800
The UNO Testing Center is located in Kayser 522 and is available for students who require exam accommodations that cannot be provided in the classroom. Only those accommodations previously approved by Accessibility Services Center will be provided at the Testing Center. The Testing Center guidelines describe student and faculty responsibilities in this process and must be followed in each testing situation.
Volunteer Notetakers
Students with many types of disabilities, such as people who have low vision, a learning disability, or severe arthritis, require assistance in taking notes during class. Instructors are asked to make a request that a volunteer from the class share their notes with a student who has a disability. The student with a disability will meet with the volunteer notetaker arrangements for sharing notes at the end of the class period. A popular method for sharing notes is NCR paper, which works like carbon paper. Students may also make free photocopies in 126 MBSC, Accessibility Services Center office.
The intention of this accommodation is to assist students who cannot generate a complete set of notes on their own. It is not a replacement for attendance. Therefore, notes are only provided when the student with a disability attends class.
If a student requests a notetaker:
- Make an announcement to the class that there is a student who needs a volunteer notetaker semester. This involves sharing their notes with someone who cannot take adequate notes on their own.
- As you make this announcement please remember that disability information is confidential, it is important that the student with a disability is not identified in front of the entire class.
- When a student volunteers, ask them to stay after class for a brief meeting. The student with a disability will meet the volunteer at that time and make arrangements for obtaining the notes. It is helpful when the instructor oversees this initial meeting.
- If the student with a disability prefers to remain anonymous, the notes will need to be passed through the instructor or another third party. Contact our office if you have questions.
Interpreter Policy
The University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) is required under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act to provide “appropriate accommodations” which in certain instances includes providing “qualified” interpreting services to deaf and hard of hearing (HOH) individuals. This requirement covers all programs or activities conducted and sponsored by UNO on campus or across the state.