Academic Accommodation Procedures
The Student Success Center (SSC) is committed to providing an equitable and inclusive learning environment for all Providence College students. As part of this commitment, the SSC provides reasonable academic accommodations and works to remove any barriers that may impede equal access to the College’s educational programs.
Any Providence College student (Undergraduate, Graduate, School of Continuing Education, etc.) with a disability is entitled to reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Disabilities may include, but are not limited to, learning, ADHD, chronic illness, medical, physical, visual, hearing, and mental health. Academic accommodations are determined through a process that is both interactive and supportive.
1. Student Self Discloses Disability
Students must disclose a disability before any academic accommodations can be approved or provided. The disclosure process begins when students complete our Accommodations Application, available through Accommodate. Students who complete the application will be contacted by the SSC to discuss next steps within 48 business hours.
For students admitted to the Fall 2024 semester, you may begin this process after June 1, 2024.
2. Student Provides Documentation of Disability
Along with our Accommodations Application, students must provide documentation which supports the need for specific accommodations. The documentation may include neuropsychological testing, medical reports, or clinical reports. Documentation should be no more than three years old. For more information, please review our Disability Documentation Guidelines. You may submit your documentation through Accommodate.
3. Student Meets with SSC
After appropriate information is submitted, the SSC will reach out to request a meeting to review the student’s academic accommodation requests. The student will have the opportunity to discuss their diagnosis, how it impacts them, the academic barriers they experience, and how specific accommodations will provide access.
4. Academic Accommodations Approval
The SSC will review all documentation and supporting information of a student’s disability. Based on the information provided, the SSC will determine: 1) whether there is a disability that limits the student’s participation in the College’s educational programs, and 2) approvals for reasonable academic accommodations.
An academic accommodation plan is then designed with the student. The plan is reviewed and revised on a semesterly basis. In addition, some academic accommodations may not be reasonable in certain courses. In these cases, a team of faculty and staff may be involved in the review process to determine whether an accommodation is appropriate for a specific course.
Students must submit a Semester Request through Accommodate at the beginning of each new semester to activate their approved academic accommodations. The SSC will create a Faculty Academic Accommodation Letter, which will be emailed to the faculty. Members of the faculty cannot provide any academic accommodation until they receive official notification from the SSC.
5. Request for Reconsideration
If the SSC determines a disability is not present and/or specific academic accommodations are not approved, the student may follow the Student Procedures for ADA/504 Grievance Resolution to request a reconsideration of their academic accommodations.
6. Non-Academic Related Accommodations
Students needing non-academic related accommodations (i.e. housing, dining) should also contact Student Development and Compliance. This department coordinates non-academic accessibility needs of Providence College students who qualify. For more information, visit the Dean of Students Webpage.
