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ODE

Flexibility with attendance and deadlines

Faculty set the attendance, participation, and assignment policies for their courses. The Office for Disability Equity (ODE) may approve a flexibility accommodation when a student’s disability occasionally affects their ability to attend class or meet deadlines. This accommodation is designed to build in a slight amount of flexibility; it does not permit unlimited absences or missed course work. Students may be approved for attendance flexibility, deadline flexibility, or both.

General parameters

ODE has established the general parameters that apply in most cases for flexibility accommodations. 

Attendance

Students are required to consult with faculty before missing class to establish expectations about absences and communication under this accommodation. 

  • Students receive up to two (2) additional absences beyond the attendance policy.
  • The level of flexibility with absences may vary based on the interactive and participatory nature of a course, or departmental, college, or accrediting agency guidelines.
  • For courses that are fully online and asynchronous (with no scheduled real-time attendance required), this accommodation does not apply.

Deadlines

Students are required to consult with faculty in advance of missing a deadline to establish expectations about assignment submission and communication under this accommodation. 

  • Faculty provide students with up to 48 hours to submit assignments missed.
  • This accommodation does not generally apply to group presentations or group-based work with other students.

Roles and responsibilities

Office for Disability Equity (ODE)

ODE determines eligibility by reviewing documentation and meeting with the student in person, online, by phone, or by email. ODE consults with faculty on the reasonableness of the accommodation and is available to join the faculty-student discussion at either party's request. 

Students

Students initiate the accommodation in each course: 

  1. Notify faculty. Once eligible, submit a Semester Request through the ODE portal, have the accommodation letter sent to the faculty member, and request a meeting or initiate communication by email.
  2. Establish a mutual agreement with the faculty member - before any absence or missed work - covering: 
    - how and when to notify faculty when using the accommodation (for example, by email or Canvas, within 24 hours)
    - the amount of time allowed to make up missed work
    - any critical dates that cannot be missed
  3. Communicate with the faculty member when using the accommodation. 
  4. Request an individual review (only if more flexibility than the general parameters is required) by contacting your access consultant. ODE will review the syllabus and course requirements and consult relevant faculty or the department. Requests beyond the general parameters are rarely approved. However, ODE will work with students to determine whether additional flexibility is reasonable. 

Faculty

  1. Receive an accommodation letter. 
  2. Place your comments in the ODE portal or contact the access consultant named in the letter promptly with any questions or concerns about the accommodations. 
  3. Establish expectations and communication with the student (see Students, step 2). ODE recommends documenting the agreement by email. 

Expectations

For students

  • You remain responsible for all content, notes, and information presented during a disability-related absence. 
  • You are responsible for initiating the accommodation and communication with faculty. 
  • The accommodation applies only to the disability on record with ODE - not to colds, the flu, scheduling conflicts, personal obligations, or financial matters. 
  • Accommodations apply from the point of request forward; retroactive requests are not granted. 
  • Without an approved deadline accommodation, work missed because of an absence on its due date may not be accepted. 

For faculty

  • You retain the right to uphold academic standards and to determine course content and instructional methods. 
  • Students are responsible for initiating the accommodation and communication. 
  • Do not request medical notes to verify absences or deadline extensions. If a student offers disability documentation other than the accommodation letter, decline it and refer the student to ODE, which maintains accommodation records. 
  • Contact the student's access consultant at any time with questions about the process or agreement.