The University of South Dakota

Student Rights:

• Students have a right to expect all disability-related information to be treated confidentially.
• • Disability Services is the only office designated to review disability documentation and determine eligibility and appropriate accommodations.
• Students have a right to receive reasonable and appropriate accommodations in a timely manner from faculty and Disability Services.
• Students have a right to appeal decisions regarding services and accommodations.

Student Responsibilities:

• Students have a responsibility to provide Disability Services with appropriate documentation of their disability.
• Students have a responsibility to initiate discussions with faculty concerning accommodation requests.
• Students have a responsibility to initiate requests for accommodations in a timely manner.
• Students have a responsibility to inform Disability Services if materials are needed in an alternate format as soon as possible.
• Students have a responsibility to inform faculty and Disability Services immediately when an accommodation is not being provided completely or correctly.
• Students have a responsibility to notify faculty and Disability Services when an accommodation is not being used or is no longer needed.
• Students have a responsibility to adhere to The University of South Dakota's code of student conduct.

Faculty Rights:

• Faculty have a right to request verification of a student's eligibility.
• • A student approaches faculty requesting accommodations. Faculty have the right to ask for verification in the form of an accommodation memo from Disability Services. The Accommodation Memo ensures that the accommodations requested are reasonable and appropriate.
• Faculty have a right to expect the student to initiate discussions concerning their academic accommodation requests for each course. If the student does not approach you, request accommodations, and provide you with an Accommodation Memo from Disability Services, you are not obligated to provide accommodations.
• Faculty have a right to expect Disability Services to proctor and administer exams in a secure and monitored environment.
• Faculty have a right to discuss alternative accommodations with Disabilities Services if the academic accommodations requested seem to violate the goals or requirements of the course.
• Faculty have a right to determine the content of each course and how it is taught.
• Faculty have a right to award grades appropriate to the level of the student's mastery of the material.
• Faculty have a right to maintain the academic standards and integrity of their courses.
• Faculty have a right to expect class attendance and timely submission of assignments.
• Faculty have a right to fail a student who does not perform to passing standards.
• Faculty have a right to be treated respectfully by all students.

Faculty Responsibilities:

• Faculty have a responsibility to maintain student confidentiality - treat and protect all disability-related information as confidential. Keep disability-related information in a protected location. Do not "out" the student to other students, faculty or staff.
• Faculty have a responsibility to clearly communicate class policies and procedures to the student with a disability.
• Faculty have a responsibility to consult with Disabilities and the student with a disability if the accommodations requested seem to violate the goals or requirements of the course.
• Faculty have a responsibility to identify and establish essential functions, abilities, skills, and knowledge for your courses and evaluate students on this basis.
• Faculty have a responsibility to provide accommodations only to students who are registered with Disability Services.
• Faculty have a responsibility to use a syllabus statement and class announcements to invite students to disclose their disability and accommodation needs. A disability statement is included in the course management materials.
• Faculty have a responsibility to act immediately upon obtaining a student's request for accommodations.
• Faculty have a responsibility to work with Disability Services and the student with a disability if alternative formats for textbooks, class handouts, course packets, or audio-visual materials are needed.
• Faculty have a responsibility to enforce all policies and procedures equally for all students.

Disability Services Rights:

• Disability Services has a right to receive the appropriate documentation from the student prior to services being initiated.
• Disability Services has a right to expect students and faculty to work cooperatively with Disability Services to facilitate academic accommodations.
• Disability Services has a right to deny unreasonable academic accommodations. Academic accommodations cannot impose undue hardship to, or fundamentally alter, a program or an activity of the university.
• Disability Services has a right to deny academic accommodations if appropriate documentation is not provided.

Disability Services Responsibilities:

• Disability Services has a responsibility to collect, evaluate, and securely house disability documentation and determine eligibility for services.
• Disability Services has a responsibility to treat and protect all disability-related information as confidential.
• Disability Services has a responsibility to meet with the student privately in an accessible location to discuss disability-related needs.
• Disability Services has a responsibility to provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations in collaboration with the faculty and the student.
• Disability Services has a responsibility to provide print materials in an accessible format once the faculty and/or student identifies the needed materials.
• Disability Services has a responsibility to communicate procedures clearly to the student and faculty.