Faculty Responsibilities

Most students with disabilities approach the Special Populations staff to request services and accommodations upon registering for their first class.

Some students may attend Southwestern Michigan College with an undiagnosed disability. They may have attended high school during a period of time when services were not readily available or they may have struggled through school, meeting the minimal requirements and may not have been identified as having academic problems.

Some disabilities are a direct result of the onset of disease or as a result of a serious accident. Some students choose to not request services or disclose their disability.

Southwestern Michigan College faculty members are encouraged to refer students having difficulty in their classes for tutoring and/or to a Special Populations advisor for assistance. Faculty observations are a valuable tool in providing the appropriate services to students.

All instructional staff should contact a Special Populations advisor before offering accommodations. Special Populations advisors can facilitate a referral for a diagnosis to an appropriate clinic, medical professional or Michigan Rehabilitation Services, and then provide appropriate accommodations and assistance as needed.

Faculty members are encouraged to only implement accommodations made by or in conjunction with a Special Populations advisor. These are based on the professional disability documentation and are listed in an Educational Development Plan (EDP) on file in the Special Populations office.

Tutors and classroom shadows should not be asked to provide accommodations to students without specific training and documentation from the Tutoring Coordinator and Special Populations advisors.

Appropriate accommodations may not alter course or curriculum requirements. Academic adjustments are not allowed if such adjustments would fundamentally alter the nature of the program or the academic requirements that are essential to a program or to meet licensing prerequisites.

Faculty and staff have no authority to see disability documentation concerning a student’s disability without a legitimate educational need to know. All disability documentation is considered confidential information and does not become part of the student’s general record or academic transcript.

All disability related information is kept in locked files in the Special Populations office. This information is released only in accordance with the law and SMC policies and procedures. Students are asked to give permission to share recommended accommodations with their instructors.

Faculty members are encouraged to communicate regularly with Special Populations advisors regarding individual student progress.

Some reasonable accommodations are as follows:

• Extended time for testing. Specific recommendations should be made, though this recommendation may be altered as the term progresses, on advice from the faculty member.
• Testing in a quiet setting . Use of Testing Center or Special Populations office.
• Permission to tape record classroom lectures.
• Provision of a note taker, copies of instructional overheads or instructor notes.
• Provision of text reading software and provision of books in electronic text (e-text), CD, or books on tape.
• Scribe to write dictated responses to test questions.
• Print materials in alternate format such as Braille or in magnified form.
• Assistive technology or adaptive equipment such as specialized software for the visually impaired, an adaptive mouse, book stand.
• If faculty members have concerns about recommended accommodations, they should contact one of the Special Populations advisors before determining that such an accommodation not be implemented.

Additional Resources

See sections of this web site entitled: Services Available, Disability Qualifications, Student Rights and Responsibilities for additional resources and information.