Student Accommodations
The Office of Student Affairs at Richmont assists the University in fulfilling its commitment to educate and serve students with disabilities who qualify for admission. This office coordinates and provides a variety of academic and support services to students. Our mission is to promote equal educational opportunities and a welcoming spiritual, academic, physical, and social environment for students with disabilities at Richmont Graduate University.
Learn about Student Accommodations 
If a student has a diagnosed disability and would like to receive accommodations at Richmont Graduate University, they should complete and submit the Student Accommodation Application along with required supporting documentation. Please provide documentation from a licensed professional who has relevant training and experience diagnosing the reported condition.
Contact accommodations@richmont.edu with any questions.
Shared Responsibilities for Student Accommodations
Office of Student Affairs
Office of Student Affairs responsibilities include:
- Accept applications & approve students for accommodations
- Notify faculty of student accommodations needs in their course by completing a Syllabus Addendum Form for students to each of their professors, each semester
- Provide services and accommodations in a timely manner
- Consult with students and instructors on how to implement accommodations when questions arise
- Maintain student confidentiality
Students
Student responsibilities include:
- Apply for accommodations and request specific recommendations (one time, at application)
- Submit a Student Semester Schedule for Student Accommodations form online, each semester (this notifies the Office of Student Affairs which professors to alert regarding the student’s accommodations)
- Communicate proactively with their instructors throughout the semester if questions or concerns arise
- Alert the Office of Student Affairs regarding any concerns or questions
- Request accommodations in a timely manner
- Follow accommodation procedures and expectations
Faculty/Course Instructors
Faculty/Course Instructor responsibilities include:
- Initiate contact with student in their course, after being notified by Office of Student Affairs that a student in their course is approved for accommodations. Confirm with the student (in writing) that you have received their accommodations from the Office of Student Affairs.
- Respond to student concerns & questions throughout the semester
- Alert the Office of Student Affairs regarding any concerns or questions
- Implement accommodations in a timely manner
- Maintain student confidentiality
Student Accommodation Information
As a Richmont Graduate University student with a disability, you can apply for accommodations (see Application tab, above) to be approved for accommodations. We work with students to provide reasonable accommodations for disability-related barriers in the environment and curriculum so that they have an equal opportunity for success.
Common types of student accommodations include:
- Exam Accommodations
- Attendance & Deadline Modifications
- Access to Lecture Slides/Professor Notes in Advance
Students can apply for and request accommodations in a course at any time during the semester. However, students are expected to make proactive requests within a reasonable timeframe. Accommodations are designed to be implemented at the point of request moving forward.
Note about Attendance & Deadline Modifications
The role of attendance, due dates and participation varies from course to course, so it is important for you and your professor to discuss how attendance and deadline modifications will be handled in your course. The Office of Student Affairs is available to you and your professor to facilitate the conversation, answer questions, and brainstorm reasonable modifications.
Please keep in mind that an agreement to extend assignment deadlines for projects or papers does not necessarily automatically apply to:
- intensive class meeting,
- in-class clinical role-play or in-class group experience,
- group presentations,
- any assignments requiring peer review before submission,
- online discussion board or online weekly interactive assignments, etc.
Extensions of deadlines for assignments may not be permitted if the extension will significantly alter the class experience.
Expected Communication from Student Regarding Attendance & Deadline Modifications Throughout the Semester
- For any potentially missed course activity related to the ADM agreement, the student is expected to contact the instructor ASAP after the course event (paper due date, test date, etc.) in order to make up the missed assignment as outlined in the ADM arrangement.
- The student should reference this accommodation and verify the reason is related to a disability flare-up or medical emergency in the written email/communication to assist the professor with managing logistics.
- In the event of hospitalization/incapacitating flare-ups or emergencies, the leniency of the expected communication timeline is warranted. The frequency and severity of a student’s symptoms may fluctuate over the course of the semester. Student’s functioning levels may be significantly compromised and should be taken into account.
Faculty Accommodation Information
Steps for Faculty
- The Office of Student Affairs will notify you via email if you have a student in your course who has been approved for student accommodations. Student Affairs will provide you with a Syllabus Addendum for you to sign. This form acts as a contract or addendum to your syllabus and the approved accommodations in your course.
- Once you receive this notification, please reach out to the student in a timely manner and confirm you have received this notification regarding their approved accommodations. Please communicate specifically how you will work with them to implement their accommodations (e.g. give extra time on exams/quizzes in Canvas).
- Please view a student’s Syllabus Addendum Form as a first step to determine how best to provide an accessible learning environment. If you have other ideas regarding how to create access for your course beyond what is listed in this letter, we encourage you to speak with the student to explore alternative modifications. Consult with the Office of Student Affairs with questions or concerns.
- If you have any concerns about the feasibility of a specific accommodation in your course, please contact the Office of Student Affairs. We want to collaborate on a plan that works for everyone.
It is important to never deny a student’s accommodation request without first consulting the Office of Student Affairs. If you have any concerns about the feasibility of a specific accommodation in your course, please contact Student Affairs. We want to collaborate on a plan that works for everyone.
Common Student Accommodations at Richmont
Access to Lecture Content in Advance
Students may request lecture slides or access to class content before their traditional or online class meetings. This can include access to slides, handouts, or other content that would typically be provided during the class meeting.
For online classes, this request often means students need their online course platform “open” to them earlier than one week at a time, so they can prepare for class content ahead of time.
Exam Accommodations (Extra Time or Private, Separate Space)
Students requesting exam accommodations usually require additional time on tests and quizzes. Communicate ahead of time to them if you will have their in-person test proctored or if you will extend their allowed time for online tests and quizzes.
Some students may request a quiet, separate space for tests/quizzes for their in-person exams. Please tell students to contact accommodations@richmont.edu to reserve a room on their campus.
Attendance & Deadline Modifications
Students with attendance and deadline modification requests may require these adjustments on either a planned or an as-needed basis.
The role of attendance, due dates, and participation varies from course to course, so it is important for you and the student to discuss how Attendance and Deadline Modifications will be handled in your course. The Office of Student Affairs is available to you and the student to facilitate the conversation, answer questions and brainstorm reasonable modifications.
Keep in mind that an agreement to extend assignment deadlines for projects or papers does not necessarily automatically apply to:
- intensive class meeting,
- in-class clinical role play or in-class group experience,
- group presentations,
- any assignments requiring peer review before submission,
- online discussion board or online weekly interactive assignments, etc.
Extensions of deadlines for assignments may not be permitted if the extension will significantly alter the class experience.
Review the Guidelines for Managing Attendance & Deadline Modifications document for more information