overview of accommodation Process

Requesting Accommodations

Welcome to Arkansas Tech University - Ozark Campus. Student Accommodations are managed by the Student Success & Disability Services Coordinator at the ATU - Ozark Campus. We are committed to an inclusive educational environment and actively promote the removal of barriers related to disability. We work with each student to formulate a plan unique to their circumstances taking into account their learning history and personal experiences. 

Students must self-disclose their disability status and formally seek adjustments through the Student Success & Disability Services Coordinator. Requests for accommodations should be initiated in a timely manner to allow for the coordinator of services with faculty and staff. Accommodations are not retro-active, therefore students are encouraged to request accommodations and meet with the Student Success & Disability Services Coordinator prior to the start of classes or early in the semester if they suspect an accommodation to be necessary. 

Note: Although documentation is not necessary to initiate this process, the Student Success & Disability Services Coordinator reserves the right to request formal documentation as an aid in determining appropriate adjustments on behalf of the university. 

Docuentation Guidelines

The ATU-Ozark Disability Services Office requests that students seeking accommodations submit information describing their disability, their past use of accommodations, and the likely impact of the disability on their educational experiences. Types of helpful documentation supportive of such requests include medical records, psycho-educational testing reports, and school records. If students do not have this documentation readily available, they are encouraged to meet with the Student Success & Disability Services Coordinator to discuss other ways to demonstrate a connection between their condition and any academic barriers they anticipate in the university environment.

The ATU-Ozark Disability Services Officewill consider all forms of documentation including student self-report, observation and interaction with the student, and external information from outside sources such as professionals who have diagnosed or treated the condition. External information can be a valuable tool for helping the Student Success & Disability Services Coordinatorunderstand the student's barriers, identify strategies for success, and assign reasonable accommodations which facilitate access.

 

Intake Interview

Upon the receipt and review of the student’s request and associated documentation, the student will be notified via One Tech email to schedule an intake interview. This interview is an interactive, in-depth discussion between the Student Success & Disability Services Coordinator and student that may last up to 1 hour. 

Students are expected to meet privately with the Student Success & Disability Services Coordinator and should be prepared to discuss the following subjects during their interview: 

• Impact of their disabilities on their academics
• Their accommodation history
• The accommodations they are requesting for the current or upcoming semester

Notification of Eligibility

Upon completion of the student’s intake interview and review of any associated documentation, the Student Success & Disability Services Coordinator will develop an individualized plan for the student. Students who are eligible for accommodations will receive a Notice of Eligibility via One Tech email outlining the adjustments for which they are approved.

Notifying Faculty

The Student Success & Disability Services Coordinator will send Notification Letters to instructors through the AIM program. 

Students are encouraged to make arrangements to meet privately with faculty to ensure that both parties understand the approved accommodations. Students may be asked to share how their disability impacts their ability to participate in academic programs and activities and should be prepared to discuss this information. 

Note: In no instance is a student required to reveal the nature of their disability  or provide documentation of their disability to anyone other than the Student Success & Disability Services Coordinator. 

 

Testing Services

ATU-Ozark Disability Services Office is committed to providing timely and secure testing services for students and faculty. In order to effectively serve the needs of our students and faculty members, we adhere to the following guidelines for implementing test accommodations:

1. The student must be registered with the ATU-Ozark Disability Services Office and have the current semester's letter of accommodation on file.
2. Students should notify their instructor(s) in advance of the scheduled exam for which they plan to use an approved testing accommodation. Instructors should communicate to their students how much notice is required. Students should refer to the course syllabus or contact the instructor if uncertain of the instructor's expectations.
3. Identifying an appropriate time for testing is a shared responsibility between the student and the instructor. Generally, we cannot offer the option of taking an exam outside of the scheduled class time without approval from the instructor. Recognizing scheduling conflicts may arise, the Student Success & Disability Services Coordinator will proctor exams at other times upon notification from the instructor. A phone call or e-mail from the faculty member will suffice as proper notification.
4. All exams must be scheduled in advance of the test time/date. All exams must be scheduled no later than 72 business hours (M-F) before the date of the exam. Students may schedule their exam time if they are testing simultaneously with the regularly scheduled class. See step-by-step instructions below to schedule an exam.
5. Faculty, or designated staff, is responsible for ensuring the test is delivered to the Student Success Center. Delivery may be in person or via e-mail (ozark.accommodations@atu.edu). If assistance is needed, please call (479) 508-3368.
6. Students should arrive on time for their scheduled exam. Students who are unable to make their appointment are expected to notify their instructor and the Student Success & Disability Services Coordinator as soon as possible.
7. Cell phones, smartwatches, fitness bands/trackers and all devices with recording, internet, or communication capabilities that are 1) not related to approved accommodations; or 2) are not approved prior to the exam by the instructor for the purposes of the exam; are prohibited in the Testing Lab and private testing rooms. This policy is in place to protect the student(s) and the integrity of the testing process and will be strictly enforced. Students may also be asked to remove all loose items from their pockets and place them with their belongings.
8. Students are not allowed to take books, bookbags/backpacks, notes, or any class-related materials into a testing area unless their instructor has provided written permission on the Instructor Accommodation Form.
9. Engaging in misconduct and/or possession of prohibited materials will result in dismissal from the Testing Center and reporting of the incident to the instructor. Examples of misconduct include, but are not limited to the following:

• Giving or receiving unauthorized assistance of any kind
• Causing a disturbance of any kind
• Using any unauthorized aids (electronic devices, books, notes, calculators, computers, websites, etc.)
• Attempting to take a test for someone else
• Failure to follow examination regulations or instruction from Student Success & Disability Services Coordinator
• Removing or attempting to remove questions, responses, or materials from the Student Success & Disability Services Coordinator
• Sharing of materials with other examinees
• Talking to other examinees during a test
• Manipulating test timers in any way is prohibited and will result in collection of the exam
• Student Success & Disability Services Coordinator may grant permission for restroom breaks. Testing time does freeze during restroom breaks. If a student leaves the Testing Center for any reason without permission, the exam will be collected. If the student is gone for an unreasonable amount of time, the exam will be collected

11. Missed exams may only be rescheduled with approval from the instructor

12. Tests may be scheduled during the following times: Monday-Friday between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. If a student schedules an exam during a timeframe that does not allow for the full amount of allotted time, the student will forfeit the portion of the extended time that occurs after 5:00 pm. ATU-Ozark Disability Services Office operates on the university calendar.

How To Schedule Exams