Faculty
Students in need of accomodations are entitled to these services under state and federal law. These accommodations ensure equal access to the learning environment at UMKC. Accommodations do not fundamentally alter an essential aspect of a course or program.
The Student Accessibility Services office establishes an accommodation plan with the student. Then, they provide students with a letter of accommodation for each of their instructors. Instructors are to discuss with the student how best to meet their accommodations. Students are not required to disclose their specific medical diagnosis with faculty.
Syllabi Statement
If you haven’t already, please consider adding a statement to your syllabi. Our recommended statement is:
"If you need an accommodations plan, please contact Student Accessibility Services at (816) 235-5612 or umkcdisability@umkc.edu. You should contact them as soon as possible to establish an accommodation plan. For more information visit Roo Wellness."
Confidentiality
People in need of accomodations are often subject to discrimination, stigma, and misunderstanding. To protect the student from mistreatment, please keep the following in mind:
Information pertaining to the student’s accessibility needs and accommodations, are personal and confidential in nature, and should be managed in the same way you would want your personal information managed.
Students in need of accessibility services may choose to disclose details of their accessibility needs. Faculty are expected to maintain confidentiality and avoid unnecessary attention to the student’s accessibility needs.
Guidelines
- Information a student shares is to be used specifically for arranging accommodations.
- Don’t leave student accessibility information visible on your computer or in any printed format that others can see. Please dispose of it securely at the end of the semester.
- Do not discuss a student’s accessibility status and accommodations in public with or others who do not have an “educational need to know.”
- Don’t assume that students with an approved accomodation plan are aware of other students’ accessibility plans. Send separate emails to each student.
- Do not tell other students that a student has a accessibility plan.
- Discuss accommodation letters and coordination of implementing accommodations with students in private. Make yourself available by email, during office hours, or by appointment to discuss.
Notification Letters
Students with an accomodation plan will send a Faculty Notification Letter (FNL) to each of their instructors. The letters detail the accommodations that are necessary for the student’s equal access. Please meet with the student in a confidential setting to discuss ways that you can work together to meet the accommodation plan. If you have questions or concerns, we are available to help.
The accommodations indicated in the letter must be provided to the student. If you believe that a prescribed accommodation fundamentally alters an essential aspect of the course or program, please contact the Student Accessibility Services office to express your concerns. Do not discuss your concerns with the student.
Attendance and Due Dates
Some students receive an accommodation for flexibility in attendance and/or flexibility of assignment due dates. There may be an accessibility related reason a student may be absent or may delay in submitting an assignment. We ask that you take this into consideration whenever an issue of a late assignment or lack of attendance occurs.
The amount of flexibility given should be based on what is essential to meeting the course objectives.
Flexibility in attendance (PDF)
Flexibility in assignment due dates (PDF)
Peer Notetakers
You may be asked to enlist the assistance of another student to serve as a peer notetaker who will provide a copy of their notes for the student with accessibility needs. In some cases, the student may choose their own peer notetaker from the class. The peer notetaker will be asked to sign up as a notetaker. Compensation of a $50 stipened will be given to the peer notetaker per class. To support the student, please make an announcement for the need of a peer notetaker in class that will not disclose the identity of the student with the accomodation plan.