Faculty FAQ

University of South Alabama street sign.

 

Mr. Mario Sheats, Interim Director

  • Faculty concerns other than testing
  • Medical Withdrawals
  • Accommodation concerns for students other than the sensory impaired
  • Special Parking
  • CEADR Advisory Board
  • ADA compliance and policy issues
  • Student behavioral concerns
  • Campus accessibility issue
  • Grievances
  • Note-taking requests & support

Mr. Eric Light, Accommodated Testing and Support Coordinator

  • ADA compliant testing accommodations
  • CEADR Faculty Portal Support

Mr. Micheal Evers, Sensory Impaired Technology Coordinator

  • Visual and hearing impaired student concerns
  • Integrating technology with Universal Design

Greta Washington, Secretary

  • Absentee verifications
  • Vendors
  • CEADR Webmaster 
Academic departments and individual faculty members are responsible for ensuring that their programs and course content are accessible to qualified students with disabilities. This responsibility includes physical access as well as necessary modifications in the format or delivery of information.
Faculty has the right and the responsibility to secure a learning environment that benefits all students. A student with a disability that affects behavior has the right to reasonable accommodations to support his or her responsibility to behave in an appropriate manner in the classroom. If the student's behavior is not appropriate, faculty should contact the Dean of Students for assistance.
No. Requiring that a student disclose his or her disability to the instructor puts the college at legal risk. Although most instructors are open to listening to students who choose to disclose their disabilities-whether such information is solicited or not-it is important that all instructors communicate respect for a student's privacy regarding the specific nature of his or her disability. In that vein, comments such as ,"What is wrong with you?" or "You look normal to me." are clearly inappropriate and put the college at risk as they can be interpreted as discriminatory.
A direct inquiry about a possible disability is not recommended. The Americans with Disabilities Act states that a public entity may not make unnecessary inquires into the existence of a disability. These inquiries usually relate to hiring or pre-admission screening, but when talking with students, such inquiries should also be avoided. A direct inquiry such as this could be considered intrusive or insensitive. Treat a student-of-concern as any student would be treated. Suggest a conference with the student where concerns about the quality of his or her academic work can be privately discussed. In that conference it would be appropriate to encourage the student to seek any appropriate campus resources, such as, Counseling and Testing, Student Health Center, Center for Academic Excellence, and Center for Educational Accessibility and Disability Resources.
Making an announcement at the start of class and/or printing a statement in the syllabus referring students with disabilities to Disability Services, is the best way to make such a referral. Instructors may also encourage students to meet individually with them to discuss their academic needs.
Yes. However, you can require that all tapes/files be returned to you at the end of the semester or that they be destroyed.
The Testing Center has developed a systematic and secure procedure for getting exams from the instructor and returning the exam back to the instructor once the student has taken the exam. All tests are kept in a sealed security bag. Students are required to put all materials into lockers before entering the testing rooms. Students are told to use the restroom before they start testing. As students test, they are monitored. Any inappropriate behaviors or misuse of exam materials are reported back to the instructor. Cheating is not tolerated.
Yes, but the instructor must provide the same accommodations the Testing Center would provide. If the student is to get time and a half, then the instructor must allow the time and a half. If the student is to test in a distraction reduced environment, then the instructor must have the student test in a room where there are minimal distractions. Testing the student with the rest of the class is not providing a minimal distraction environment. The instructor who fails to provide the specific accommodation is out of compliance. The student would have the right to file a grievance against the instructor.
Accommodations are not retroactive. If a student starts the class and takes a test prior to providing the instructor the Letter of Accommodation, the instructor does not have to go back and let the student re-test using approved accommodations. 
Refer the student to our website. There is information about applying for services as well as documentation requirements in our handbook. 
Students with approved academic accommodations receive their accommodation letters via email. The student is responsible for either hand delivering the letters or emailing a copy of their letters to instructors.
If the student is registered with our office, we can proctor an exam. Any exam proctored by our office will be administered in our testing center. When a student makes a request to utilize the testing center for a course assessment instructors are informed typically within 24 hours of the scheduled time. 
No. You are not obligated to accommodate a student until you have received the accommodation letter.

You can find the Canvas Community Guides: to Moderate Quiz or you can call the Innovation in Learning Center at (251) 461-1888.

Resources are available in the CEADR faculty portal. You may also reach out to our office with any questions or concerns. 

 

The Center for Educational Accessibility & Disability Resources at University of South Alabama is committed to assisting faculty in any way possible to better facilitate a positive learning environment of all students.