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Accessibility Resource Center

Attendance and Assignment Deadline Flexibility

Students are responsible for attending classes regularly and meeting all deadlines. Based on the unpredictable, episodic nature of a student's disability, certain accommodations exist that allow the student an equitable opportunity in their academic endeavors. These accommodations may include attendance flexibility and due date extensions and are intended to provide adjustments in the event of a disability-related flare-up.

The role of the ARC is to engage in an interactive process with each student (and faculty where indicated) on a case-by-case basis to determine reasonable accommodations. Accommodations are individualized, consistent with regulatory standards, and never retroactive. The following guidelines are designed to facilitate understanding and expectations in navigating these accommodations. 

Attendance Flexibility

Attendance Flexibility should be used only when the student experiences an unpredictable flare-up of their disability. It should not be used for routine appointments or family/work obligations. 

What is the Process?

ARC has established the following procedure for considering requests for flexibility in classroom attendance policies:

  1. Students with disabilities select their available, individualized accommodations via the AIM system each semester/each course. This triggers a faculty notification e-mail. 
  2. The student is advised to review the Attendance Flexibility procedure each semester to ensure they are aware of all requirements should an exacerbation of their disability occur. Attendance Flexibility should be used only when the student experiences an unpredictable flare-up of their disability. It should not be used for routine appointments, as a substitution for poor time management, or family/work obligations.   
  3. The student is responsible for scheduling an appointment with each instructor to discuss how attendance accommodations may be utilized in the course. The student and instructor must come to a consensus and document the following in the Agreement with Instructor form (located in the student's AIM profile):
    • The course syllabus and attendance policies
    • How and when the student will inform the instructor that they are missing class due to a disability-related absence
    • Establish time frames to turn in missed coursework or reschedule missed exams. The student is responsible for all course material, including materials and coursework completed during disability-related absences.
  4. If the student and instructor cannot reach a consensus on one or more points of the agreement, the student should contact the ARC. In consultation with the student and the instructor, ARC will then determine the appropriate level of flexibility attendance to be granted, if any.
  5. Attendance Flexibility cannot be accommodated if they result in a fundamental alteration of the academic requirements of the course. Faculty have course content expertise and shall notify the ARC if an Attendance Flexibility request may be considered a fundamental alteration. Should the interactive process reveal this to be the case, the ARC will communicate the finding to the student.   
  6. As in all instances of students with disabilities, instructors should not ask about the specifics of the disability and its limitations, but if the student discloses that information, instructors should keep it confidential. 
  7. Should the student be dissatisfied with the interactive process, concern or grievance can be escalated to the ARC.  
Students and faculty should communicate with the ARC if there are any concerns or questions regarding this procedure.   

Assignment Deadline Flexibility

The Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) recognizes that limited deadline extensions may be a reasonable accommodation.

When assigned, the Assignment Deadline Flexibility accommodation is not an open-ended approval for late submissions. It is issued on a case-by-case basis, is limited to specific, disability-related circumstances, and may not be used for routine appointments, time management, or work/family obligations. The following process is established for students assigned the accommodation of Assignment Deadline Flexibility:

Process

Accommodation Activation:
Students select approved accommodations in AIM each semester/course, which triggers a faculty notification.

Requesting an Extension:
Students must notify the instructor before the assignment deadline, when possible, to request a disability-related extension.
If advance notice is not possible due to extenuating circumstances, the student must email both the instructor and the ARC as soon as possible.
Standard Extension:
When appropriately requested, the accommodation provides a 24-hour extension from the original deadline.
Requests beyond 24 hours:
The student will notify the faculty that additional time is being requested through the ARC.
The student will email the ARC before the extension expires and provide the course, assignment, original deadline, requested extension, and a brief disability-related reason.
Additional time is not guaranteed and is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Course completion limits:
All coursework must be completed before the course ends. Requests extending beyond the course timeline must be reviewed and approved through the ARC. The student remains responsible for completing all course requirements.

 

Deadline flexibility may not be provided if it would fundamentally alter essential course requirements. If an instructor believes a request may meet this threshold, they are encouraged to consult with the ARC. The ARC will review the request through the interactive process and communicate the outcome to the student.

Instructors should not request details about a student’s disability. Any information voluntarily disclosed must be treated as confidential.

Students or faculty with questions or concerns should contact the ARC.