Procedures for Requesting Academic Accommodations
on the Basis of a Disability

Once a student with a disability has been admitted to Mississippi University for Women, she/he should contact the Office of Academic Support Services to complete a formal request for academic accommodations.  Since it may take several weeks to receive and review documentation and then develop an appropriate plan, students are strongly encouraged to begin the process as soon as possible by completing the following steps.

1.    Documentation
    The student must provide appropriate documentation of a disability from a qualified professional.  The Disability Services Coordinator will review the documentation to determine (1) the student’s eligibility as a qualified individual with a disability and (2) appropriate academic accommodations.  If the student does not have existing or current documentation, a list of documentation requirements can be obtained from the Office of Academic Support Services.  The documentation can be delivered to the office by the student, mailed to The Office of Academic Support Services, Disability Services Coordinator at 1100 College Street - W 1633, Columbus, MS  39701, or faxed to 662.241.6035.

2.    Accommodations Plan
    Once the documentation has been reviewed, an Accommodations Plan will be formulated with the student.  A plan designed to provide the student with equality of access and opportunity will take into account the information provided in the documentation about the functional impact and severity of the disability and the requirements of the academic program being pursued by the student.  With valid supporting documentation, the University will provide appropriate accommodations; however, there are often several means of providing an accommodation that will serve the same purpose.  The ones selected may not be exactly as requested by the student or recommended by the evaluator.  
    In some cases, the Disability Services Coordinator, may consult with the Dean of the College in which the student is enrolled,  the professor of the class in which accommodations are requested  and/or the Provost to ensure that the accommodation is supported by documentation and appropriate for the given class.  

3.    Notification
    It is the responsibility of the student to provide instructors with copies of the Accommodations Plan.  The student should make an appointment with each professor from whom accommodations are requested to discuss the needs of the student and the details of providing the accommodations.  Information about particular accommodations such as note takers, extended time tests, etc. are available from the Office of Academic Support Services.    

4.    Revisions
    If, due to changes in the student’s condition or the student’s academic program requirements, the Accommodations Plan needs to be revised, the student should make an appointment with the Disability Services Coordinator.  In some cases, updated documentation may be required to support the request for additional accommodations.