Flexibility in Attendance
Letter to Faculty Regarding Attendance Accomodations
To: ISU Faculty Members
From: Dennis Toney, Director ADA/Disabilities Resource Center>
RE: Flexibility in Attendance as a Reasonable Accommodation
Greetings:
This letter is to assist you and your students with disabilities regarding attendance accommodations. The ADA Center requires each student to present documentation from their doctor that states that missing class is a reasonable accommodation for their disability. Please note the following:
Student may occasionally miss class due to his/her disability and be permitted to make-up any missed work if he/she contacts the instructor on the same day and makes up the work within seven days or a mutually agreed upon period of time. The student remains responsible for completing all course requirements.
The student will get a letter that explains that:
- If absences are excessive or they fail to keep up with the work, the professor may rightfully suggest that they take an incomplete or drop the class.
- The accommodation is meant to allow a little flexibility and is not to be abused.
- The accommodation is only granted after we receive documentation from an appropriate medical professional directly supporting the accommodation.
We appreciate you working with us to enable students with disabilities to level the playing field and earn a quality education. Your support and critiques are encouraged and also deeply appreciated.
Letter to Students Regarding Attendance Accomodations
Dear Student:
More students than ever before are coming into the ADA & Disabilities Resource Center requesting that attendance or assignment flexibility be written into their accommodation plans and letters for instructors. Due to increasing concern from ISU faculty and staff about the appropriateness of this accommodation, the following policy will take effect upon your next re-authorization of accommodations.
- Students may occasionally miss class due to disability related illness or issues without penalization if the student contacts the professor on the same day and makes up the work within seven days or a mutually agreed upon period of time.
- Students are responsible for completing all course requirements.
- If absences are excessive or the student fails to keep up with the work, the professor may rightfully suggest that they take an incomplete or drop the class.
- The accommodation is meant to allow a little flexibility and not to be abused.
- The accommodation will only be granted after the ADA Center receives a letter from the appropriate medical professional directly supporting this accommodation.
The ADA Center appreciates the students with disabilities we serve. The ADA Center desires to empower all students with disabilities to chart their own course in college and beyond. Part of that process involves learning strategies for attendance and completion of assignments, with excellence and timeliness. Another part of that process is to maintain academic integrity and standards within all programs offered at ISU. The ADA Center thanks all students with disabilities for assisting Idaho State University in the pursuit of academic excellence.
Sincerely,
Dennis Toney, Director
ADA & Disability Resource Center