Academic Policies
This page discusses the intersection of academic and Disability Services policies.
General Guidelines
Students with Disability Services agree to abide by the following general guidelines:
- Students registered with Disability Services and granted accommodations are entitled to these accommodations under law.
- Accommodations are intended to create equality of opportunity for students with disabilities. Accommodations are not intended to circumvent the intentions of a course.
- Accommodations are valid only for the semester in which they are granted or authorized.
- The student understands and agrees that the responsibility for requesting accommodations each semester is theirs.
- The student understands and agrees that the responsibility for communicating their needs and accommodations to their instructors is theirs.
- Accommodations should not be granted or pursued through a University entity other than Disability Services.
Students understand and agree that failure to abide by these policies and those outlined below are a violation of Idaho State University's student code and may be referred for administrative or legal proceedings. Originals of agreements are kept as part of Disability Services' general student accommodation record.
Faculty and staff should understand that the procedures for dealing with accommodations outlined above and below are for the benefit of the entire University community. Questions about accommodating students with disabilities should be asked to Disability Services at (208) 282-3599. For more information about the responsibilities of faculty, see the Working with Students' Accommodations page.
For policies regarding academic testing at Disability Services, please see the Using the Testing Room page.
Specific Accommodations
The following section details Disability Services policies about specific accommodations, and the policies by which students agree to abide while using these accommodations.
The extended time for testing accommodation has the following policies:
- The student is allowed a specified percentage of extended time to complete their test relative to the rest of the class.
- Faculty should have the student take the test in any reasonable location that will have minimal disruption for the duration of the test. The Disability Services Testing Room is available during normal University hours, and from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during Finals Week.
- The student and the instructor should work to achieve a mutually agreeable testing time if the extended time will cause a disruption in another of the student's classes.
For more information on using the testing room, see the Using the Testing Room page.
The reduced distraction testing environment accommodation has the following policies:
- The student is allowed to take their test in a quiet, minimally disturbed environment.
- An environment where other people are frequently entering, leaving, and moving is not minimally disturbed.
- The Disability Services Testing Room is a minimally disturbed environment. The Testing Room is available during normal University hours, and from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. during Finals Week.
For more information on using the testing room, see the Using the Testing Room page.
The flexibility in attendance and assignments accommodation has the following policies:
- The student 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.
- The student is 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 Disability Services receives a letter from the appropriate medical professional directly supporting this accommodation.
Disability Services 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. Disability Services thanks all students with disabilities for assisting Idaho State University in the pursuit of academic excellence.
The use of a notetaker accommodation has the following policies:
- The student is allowed to recruit or have recruited for them a volunteer notetaker from the students in the class.
- Volunteer notetakers receive a $30.00 gift certificate to the Bookstore
- Faculty should assist with finding the student a notetaker by announcing the following: "Is someone interested in taking notes for a student with a disability? The notetaker will receive a stipend of $30.00 in the form of a gift certificate which can be redeemed at Idaho State University's Follett Bookstore. Please see me after class for more information."
- Faculty then connect volunteer notetakers with the student with a disability in a private setting.
- It is the students' responsibility to exchange contact information with their notetaker.
- Notes for students with disabilities can be copied at Disability Services.
- Volunteer notetakers can obtain carbon-copy notepads free of charge at Disability Services.
- Volunteer notetakers need to obtain their stipend at the end of the semester at Disability Services.
The permission to record lectures accommodation has the following policies:
- The student is allowed to use an audio recording device for lectures which they attend.
- The student agrees that the professor's disseminated information could be used for copyrighted purposes.
- The student agrees to use the authorized semester's and class's recorded lectures specifically and solely to assist and enhance their personal education, learning, and acquisition of the course's material.
- The student agrees to have no malicious, self-profiting, or any other than good intention.
- The student agrees not to reproduce the recording of the lectures and notes taken in connection with those lectures.
- The student agrees not to share the recorded lectures and notes taken in connection with those lectures with any other than their notetaker or their instructor.
- The student agrees to erase all recordings of class lectures.
The use of text-to-speech software accommodation and the use of speech-to-text software accommodation have the following policies:
- The student is allowed to use text-to-speech or speech-to-text software for lectures and exams.
- The student agrees to work with the instructor to ensure minimal disruption to normal academic activity. This includes potentially using the Disability Services Testing room for exams.
- The student is allowed to use an effective software accommodation for their disability. If the instructor feels this is inappropriate, the student and instructor should meet with Disability Services to see what measure should be taken.
For more information on using the testing room, see the Using the Testing Room page.
The use of instructor's notes accommodation has the following policies:
- The student is allowed to have access to the instructor's notes for the course.
- The instructor is not obligated to prepare or edit their notes with unreasonable care.
The use of a reader for tests accommodation and use of a scribe for tests accommodation have the following policies:
- The student is allowed to use a reader or a scribe for tests.
- Disability Services shall provide the reader or the scribe if the test is taken in the Disability Services Testing Room.
- If the test is not taken in the Testing Room, Disability Services shall assist in finding an appropriate reader or scribe.
- The student is not allowed extra time directly from this accommodation, though that may still be granted with another accommodation.
- Disability Services readers and scribes will not be assigned to read tests for classes for which the may be later enrolled.
- The reader may be requested to re-read a question, but may not offer clarification. If clarification of a question is a problem for the student, the student may write a brief explanation of their understanding of the question, or the reader may assist the student in contacting the professor.
- The student must not make inappropriate requests of the readers, i.e., asking a reader to provide information related to an examination question, engaging the reader in extraneous conversations during examinations, or asking a reader to fill out forms for them using his or her own judgment. If a student makes an inappropriate request of a reader, the reader must submit a written incident report to Disability Services. Disability Services will determine what action needs to be taken with the student. Serious incidents will be reported promptly to the professor. Repeated or serious warnings may result in the student being referred to Student Affairs.
The use of a calculator for tests accommodation and the use of a page of formula notes for tests accommodation have the following policies:
- The student is allowed to use a calculator for tests, when academically permissible.
- The student is allowed to create one page of formula notes, when academically permissible.
- The instructor is allowed to determine the type and scope of the calculator.
- The instructor is allowed to determine when use of a calculator or notes is not academically permissible because it would fundamentally alter the nature of the course or subject. If the instructor rules a calculator or notes is not academically permissible, the student is not allowed a calculator or notes for the tests.
For more information on sign language interpreters, see the Deaf Services page.