disability rights and responsibilities at the university of north dakota

The University of North Dakota (UND) is responsible for providing reasonable accommodations/adjustments to ensure there is no discrimination on the basis of disability as established under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. To meet this responsibility, UND and Disability Services for Students (DSS) have established policies and practices that comply with federal law and provide appropriate and reasonable accommodations to eligible students with disabilities.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THE RIGHT TO:

• Equal access to UND’s courses, programs, activities, services, and facilities. This includes access to housing and transportation at a comparable level provided to all other students.


• Reasonable and appropriate accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary aids determined on an individual and course by course basis.


• Information available in accessible formats.


• Appropriate confidentiality of all information pertaining to the disability within the parameters of the law, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).


• File a complaint regarding the University’s decisions about access; see the UND Code of Student Life, Appendix I: Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Policy Statement and Procedures for Complaints of Discrimination or Harassment.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO:

• Meet UND’s requisite qualifications, essential technical standards and conduct standards.


• Identify themselves to DSS as persons with a disability and comply with the DSS eligibility process when requesting accommodations.


• Provide documentation from a qualified professional that states the diagnosis, describes the functional limitations, and supports the need for specific accommodations. See the DSS Guidelines for Disability Documentation.


• Follow the specific procedures for obtaining and using reasonable accommodations, academic adjustments and disability-related services established by Disability Services for Students.

UND FACULTY HAVE THE RIGHT TO:

Provide a different accommodation than requested as long as the alternative provides equal access in an appropriate and reasonable way.

• Refuse to provide accommodations for students with disabilities who have not followed DSS’s eligibility and accommodations policies and procedures.


• Consult with DSS about accommodations, modifications and/or auxiliary aids requested by students.


• Identify and establish the essential skills and knowledge required in their academic courses/programs and evaluate each student’s performance on that basis.

UND FACULTY HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO:

• Maintain the academic standards set by the University.


• Hold students with disabilities to the same standards as students without disabilities.


• Inform students how to request accommodations in their classes by including a statement on the syllabus.


• Provide access in the classroom to the resources used and to all course activities at a level comparable to that provided other students. This includes, but is not limited to, captioned videos shown in class, materials on reserve at the library available in alternate formats, accessible transportation for field trips and testing accommodations.


• Respond to students’ requests for accommodations and provide them in a timely manner. This includes discussing the request with the student; asking to see the student’s Verification of Need for Disability Accommodations letter and contacting DSS with any concerns.


• Maintain the confidentiality of disability-related information and communication unless given written consent or authorized by the student.

DISABILITY Services for Students HAS THE RIGHT TO:

• Request that a student provide current documentation of disability, including information on the functional limitations of the disability.


• Evaluate disability documentation and associated functional information according to the DSS Guidelines for Disability Documentation and determine whether a student is eligible for accommodations.


• Select among equally effective and appropriate accommodations, modifications, and/or auxiliary aids on an individual and course by course basis and in consultation with the student.


• Deny a request for accommodations, modifications, and/or auxiliary aids if the documentation does not identify a specific disability or the documentation fails to verify the need for the requested services.


• Refuse to provide an accommodation, modification, and/or auxiliary aid that is unreasonable or inappropriate. This includes accommodations that: 1) pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others 2) constitute a substantial change or alteration to an essential component of a course or program 3) pose an undue financial or administrative burden to the University.

DISABILITY Services for Students HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO:

• Maintain the academic integrity and standards of the University and assist the University in providing access to all programs.


• Provide information regarding policies and procedures to students with disabilities in a timely manner and in alternate format upon request.


• Provide or arrange for appropriate and reasonable accommodations in a timely manner.
• Maintain appropriate confidentiality of records and communication except where disclosure is required by law or authorized by the student with a disability.

UND HAS THE RIGHT TO:

• Maintain admissions, academic and graduation standards.


• Not provide assessment to establish a learning, psychological or medical disability.


• Not provide personal care attendants, personal or private tutors or prepare IEP’s (Individual Education Plans).

UND HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO:

• Review and revise institutional, programmatic, employment and other policies and procedures to assure they do not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities.


• Ensure that the institution’s courses, programs, services, jobs, activities and facilities, when viewed in their entirety, are offered in the most integrated and appropriate settings based on a review of what the law requires.