- If you have a medical condition that substantially limits a major life activity such as walking, sleeping, eating, breathing, concentrating, self-care, learning, or performing manual tasks, you may qualify for accommodations to provide you with equal access to the activities and benefits of High Point University.
- If you received accommodations through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan, you may choose to request accommodations at High Point University. Academic accommodations do not automatically transfer over when students begin attending college. Students who received accommodations in high school must self-identify by formally registering with the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS).
Transitioning from high school to college involves a lot of changes for students with disabilities. Not only does the legislation that defines a student’s disability, functional limitations, and what determines equal access all change, but so does the process by which a student receives and utilizes accommodations.
High Point University (HPU) provides students with disabilities accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disabilities. There are several differences between the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 (IDEA) which provides accommodations to students in the K-12 school system in which children are afforded a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE). At the university level, students are afforded accommodations by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
The differences between receiving accommodations in high school versus receiving accommodations in higher education at High Point University are outlined below:
| High School | College | |
|---|---|---|
| Applicable Laws | •Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 •Rehabilitation Act of 1973 •Section 504 (D) | •Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) •Rehabilitation Act of 1973 •Section 504 (E) |
| Required Documentation | •Individual Education Plan •School provides evaluation at no cost to the student. •School conducts evaluations at prescribed intervals. | •Varies depending on the disability. •IEP and 504 Plans are not sufficient; must substantiate a significant impairment in the environment which the requested accommodations are based. •Student responsible for obtaining evaluation. •Student generally is not required to be re-tested after initial documentation approval unless additional accommodations warrant more documentation. |
| Confidentiality | •Information about diagnoses and approved accommodations are shared widely with school personnel. | •All disability-related information is confidentially maintained within OARS. •Accommodation information may be shared per student request. •In accordance with university policies, information may be disclosed only when necessary and on a need-to-know basis. |
| Parental Role | •Parent has access to student’s records and participates in accommodation process. •Parent advocates for the student •Information is shared with entire team. | •FERPA is necessary for parental contact. •Student advocates for self •Student must self-identify and request accommodations in every circumstance in which they’re seeking equal access. |
| Student Role | •Student is identified and supported by parents and teachers. •Contact is driven by the school system. •Primary responsibility for accommodations is that of the school. | •Students must self-identify to OARS. •Contact is initiated by the student. •Students must execute accommodations with assistance from OARS. |
| Curriculum and Instruction | •Schools may modify curriculum and/or alter the pace of assignments. •Accommodations meant to assure highest potential. | •Accommodations provide equal access. •Faculty not required to modify curriculum and accommodations cannot fundamentally alter the learning objectives of a class, program, or degree. •Learn more on the OARS tab "Understanding Fundamental Alteration." |
| Grades | •Tests and other evaluations may be modified to meet the student’s needs. •Grades may be modified based on the quality of the curriculum. | •Grades reflect the work submitted. •Students must adhere to all assignment deadlines. |
| Conduct | •Disruptive conduct may be accepted depending on the student’s disability. | •Disruptive behavior and inability to abide by the University’s Code of Conduct and/or Honor Code are deemed “not qualified” and can be dismissed. |
No, accommodations received in high school may not be appropriate in a collegiate setting, e.g. providing face-to-face instructions, study guides, decreased number of assignments, etc. Instructions on how to register with OARS and request accommodations are on the OARS Academic Accommodations page. To apply for accommodations, students must:
- Fill out the OARS Accommodate Registration
- Submit diagnostic documentation that verifies a learning difference and/or other diagnoses as an attachment to the application. Students may also submit documentation to our department via fax (336-888-6324) or email [email protected].
The Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS) provides accommodations for each individual student on a case-by-case basis according to their specific functional limitations. Common accommodations include, but are not limited to:
- Extended time on tests
- Testing in a distraction–reduced environment
- Note-taking assistance
- Books in an alternate format
- Interpreting/Transcribing
- Accessible classrooms
No, the presence of a disability will not influence the admission decision. Consideration for disabilities is not part of the enrollment decision. You should not share your documentation with any entity if you have not committed to attending there. OARS cannot access and process disability-related information until AFTER a student has been admitted to the University.
Yes! It is not required, but it is more convenient for students to have their accommodations in place prior to the beginning of classes.
Students requesting academic accommodations will need to register with OARS at this link: OARS Public Intake Form. Students are encouraged to explore the OARS Academic Accommodations page to learn more about documentation requirements. While completing the registration form, students should:
- Fill out the OARS Accommodate Registration
- Submit diagnostic documentation that verifies a learning difference and/or other diagnoses as an attachment to your application. You may also submit documentation to our department via fax (336-888-6324) or email [email protected].
OARS does not require documentation to be within a specific time frame; however, OARS makes determinations based on the most relevant, timely documentation available. If you suspect your disability-related functional limitations have changed over time, we recommend having updated diagnostic testing completed so that our team has an accurate picture of your current needs to make informed decisions related to your reasonable accommodations.
No. For our purpose, a qualified medical professional is defined as a non-family member whose professional training qualifies them to diagnose and treat the impairments associated with the disability. We recommend you get established with another provider who can provide documentation that substantiates your disability-related needs.
Once you have submitted your online registration and verified documentation, an Accessibility Support Specialist will meet with you and review your request to determine appropriate reasonable accommodation(s). You will receive an official eligibility letter of accommodation(s) for which you are approved or deferred via your High Point University email. If your reasonable accommodation request is deferred, the eligibility letter will include the reason for the deferral decision and the steps to appeal the decision.
All students are required to take foreign language 1010 and 1020 unless approved by OARS for a foreign language substitution accommodation. Only students with documented substantial functional limitations specific to learning a foreign language are eligible for a foreign language substitution (FLS). Note: Some students may not qualify for an FLS accommodation in college, even though they received a foreign language waiver in high school. FLS must be specifically requested by the student, as course substitutions do not come automatically.
To be considered for a foreign language substitution, students must submit the following:
- OARS Accommodate Registration, if not yet registered with OARS.
- Send in your most recent psychoeducational evaluation.
Students who are already registered with OARS should submit a Supplemental Request to request FLS as an accommodation.
An instructor cannot deny your accommodation unless the implementation of the accommodation results in a fundamental alteration to the nature of a program, service, or activity. This means that while accommodations may be provided to ensure equal access, we cannot modify the essential academic standards or the core competencies required for a course, program, or degree. OARS will work with the instructor to make informed decisions regarding fundamental alteration.
To learn more, explore Understanding Fundamental Alteration.
If this is your first time requesting accommodations through OARS, you will need to register with our office. Please see #3 for more information on this process. If you are already registered with OARS, you should follow the directions below:
- Log in to Accommodate using your HPU username and password.
- Select Accommodation on the left-hand side of the page.
- Select Supplemental Accommodation Request and answer the questions accordingly.
- If you are requesting housing accommodations for the first time, you must submit documentation using the OARS Accessible Housing Form.
The Request for Accessible Housing Form should be completed by a licensed professional familiar with your care and needs. This documentation should include a diagnosis with the accompanying symptoms and characteristics specific to you, recommended accommodation(s), and how the recommended accommodation(s) will address the functional limitations caused by the diagnosis.
Please review the documentation criteria for additional information regarding housing accommodations at High Point University.
NOTE: If you do not utilize the ADA housing placement offered by the Office of Student Life, and decide that you would like to apply your housing accommodations for the next academic year, you must contact OARS to notify us of your intention to utilize the accommodations prior to February 14th.
OARS no longer requires annual renewals of housing accommodations. If you have utilized your ADA housing placement assigned by the Office of Student Life, there is no additional actions required of you. If you did not utilize the ADA housing placement offered by the Office of Student Life, and decide that you would like to apply your housing accommodations for the next academic year, you must contact OARS to notify us of your intention to utilize the accommodations prior to February 14th.
You have the option to work with roommates, suitemates, and Residence Life to consider other housing options that are available. All concerns with living with an animal will be handled by the Office of Student Life.
High Point University does not allow pets. Students with a documented disability who utilize an ESA to mitigate their disability-related functional limitations can request to bring their ESA to campus. To apply for an ESA, students must:
- Complete the OARS Accommodate Registration (if not yet registered with OARS) or submit a Supplemental Request through Accommodate (if already registered with OARS).
- Submit ESA In Case of Emergency (ICE) contact information during the request process within the Accommodate Portal. This will require the Resident to identify an off-campus person, who is not a current HPU student, who will take possession of the animal if the animal must be excluded from campus under Section VI of the ESA Policy. The ICE contact should be able to get to campus and retrieve the animal within the business day of contact (if needed).
- Review and sign the Rules and Responsibilities of a Resident with an Approved Emotional Support Animal.
- Participate in an interactive meeting with an Accessibility Specialist to review the request.
- Submit the ESA Documentation Form (which you will receive at the time of your meeting with the Accessibility Specialist) completed by a qualified medical or mental health professional.**
- Submit up-to-date veterinary records of your animal’s immunizations, flea and tick treatments, and/or wellness visit.
- Submit a current photo of your ESA.
- Follow official approval, obtain an ESA tag and door decal.
** A qualified medical professional, for our purposes, is defined as a non-family member whose professional training qualifies them to diagnose and treat the impairments associated with the student’s disability. The student must either be a current patient of the professional or have a documented established history of treatment. Each question on the required forms must be completed by the medical professional.**
Deadline for ESA Approval: 6 weeks prior to the start of the semester or academic year.
The ESA approval is applicable for the student’s entire time at HPU as long as the student complies with the ESA Rules & Responsibilities, therefore renewals are not required.
The student is responsible for submitting updated vaccination records and/or annual veterinary visit reports to the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services prior to the expiration of the current records (or anniversary date of ESA approval if vaccinations are not required for the animal). In the event that the student fails to submit updated records, OARS will file an ESA violation report, and the ESA will be deemed unauthorized. Updated vaccination records and/or annual veterinary visit reports can be uploaded to the student’s Accommodate account.
The student is also responsible for maintaining accurate In Case of Emergency records with the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services. If the In Case of Emergency contact changes, or their contact information changes, the student must submit the updated information to their Accessibility Specialist.
Upon a student’s initial approval by OARS, a decision letter will be sent to the student’s High Point University email. Each semester you are responsible for requesting your accommodations, identifying yourself to your instructors, and discussing the implementation of your accommodations. It is the student’s responsibility to utilize those accommodations as needed. Neither OARS nor the Professors will “remind” students to use their accommodations.
It is essential to request your academic accommodations be submitted to your instructors as soon as possible because accommodations are not provided retroactively. You must meet with each instructor to discuss how your accommodations will be provided in the classroom and during exams. The process to electronically request your accommodations using Accommodate is below:
- Log into Accommodate using your HPU username and password.
- Select Accommodation on the left-hand side of the screen.
- Select Instructor Notification Request.
- Select add new.
- Select the semester.
- Select submit for all OR select review to select which courses you want to utilize accommodations.
- Meet with each of your instructors as soon as possible to discuss how you will use your accommodations in their class. You must meet with each instructor to ensure your accommodations are furnished for each class.
NOTE: Once a semester request is submitted, a copy of your letter will be sent to your faculty to review via Accommodate.
- Please note: if you add a new class after submitting a semester request, you will need to submit a new request in order for letters to be sent to your new faculty.
Requesting notifications to be sent to instructors must be done every semester for each of your class. When your Notice of Student Accommodations is emailed to your instructor(s), you will also receive an email sent to your HPU email address.
No. In most situations, reasonable accommodations are granted on a permanent basis while you are an enrolled student at HPU. If your disability-related limitations change, you should connect with your Accessibility Specialist to determine if you need additional accommodations. However, you are required to submit notifications of your accommodations to your professors each semester. See question #5 for more information on this process.
At the beginning of each semester, after submitting notifications of your accommodations to your instructors, you should discuss with each professor (possibly via email or during their office hours) how you will use your accommodations in each specific class. It is your responsibility to submit notifications and use your accommodations each semester. If you believe that you are not receiving your accommodations appropriately, contact your Accessibility Support Specialist at 336-841-9026 or by email at [email protected]. We are here to assist with any questions or concerns you may have.
Students must log in to their Accommodate Portal and schedule an exam at least 3 business days before the exam/quiz date and at least 6 business days before the midterm/final date. Students may schedule an exam by clicking “Testing Room” on the left-hand side of their OARS Accommodate Portal.
Accommodations are NOT retroactive. It is important to request your accommodations at the beginning of each semester. Accommodations are only provided AFTER you have requested OARS notify your instructors of your approved accommodations and have met with your professors to discuss your accommodations.
No. The choice to use your accommodations is completely up to you. OARS strongly suggests that you always request notifications of your accommodations be sent to your instructors for every class at the beginning of each semester so they are in place and ready to use should you need them.
OARS does not provide or arrange for tutoring for students. However, tutoring is available for all students through Academic Tutoring Services. HPU has a great peer tutoring program under the direction of Dr. Craig Curty. Students can request a peer tutor for most 1000 and 2000-level classes through Academic Tutoring Services. The Writing Center is available to all students, as well as the Math Lab, which takes place 3 days each week from 11:30-1:00 under the direction of various math professors.
No. Submit a Supplemental Accommodation Request through your Accommodate Portal or schedule an appointment with your assigned Accessibility Specialist by calling 336-841-9026 to discuss the additional accommodations you think you need. In some cases, your Accessibility Specialist may request additional documentation to support your request.
Yes! OARS can assist students who need temporary accommodations due to an accident/illness or a short–term disability. These are addressed on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the OARS at 336-841-9026 or [email protected] for assistance.