Disability Resource Center

Flexible Participation and Course Delivery

Overview and Eligibility

The University is committed to supporting students and program participants with COVID19-based risk factors. We in the Disability Resource Center (DRC), in conjunction with the Office of Equity and Compliance (OEC), will work with students who are most vulnerable to complications from COVID-19 to ensure that they have reasonable accommodations to participate in education and university life as safely as possible.

You may consider requesting Flexible Participation and Course Delivery as an accommodation through the Disability Resource Center if:

  • You have “Long COVID” or you have had COVID, you have isolated for the full 10 days, but you continue to be substantially impacted by your symptoms , or
  • You have one or more medical conditions or disabilities and/or “high risk factors” (as defined by the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html) that puts you at a higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19, or
  • You have a medical condition or disability not included in the CDC high risk health factors that you believe is affected by COVID-19.

The DRC will determine whether your request is reasonable on a course-by-course basis.

Students may request Flexible Participation and Course Delivery for all academic-related requirements including field placement/internships.

Disability Resource Center Process

The DRC will determine whether your request is reasonable on a course-by-course basis.

We will consider approving a wide range of COVID19 related accommodations, including but not limited to:

  • Additional/enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • On-campus housing accommodations
  • Alternatives to specific in-person expectations or components of the course(s)
  • Flexible participation and course delivery for all or some in-person academic requirements (see next section for details.)

Flexible Participation and Course Delivery

Portland State University (PSU) primarily offers in-person instruction. Most of the university’s academic programs have essential in-person components. Flexible participation and/or course delivery may be approved as a reasonable accommodation if a student’s disability prevents them from being able to participate in person, if flexible or remote participation does not constitute a fundamental alteration of the program or activity or change learning outcomes, and if it is determined to be the most reasonable and appropriate accommodation available.

Please note the following:

  • Flexible or remote participation as an accommodation can manifest in a number of different ways depending on all the factors involved. Flexible or remote participation will not result in the entire class going to a remote format. Therefore, if approved, the accommodation would be provided in the most equitable manner possible under the specific circumstances. 
  • Students making the request for flexible or remote participation will need to engage in the interactive process with a DRC Access Counselor & Consultant (AC&C) to discuss their reasons for the request. DRC staff will also want to know as much as possible about current/upcoming courses in which the accommodation is being requested. 
  • Students eligible for flexible or remote participation are approved one quarter at a time on a course-by-course basis. Approval is contingent upon determining feasibility for remote participation for the student’s specific courses in which they are enrolled for the current/upcoming term, and determinations are made in collaboration with the student’s instructors. 
  • This accommodation cannot be used to convert an in-person program into an all-virtual experience.

Step 1: Pursue Schedule Adjustments

If you are enrolled in in-person courses and you have concerns about the instruction modality (in-person, remote, online, etc.) of those upcoming courses, you should first contact your academic advisor to ask whether there are remote or online courses that will meet your needs. Your DRC Access Counselor & Consultant (AC&C) will ask about this when meeting with you to discuss your request.

If scheduling adjustments do not adequately address your COVID-related concerns, then please submit an accommodation request. Keep in mind the priority deadline for requests is always three weeks prior to the first day of the term. You may submit your request after that period but course delivery options may be limited at that time. 

Step 2A: Students Already Registered with the DRC

  1. Schedule an appointment with your DRC Access Counselor & Consultant to make your request. 
  2. New documentation may not be required. Next steps will be shared with you during your scheduled appointment. Should you wish, however, to proactively submit the Flexible Participation and Course Delivery Supplemental Documentation Form to your Qualified Professional, feel free to do so in advance.
  3. Monitor your PSU email for questions from the DRC team, status updates, and next steps. Until the DRC has made a determination of reasonable accommodation and communicated that to you and to your instructor in writing, you are expected to participate in class just as your peers are expected as per the course syllabus and any other direction given by your instructor.

Step 2B: Students Not Registered with the DRC

  1. Submit a DRC Application for Accommodations. 
  2. Contact the DRC to schedule an initial appointment. We are offering primarily remote appointment options at this time.
  3. Upload documentation with your Accommodation Application form. We will review and consider all pieces of documentation submitted. Your documentation should confirm your diagnosis and address how you are affected by COVID19 as a result of your medical condition or disability. It may be helpful to share our Flexible Participation and Course Delivery Supplemental Documentation Form with your Qualified Professional.
  4. Monitor your PSU email for questions from the DRC team, status updates, and next steps. Until the DRC has made a determination of reasonable accommodation and communicated that to you and to your instructor in writing, you are expected to participate in class just as your peers are expected as per the course syllabus and any other direction given by your instructor.

If you have questions about the information on this page, please contact the Disability Resource Center.

Email: drc@pdx.edu
Phone: 503-725-4150

Check our home page for our hours and contact information.