Information for Faculty

Faculty are responsible for implementing the accommodations that students activate for their classes. There is a downloadable document with detailed information about accommodations.

• To help you track activated accommodations, DRC has added a Faculty Portal to our website.  The faculty portal allows instructors to view all activated accommodations in one place, export accommodations to a spreadsheet, and add Teaching Assistants to a class.
• DRC accommodations are meant to apply across many different types of learning contexts – because of that, it may be hard to understand how the accommodation applies in the context of your course.  If you’re struggling to know what you’re actually meant to do, Access Counselors & Consultants (AC&Cs) are here to help.
  • For a consultation, call the DRC at 503-725-4150 or email us at drc@pdx.edu.
• Accommodations are not meant to alter the written measurable learning objectives of your course or program. If this is a concern, contact the DRC immediately at 503-725-4150 or email us at drc@pdx.edu to consult with an AC&C about the possibility of the accommodation undermining fundamental course learning objectives.
  • Assistance with writing clear, measurable learning objectives can be found in the Office of Academic Innovation (OAI).

The DRC meets with students to determine if they’re eligible for disability-related accommodations and which accommodations are necessary to ensure equal access to learning opportunities.  

Sometimes, faculty may need DRC assistance to implement accommodations like American Sign Language (ASL) interpreting, live speech-to-text services, closed captioning, accessible textbooks, and others.  When DRC provides these services, the faculty notification email will let you know what we’ll need from you to do so.  Our service coordinators may also be in touch with you.  The DRC or the student will provide equipment such as furniture, adaptive technology, and other aids.

• If a student without a Faculty Notification Email requests accommodations, we recommend that faculty refer them to the DRC.
• The Reasonable Accommodation and Access Policy provides more information about the accommodation process. 

Students are responsible for connecting with the DRC.

• More information on how the accommodations process works for students is available at our website.  
• Students with approved accommodations are responsible for activating their accommodations each quarter in the DRC student portal.
  • When students activate their accommodations, the DRC system will send you a “Notification Email” that lists the accommodations the student has applied to your class.  You can think of this email as coming from the student - this email is how the DRC facilitates student communication with faculty about accommodations.  
  • You may disregard the Faculty Notification Email if the student is not enrolled in your class.

Note: Students may apply for accommodations at any time; they may also activate approved accommodations at any time.  However, activated accommodations are not retroactive. Faculty cannot implement accommodations they don’t know about.  Some accommodations may take time to implement. 

A student’s accommodation information is protected by FERPA. Here are some helpful things to keep in mind about the intersection of disability-related accommodation and FERPA:

• Avoid disclosing accommodation information to anyone who doesn’t need it to do their job at PSU.
  • For example, students in the classroom do not need to know who has extended testing accommodations to fulfill their role as a student.  In contrast, your Teaching Assistant who is responsible for proctoring exams needs to know who has extended testing accommodations. As another example, your department coordinator may need to know how many students require the use of a reserved space for reduced-distraction testing, but not the identity of those students.  
• Avoid discussing a specific student's disability or accommodations where others can hear. Hold individual conversations about accommodations in a private space or initiate a conversation via email.
• While disability-related information is protected by FERPA, sometimes, the nature of the accommodation means that others will know that a person has a disability.  For example, a student who uses an ASL interpreter will likely be obvious in the classroom. A student using an accessible furniture accommodation will be observed by others using that furniture.  Simply implementing such an accommodation does not violate FERPA.
• The DRC observes FERPA and the confidentiality requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in that we don’t share a student’s diagnoses or symptoms with faculty.  In observance of these regulations, we pass along only the information that faculty need to know to implement approved accommodations.  
  • If a student offers to give you disability documentation, the DRC recommends that you decline to accept it and refer the student to the DRC in accordance with PSU’s Reasonable Accommodation/Access policy. 

Add the Following Access and Inclusion Syllabus Statement

Access and Inclusion for Students with Disabilities

PSU values diversity, equity, and inclusion. My goal is to create a learning environment that is accessible, equitable, inclusive, and welcoming. I am committed to fostering mutual respect and full participation for all students. If any aspects of instruction or course design result in barriers to your inclusion or learning, the Disability Resource Center (DRC) provides accommodations in the learning environment.

If you have, or think you may have, a disability that may affect your work in this class and feel you need accommodations, contact the DRC to schedule an appointment and initiate a conversation about reasonable accommodations. The DRC works with students who have physical, learning, cognitive, mental health, sensory, chronic illness, and all other disabilities.

If you already have accommodations: Please contact me to make sure that I have received your Faculty Notification Email, and to discuss your accommodations.

The DRC is located in Smith Memorial Student Union, Suite 116. You can also contact the DRC at 503-725-4150, drc@pdx.edu, or visit the DRC website (https://www.pdx.edu/disability-resource-center).