Converse University complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended through 1998), the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and the non-discrimination requirements of Section 35.107 of the Department of Justice regulations. Title II of the ADA states: No qualified individual with a disability shall, because of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity (42 USC 12132). Converse recognizes its responsibility to provide equivalent access to academically qualified students with documented disabilities while maintaining standards essential to the academic program. A student with a disability is someone with either a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.
Accommodations are adjustments that help ensure students with a disability have equal access to, and are not excluded from, the same opportunities as their peers. No otherwise qualified individual will be denied accommodations for a disability unless the accommodation would cause an undue hardship on the university. Students are responsible for notifying the university of their need for accommodations, submitting the appropriate online application, providing supporting documentation that substantiates their request, and attending an intake meeting to discuss their options with the Case Manager for Student Accessibility Services.
Any faculty member who receives a request for academic accommodations due to a disability must refer the student to the Case Manager for Student Accessibility Services immediately. No modification of the present program or promises of modification should be made until the Case Manager has made a recommendation. Furthermore, accommodations are not retroactive and only go into effect once a student has provided their Certified Accommodation Plan (CAP) to their instructor.
Questions or concerns regarding the accommodation process should be directed to the Case Manager for Student Accessibility Services at accessibilityservices@converse.edu or call 864-596-9027.
Admissions
Students are admitted to Converse based on academic credentials and additional information submitted to the Admission Office. Accommodation records are confidential and are not included in school transcripts. Applicants are not required to disclose any disability on their applications for admission to Converse; however, once admitted, students with disabilities seeking reasonable academic or housing accommodations should register with Student Accessibility Services. All requests should be submitted as early as possible to allow sufficient time for processing.
College students are expected to work independently. Accommodations in college may look different from those provided in high school. Students are encouraged to utilize all available campus resources in addition to approved accommodations.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Converse will make reasonable accommodations within its academic programs for “otherwise qualified” students with documented disabilities; however, students and parents should understand that accommodations provided in secondary schools under P.L. 94.142 (IDEA) are not necessarily required by law under the ADA or Section 504 or supplied by Converse. Many of the practices and procedures of special education (goal-setting, progress reports, team meetings, program and exam modifications, related services, and annual reviews) have no parallels in higher education. Behavior standards are the same for all students. Converse does not provide transportation for students. Personal care attendants, orientation/mobility training, and assistive devices are considered personal services in higher education and are the student’s responsibility. Although Converse does not offer specialized services for students with disabilities, we will provide them with equal access to services offered to all students. All students are eligible to use peer tutoring sessions in selected disciplines through the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL). The Writing Center is another free service offered on campus. Course substitution requests are evaluated individually, based on the documentation provided; however, the university is not required to fundamentally alter essential course/program requirements.
Testing to determine the need for accommodations is the student’s responsibility and is not provided by Converse. IEPs or 504 plans do not automatically meet the documentation requirements for receiving accommodations in higher education. Documentation from an appropriate, licensed professional or agency is required to determine reasonable accommodations. Diagnostic evaluations or reports should be current, in most cases within three years, and should be sent directly from the qualified professional to the Case Manager for Student Accessibility Services. The documentation should indicate the diagnosis, describe the level of severity of the disability, and provide recommendations for reasonable accommodations that the professional deems necessary to assist the student with a disability in the college setting. A current comprehensive psycho-educational evaluation is required for learning disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and ADHD.
Procedure for requesting Academic or Housing Accommodations
Students should submit a completed accommodation application, which can be found on the Student Accessibility page in My.Converse, along with supporting documentation. Advance notice is required to allow time for review, consultation, and to secure available support services and/or equipment. All information and records regarding students with disabilities, including accommodations, are strictly confidential. The Division for Student Development and Success complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Records are stored in a secure location and reviewed only by authorized personnel.
It is the student’s responsibility to discuss accommodations with each professor at the beginning of each term. If a student has concerns about or encounters problems with accommodations during the term, they should contact the Case Manager for Student Accessibility Services to have the accommodations adjusted appropriately. A student who is not satisfied with accommodation implementation, or is denied an accommodation request, may initiate the student grievance procedure as outlined in the Undergraduate Student Handbook.
Documentation Guidelines
Documentation from External Sources:
Students should understand that while medical or educational documentation can establish a diagnosis, not every diagnosis qualifies as a disability under the law. Relevant information from external sources can help substantiate the presence of a disability and the need for accommodations, in conjunction with a student's self-report and a Case Manager's expertise. This information should provide evidence of the functional limitations of the disability and its impact on the student's life. The criteria for the source, scope, and content of documentation vary by disability type. Documentation may include assessments, reports, and/or letters from qualified healthcare providers, psychologists, or diagnosticians, as well as information from a previous school (e.g., 504 plan, IEP, or ARD documents). To ensure an objective assessment, the professional completing the evaluation must be an impartial individual who is neither related to the student nor has a personal relationship with them.
Suggested Documentation Guidelines:
- Typed on letterhead, dated, and signed by a qualified licensed professional.
- Diagnostic statement with any related diagnostic methodology (e.g., diagnostic criteria, procedures, assessment instruments, and/or test scores).
- Functional limitations or symptoms. (Limitations identify which accommodations are appropriate.)
- Severity and/or expected progression.
- Current medication(s) and any related side-effects.
- Any other relevant information and/or additional information regarding the condition.
- Current and/or past accommodations.
Specific documentation guidelines are provided to assist students in obtaining appropriate documentation from qualified licensed professionals. The provision of this documentation assists the SAS Case Manager in understanding the impact of the disability, the student’s needs, and potential accommodations. Documentation is required for the following reasons:
- to verify the existence of a disability
- to support the request for each specific accommodation
- to review the nature of the disability and its impact in the postsecondary environment
- to assist in the collaborative determination of eligibility for auxiliary aids and services
The Converse University Wellness Center does not administer evaluations/assessments required for documentation of disabilities. The Wellness Center can screen for symptoms, but will refer students elsewhere for a formal assessment for ADHD, learning disabilities, or other disabilities that fall outside of their scope of services.
The Case Manager for Student Accessibility Services will review the submitted materials and schedule a meeting to discuss appropriate accommodations with the student.