Student Accessibility & Testing Services

Lander University values and appreciates the diversity that students with disabilities bring to the university.

Working in partnership with faculty, staff, and administration, the goal of the Office of Student Accessibility & Testing Services is to promote an accessible, inclusive, and fully integrated university experience for students with disabilities and ensure they are able to participate in all aspects of university life. Empowering students to realize their academic potential is central to the work that we do.

Advocacy

The laws concerning the rights and responsibilities of the University regarding students with disabilities differ from those you've navigated in high school. You'll be responsible for voluntarily disclosing your disability, providing documentation and requesting appropriate accommodations. These may be different from those you received in high school.

In college, you'll advocate for yourself. We offer a student handbook that outlines your rights and responsibilities and prepares you for your greater role in managing your education and accommodations. Though the services may change, it's important you inform us about your past, so we're able to provide the right support.

Confidentiality & Release Information

Parents and guardians are a critical component to all aspects of the educational trajectory, however, that involvement does shift once a student becomes 18 years of age and is admitted to a college or university. At that time, parents and guardians are not legally allowed access to a student's educational information. The Federal Education and Right to Privacy Act (FERPA) allows for the release of private and confidential information to specified persons. Families are allowed to access information if a student has signed a release of information form.

Common Accommodations

Lander University is committed to providing students with equitable access and participation in academics and other programs sponsored by the University as mandated by federal law. The process for granting accommodations to qualified students with documented disabilities is managed by the Director of Student Accessibility and Testing Services.

Faculty should only implement accommodations approved by the Director of Student Accessibility and Testing Services. Faculty will have access to a listing of student with approved accommodations through their myLander account. Students are responsible for notifying their professors of use of accommodations.

By law, disability and accommodation information should be kept private, and only shared with University personnel who have a legitimate need to know.

Typical accommodations provided by our office include:

Advocacy services
Testing accommodations
Approval of alternative notetaking (apps, recordings, etc.)
Assistive technology
Eligibility determination for housing accommodations
Eligibility determination for service and emotional support animals on campus

Process for Requesting Accommodations

The Office of Student Accessibility and Testing Services is committed to supporting students with documented disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations tailored to each student’s needs. Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis and are based on the documented functional limitations of the student’s disability.

To begin the process, students must:

Be officially accepted to Lander University
Have a valid Lander ID number
Complete the Intake Form

Once submitted, the form will be reviewed by the Director of Student Accessibility and Testing Services, who will then schedule an initial intake appointment.

Housing Accommodations

Housing and Residence Life provides a variety of housing options. Most rooms in the residence halls are double occupancy, and a few are equipped to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Students requiring single room occupancy may request a private room. Students with disabilities should request housing needs as soon as they are admitted to the University. All documentation is due to the Office of Student Accessibility and Testing Services by March 1. Documentation submitted later will be considered and Lander University will make a good faith effort to provide reasonable accommodations but may not be able to guarantee that appropriate residential provisions will be completed within that semester.

Students seeking housing accommodations must complete the approval process with the Office of Student Accessibility and Testing Services, including submission of all required documentation. Requests should be finalized as early as possible to support timely housing placement. Requests completed after established deadlines will be considered based on space availability.

Steps:

Once officially accepted to Lander University with a valid Lander ID number:

Complete the Intake Form
The student must submit signed, non-redacted documentation by a licensed medical professional. The letter must include a diagnosis as well as specific functional impairments requiring housing adjustments.
If determined eligible for housing accommodations, the Office of Student Accessibility and Testing Services will submit a Housing Accommodation Approval to the Office of Housing and Residence Life.
If approved for housing accommodations, the student will received an email directing them to contact Housing and Residence Life to determine available housing options.

Important information regarding special accommodation requests:

A medical diagnosis does not guarantee or automatically qualify the student for a special or priority room assignment.
Lander University provides many types of housing in multiple residence halls. Statements or recommendations from your physician or treating medical professional should not be interpreted as automatic approval of a specific housing accommodation or room assignment.
Housing and Residence Life is unable to provide special housing accommodations based solely on a diagnosis. The impact of the diagnosis and best practices will be reviewed for housing accommodations.
Disability or specific medical need will take priority over residence hall preference.
Accommodations are provided to the individual student, if approved, not to her/his group or preferred roommates. The student is required to assess the importance and significance of the accommodation versus preference of roommate(s) or residence hall.
Single-occupancy rooms are very limited and may not be recommended, except in cases involving clear and substantiated need.

Temporary Accommodations

Temporary conditions (such as a broken ankle or wrist) are not covered under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As a result, the Office of Student Accessibility and Testing Services is unable to provide personal care services for temporary injuries.

Our office is committed to supporting Lander students and can provide consultation, help you identify appropriate campus or community resources, and offer guidance on available options during your recovery. Documentation may be required depending on the type of assistance requested.

To begin the review process, students must complete an Intake Form. Once submitted, you will be contacted with the next steps of the process.

Course Substitutions

In some cases, a specific learning disability can interfere with a student's successful completion of a course (e.g., foreign language and mathematics courses). Appropriate documentation from a psychologist that specifically addresses this issue is required. Course substitutions cannot be permitted if the course is determined essential to a student's major.