Requesting Accessibility Accommodations

Getting Started

The Office of Accessible Education recognizes disability as an aspect of diversity that is integral to society and to our campus community. Our staff work with admitted Harvey Mudd College (HMC) students to ensure equal access to HMC academic programs and services. It’s important to be aware of the process to request accommodations and/or auxiliary aids due to a disability.

Many students choose to request accommodations prior to their arrival at Harvey Mudd College. However, requests for accommodations can be submitted at any time. Please know that it could take 1-5 weeks to get started with accommodations. This is based on a number of potential factors, including but not limited to the nature of the academic accommodation requests and the availability of appropriate supporting documentation. Newly admitted HMC students are advised to start this process once they have confirmed admission to the College. HMC students already enrolled should engage with the Office of Accessible Education as soon as possible once they have identified a barrier and/or need. Once accommodations are established, they are applied proactively rather than retroactively, so planning ahead is very important.

These guidelines have been established by Harvey Mudd College to determine eligibility for reasonable accommodations as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), including the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008. HMC follows and abides by the definitions and requirements set forth in these statutes. These guidelines are for current and incoming students enrolling in classes at Harvey Mudd College. Students should not assume that accommodations provided in high school will automatically be granted in college.

Requesting Accommodations at Harvey Mudd College

Eligibility

Only current students and those who have been admitted and will be attending HMC the following semester can request accommodations. This does not prohibit potential students from requesting information on programs, services, and activities.

Step 1: Apply through the AIM Portal

Students are responsible for initiating contact with the Office of Accessible Education. All students seeking accommodations for a disability must register with the Office of Accessible Education. Disability Resources staff work collaboratively with students to ensure that students with disabilities are not subject to discrimination. Every student must complete an application via the AIM Portal. (You will be asked to log in using your HMC credentials.)

Step 2: Submit your Documentation

Review the Documentation Guidelines. In order to determine if your disability qualifies for accommodations, students typically need to provide documentation. The purpose of the documentation is not only to confirm your disability but also to assist HMC in comprehensively addressing your disability-related needs. Submit appropriate documentation from your provider or an appropriate professional to the Office of Accessible Education via the AIM Portal. Please upload documentation in a timely manner, as requests without documentation may be delayed. If you do not have documentation, please reach out and we can discuss how to move forward.

Step 3: Contact the Office of Accessible Education

Individual appointments with Katrina Salazar the Assistant Dean for Student Accessibility Services are required for first-time applicants, as well as students requesting accommodations for the fall semester. Individual appointments help to fully understand your needs and accommodations request. The appointment is a collaborative meeting to discuss the students’ needs and review the information submitted. Please schedule an appointment as soon as possible. A final decision cannot be made until the Office of Accessible Education has the appropriate forms, documentation, and the collaborative meeting is complete.

Step 4: Requesting Academic Accommodations Each Semester

Once your registration process is complete (steps 1 to 3 above), you may request accommodations each semester through the AIM Portal. Please note that accommodations do not carry over from one semester to another and prior letters may not be given to faculty for current courses, so it is the student’s responsibility to request accommodations for the specific semester at the start of each semester. If students are requesting accommodations that have previously been approved, this process may be completed online after Registration is complete. If students are requesting additional or different accommodations, the student must apply through the AIM Portal and also schedule an appointment to meet with Katrina Salazar the Assistant Dean for Student Accessibility Services. Accommodations take effect only after the student is deemed eligible by the Office of Accessible Education and has been requested each semester through the AIM portal. Accommodations are not retroactive.

Approval Process

After you have submitted your documentation and have met with the Office of Accessible Education, a determination will be made regarding your request for accommodations.

Please note:

There must be a connection between the disability, the requested accommodation itself, and the purpose of that accommodation as it relates to the education program or campus activity. If the requested accommodation fundamentally alters the essential requirements of the program, then it is not viewed as reasonable.

After review of your application, you will be notified about the status of your request.

Approved – The Office of Accessible Education will inform the requesting individual whether the request for accommodations is approved, or if an alternative accommodation has been identified and approved.

More information requested – Documentation may be insufficient and may not be enough to warrant accommodations. The Office of Accessible Education can explain what additional information is needed.

Not approved – If the accommodation(s) the individual is seeking is/are not approved, the Office of Accessible Education will follow up to explain the decision. If the individual would like to pursue their request, they are asked to make an appointment with the director for further discussion. If no further agreement can be reached, an individual can request an appeal (see Information about the Appeal Process).

Notifications and Confidentiality

For accommodations that impact the classroom environment or teaching procedures, only the faculty members who are teaching these classes will be formally notified regarding the scope of the accommodations. Faculty will not be informed of any additional information about the diagnosis or other private details. Information may be shared with personnel responsible for facilitating your accommodations, but only to the extent that is necessary for them to support you in their role. Otherwise, this information will be kept private.