Accessibility Rights and Responsibilities

Providing reasonable accommodations in the classroom is a shared responsibility between the Office of Accessible Education and the student’s instructors. Harvey Mudd College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Students bear the primary responsibility for identifying their disabilities to the College and for requesting the necessary adjustments to the learning environment.

Student Rights

  • The right to equal access to courses, facilities, college-sponsored courses, programs and activities. If accommodations are required to ensure equal access, the student must register with the Office of Accessible Education to determine eligibility and appropriate accommodations;
  • The right not to self-identify if accommodations are not being requested;
  • the right to confidentiality and the right to choose to whom information about their disability will be disclosed (except in the case of a health or safety emergency, as permitted by law);
  • The right to be protected from discrimination;
  • The right to make decisions regarding the release of personal disability information;
  • The right to challenge decisions or submit a complaint through our grievance process.

Student Responsibilities

Self-identifying a disability and asking for accommodation(s) are personal decisions. If a student requests accommodations at Harvey Mudd College, he or she is responsible for completing the process of registering with the Office of Accessible Education. It is up to the student to take the initiative and remain actively involved in the accommodation process. If there are concerns about this process, the Office of Accessible Education encourages students to call or stop by for a confidential review of the options available.

Process for Seeking Reasonable Accommodations

Qualified students seeking reasonable accommodations must:

  • Identify as an individual with a disability when an accommodation is needed and to seek information and assistance when necessary;
  • Register with the Office of Accessible Education by submitting an application through the AIM Portal along with current and complete documentation;
  • Provide documentation that verifies the disability, functional limitations and the need for accommodations;
  • Promptly notify the Office of Accessible Education whenever there are concerns, questions or a change in needs;
  • Meet and maintain the essential institutional standards for courses, programs, services, jobs, activities and facilities;
  • Conduct themselves in a respectful and professional manner. Issues of student conduct are automatically reported to the Division of Student Affairs;
  • Students are responsible for informing the Office of Accessible Education of any issues with accommodations, faculty, or campus accessibility.

Office of Accessible Education Responsibilities

  • Carefully review documentation of disabilities and all requests for accommodation;
  • Upon request from the student, the Office communicates (by letter) the approved accommodation(s) to the appropriate instructors and other persons, once requests for accommodations are made and approved;
  • Advocate on behalf of students to prevent issues receiving accommodations;
  • Deny any request for accommodations, academic adjustments, and/or auxiliary assistance and services if the individual fails to provide appropriate documentation in a timely manner, or if the documentation provided demonstrates that the request is not warranted;
  • Select among equally effective accommodations, adjustments, and/or auxiliary assistance and services in consultation with the student;
  • Refuse an accommodation, adjustments, and/or auxiliary assistance and services as unreasonable.

Faculty Responsibilities

Faculty members play an important role in determining whether the approved accommodation(s) are appropriate in the context of their course design and evaluation. If a faculty member believes that the approved accommodation fundamentally alters an essential element of the course, they should contact the Office of Accessible Education immediately. Changes or additions to the approved accommodations are sometimes made mid-semester because student needs may not be entirely understood or may change after the accommodations are first approved. Faculty will be notified of any changes or additions.

  • Faculty members are responsible for providing the accommodation(s) listed in the letter. Should a disagreement arise about accommodations or their implementation, or if there is a need for any changes in the accommodations, please contact the Office of Accessible Education as soon as possible;
  • Maintain an open door for communication and encourage students to meet with you or to contact the Office of Accessible Education to discuss their individual circumstances;
  • Maintain confidentiality – Discussions or meetings with students regarding a disability and/or accommodations should always occur in private;
  • When designing a course and syllabus, evaluate potential barriers to access and consider how to make it most inclusive and universally accessible to ALL students, not just those with disabilities;
  • Seek guidance if there are concerns about a student who may be disabled but is not currently receiving accommodations;
  • Contact the Office of Accessible Education and use the Office as a resource. If you encounter any difficulties implementing accommodations or if you believe an accommodation fundamentally alters an essential element of the course, please don’t hesitate to contact the Assistant Dean for Student Accessibility Services at access@g.hmc.edu.