Policies on Students with Disabilities

In compliance with Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Marymount Manhattan College provides reasonable academic accommodations for students with documented learning, physical, and / or psychological disabilities. Examples of typical accommodations include extended time and separate space for testing for timed exam and timed quizzes, assistive technology, peer notetakers, permission to audio-record lectures, and use of a laptop computer in class to take notes. Students who wish to request accommodations should contact the Office of Disability Services before the start of a semester or after a qualifying event. Please consult the below dates for specific academic accommodation processing timelines:

To ensure that the academic accommodation process is complete when classes begin, students are encouraged to submit their request no later than August 1 for the fall semester and no later than January 1 for the spring semester.

After reviewing requests, evaluating documentation, and determining eligibility, the Office of Disability Services will provide approved accommodations, resources, or services to eligible students.

In certain exceptional cases, students may request a curricular adjustment to a course requirement due to a disability. Such adjustments may involve the substitution of a different type of course for the requirement, and will not be granted if the adjustment would fundamentally alter the nature of the major, concentration, or minor. Requests for curricular adjustments should be made in writing, with supporting documentation, to the Office of Disability Services. The Office of Disability Services will then alert the Vice President for Academic Affairs, who will consider the request and determine the course to be substituted if the request is approved.

Academic Policy for Students with Disabilities

A student registered with the Office of Disability Services who requests an academic alteration (course substitution, course waiver, grade appeal, etc.) will participate in an interactive individualized process. An accommodation must not fundamentally alter essential program requirements, the fundamental learning objectives of a course, or the nature of a program, and the student must be also deemed qualified to participate in the program or course. In the case of academic classes, the alteration cannot be so significant that it alters or substantially modifies the essential nature or standards of the course as determined by Marymount Manhattan College. If the accommodation request is approved, the student will work with the Office of Disability Services and Academic Affairs to make appropriate adjustments.

Policies on Class Accommodations and Alterations to Academic Programs for Students with Disabilities

Class Accommodations

Students registered with the Office of Disability Services (ODS) may request (and, where eligible, be approved for) specific accommodations to aid their work in one or more of their classes. These accommodations typically involve reasonable modifications to how students participate in their classes and how they complete their assigned work. They do not involve changes to the content or, in most cases, the policies of the course. Examples of typical accommodations include extended testing time, note-taking services, and assistive technology resources. A less typical accommodation may be permission to take a specific class for a Pass/Fail grade or other grading considerations. In cases where an accommodation would require waiving an academic policy that is published in the Academic Catalog, the request would be considered an academic alteration and final approval would rest with the VPAA/Dean.

Academic Program Alterations

Students registered with ODS may also request alterations to their academic programs based on a documented disability that warrants such an alteration. An academic alteration takes the form of a reasonable adjustment to a student’s academic program (major, concentration, minor, general education requirement) to allow for a more accessible and inclusive educational experience. Examples of such alterations include waiving a specific requirement and/or substituting it with a different course. Such an alteration must not fundamentally alter the program’s essential requirements and / or the nature of the program or its core learning goals and outcomes. In order for an alternative course to be approved, the student must be qualified for that course and meet its prerequisites. If the alteration request is approved, ODS follows the process below to identify appropriate alterations to the student’s academic program. Final approval of any alteration(s) to a student’s academic program rests with the VPAA / Dean.

Process for Requesting Accommodation in One or More Classes

For students who are requesting accommodation in one or more of their semester classes due to a documented disability, the process for approval is as follows:

The student registers with ODS, submitting required documentation and the specific accommodation request(s). Students already registered with ODS may submit a supplemental request.
The student meets with ODS to review the request.

ODS determines eligibility and sends an accommodation letter noting any approved academic accommodations to the student’s professors on the first day of the semester or as soon as the process is complete for a request that arrives after the start of the semester. The student may access a copy of the letter on the ODS portal, Accommodate.
To ensure that the academic accommodation process is complete when classes begin, students are encouraged to submit their request no later than August 1 for the fall semester and no later than January 1 for the spring semester.
When a request is made for an accommodation other than those that are typically provided (i.e., extended testing time, note-taking services, and assistive technology allocation), ODS discusses it with the department chair(s), professor(s), and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs prior to approving it.
When the accommodation includes any modification to the class’s grading, it must be approved by the VPAA/Dean and the professor must be notified as early in the semester as possible. When a request to take a class for a Pass / Fail grade is approved, the student must complete the Pass/Fail Option Request and submit it no later than the end of the Program Change period.

Process for Requesting Alterations to an Academic Program

For students who are requesting alterations to their academic programs due to a documented disability, the process for approval is as follows:

The student registers with ODS, submitting required documentation and specific alteration request(s). Students already registered with ODS may also submit a supplemental request.
The student meets with ODS to review the request.
ODS consults with the academic department chair(s) and the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs to identify possible alterations.
Proposed alterations must not fundamentally alter the program’s essential requirements and/or the nature of the program or its essential learning goals and outcomes.
Final approval of any alternation to a student’s academic program rests with the VPAA/Dean.

Once approved, ODS notifies the student and faculty advisor that the alteration has been approved and prepares an Accommodation Letter, which is filed on the ODS portal, Accommodate.