In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, it is the policy of Yale University to provide reasonable accommodation for students with disabilities.
SAS Policies & Procedures
Academic Accommodations
Students with disabilities may be eligible for academic accommodations. Through Student Accessibility Services (“SAS”), Yale provides such accommodations consistent with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as well as other applicable law.
Before receiving an academic accommodation, whether short or long term, a qualifying student must submit an accommodation request to the SAS using its online platform, Accommodate, and must use Accommodate to renew accommodations for the current semester. Students must typically support an accommodation request with medical documentation. In addition, at least one week before the accommodation is needed, the student must deliver a letter of accommodation, provided to the student by the SAS, to appropriate faculty. Letters may be delivered in person or electronically according to faculty preference.
Because academic accommodations are not retroactive, students should be sure to promptly notify the SAS and faculty about the need for an accommodation. Failure to provide advanced notice to both faculty and the SAS may result in an inability to use accommodations.
The academic accommodations available to a student depends on their disability-related needs. Although an individualized process, the SAS has developed the following guidelines for two common academic accommodations: lecture recordings and extended time on examinations.
Lecture Recordings
The SAS will sometimes authorize access to recordings of lectures as an academic accommodation. Before recordings may begin, all students approved for this accommodation must sign the “Lecture Recording Agreement” and deliver a signed copy to each faculty member. Failure to do so will prevent the lectures from being recorded. To implement this accommodation, the SAS may request that a professor activate the built-in recording hardware in the classroom or direct the student to use notetaking software that also records lectures.
Students provided this accommodation must still attend class. If a student becomes unable to attend more than one class, the student must notify the SAS. Failure to adhere to these requirements may jeopardize the student’s continued access to recordings of lectures.
Extended Time on Examinations
The SAS may authorize extended time on examinations for some students with disabilities. The most common extension is time and one half (50% extra). This extended time may apply to all in-class quizzes, tests, and examinations, but a student may choose to use it for only certain exams or courses. Generally, extended time does not apply to take home exams of a long duration (for example, 24 hours) but occasionally it will.
If a student requests exam accommodations, they must provide notice of all exam dates to the SAS in addition to delivering accommodation letters to faculty. Failure to complete both requirements in a timely manner may result in an inability to use exam accommodations.
To protect exam security, an accommodated exam should overlap with when the student’s classmates take the exam. The SAS will not unilaterally change the time of an exam. If a student requests flexibility in scheduling exams, the SAS will direct the student to the professor and dean, as appropriate.
When a student is sitting an accommodated exam with the SAS, they are subject to monitoring and oversight by SAS staff and hired proctors to ensure exam integrity. If SAS staff or proctors have a reasonable suspicion that cheating has occurred, the situation will be documented and referred to the professor and/or dean. Failure to submit an exam when time has lapsed will be reported to the professor and/or dean.
After the SAS has proctored an accommodated exam, the professor or teaching fellow may pick the exam up immediately upon completion. If the professor prefers that the SAS return the exam, it could be three business days before the return is made. Whether picked up or delivered, completed exams must be signed for at the time of transfer. The SAS will no longer leave exams in mailboxes or slide them under office doors. The SAS is unable to scan and email completed exams.
In the event of inclement weather or another emergency that makes it dangerous or impossible for the SAS staff to proctor an exam, the SAS will coordinate with the relevant faculty or department to arrange alternate proctoring services.