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Access Updates for Faculty

Access Reminders for Moving In-Person Classes Online 

  • Faculty are obligated to provide reasonable accommodations in online course environments.  

  • Review previously received Letters of Accommodation for each student:  

    •  All exams scheduled in Disability Resources from March 16 through the end of the term will no longer be proctored in our area. For students using extended exam time, ensure that any exams offered in the online environment include the appropriate amount of extended exam time.  Scroll to the bottom of the page for additional resources.

    • For students requiring accessible course media, all recorded lectures and videos must be captioned.  Consider using Kaltura or Zoom to record lectures or broadcast class; both platforms include automatic captioning. Disability Resources is available to consult on other options for captioning recorded content.

    • Services such as ASL and live captioning take time to arrange.  It may not be possible to hold a synchronous class in an accessible manner with very short notice (less than 3 days)

    • For students using note taking, consider assigning a student to take notes in Google docs or a similar platform and make them available to the entire class.  If faculty wish to continue with the individually assigned note taker model currently implemented in your course, please advise Disability Resources so the note taker can be updated accordingly.

    • For students who require accessible print and visual materials, use only PDFs with OCR (optical character recognition). Also include image descriptions and alt text for all images and videos.  Ensure that Powerpoint presentations are accessible to screen readers.

  • Check in with all students about their access needs in the online environment and refer to Disability Resources as appropriate.  Students may not have disclosed access needs previously if the course was primarily in person.  A student may now require screen reader access, reduced screen time, deadline extensions, live captions or other accessibility needs.

  • Consider offering flexibility with participation.  Must a student participate during the regularly scheduled class time, or may discussion occur outside of class time?

 

Referring Students to Disability Resources 

Disability Resources seeks to serve students who may have been exposed to COVID-19.  Students who may have been exposed to or experience COVID-19 may be issued temporary accommodations, under guidance from a medical professional.

  • If a student is not currently affiliated with Disability Resources, students can begin by submitting a Request for Accommodations form online.  Pertinent documentation from providers attesting to diagnosis/prognosis and accommodation recommendations can be faxed to 218-726-6706.

    • Disability Resources will arrange a welcome meeting with the student by phone or Zoom web meeting to discuss more detailed information and reasonable temporary accommodations.
    • Common accommodations may include consideration for absences, extensions on assignments, exam extension, extended exam time, use of Zoom or similar modality for classroom attendance, and administration of exams online.
    • Faculty and students will receive a Letter of Accommodation that details the specific accommodations determined to be reasonable.

  • If a student is affiliated with Disability Resources, students should contact their Disability Specialist to indicate a need for additional accommodations.  
    • Pertinent documentation from providers attesting to diagnosis/prognosis and accommodation recommendations can be faxed to 218-726-6706.
    • Disability Resources staff will connect with students by phone or Zoom to determine reasonable temporary accommodations.
    • Faculty and students will receive an updated Letter of Accommodation that details the new specific accommodations determined to be reasonable

Students diagnosed with other illnesses that may require absence from class resulting in no longer than 3 days should be facilitated by faculty following university guidelines for excused absences.

Disability Resources Responsibilities

Disability Resources is responsible for the coordination of temporary accommodations due to exposure to COVID-19.  Certain accommodations may require education about and coordination with auxiliary aids and services. Disability Resources will collaborate with campus departments and appropriate service providers to support faculty and students. 

Disability Resources is not responsible for:

  • Administering and proctoring online exams
  • Creating and administering online course material including course content, videos, Zoom or Kaltura
  • Determining if it might be appropriate to issue an ‘Incomplete’ for a course
 

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