Student Accommodations

Typically, Accommodation Letters are created to last through graduation so you can use the same copy throughout your time at MSU.

Accommodation Letters can have an expiration date that is listed at the top right corner of the document. If an Accommodation Letter is expired, a new one can be requested by:  

• Emailing your assigned specialist with the request, and/or
• Scheduling a meeting with your assigned specialist through their Microsoft Bookings page. Find your specialist’s scheduling link by emailing them or contacting the front desk.

Providing Your Accommodation Letter 

• At the beginning of each semester, distribute a copy of your Accommodation Letter to each instructor and TA from whom you would like to receive accommodations.
• Give your instructors reasonable notice for implementation of accommodations (at least 1 week for most accommodations, 2 weeks for final exams). Give your Accommodation Letter to each course instructor as early in the semester as possible. 
• You are encouraged to provide an Accommodation Letter to instructors even if you feel you may not need accommodations, to account for unexpected disability impacts.
• Keep a copy of your Accommodation Letter readily accessible in case it needs to be referenced.  

Email Template

Here is an email template you can use to distribute your Accommodation Letter. Fill in the bolded parentheses with your personal information:

Dear Professor,

My name is (your name) and I am in your (course and section number) class this semester. I have an Accommodation Letter through RCPD and would like to request accommodations for your class. My Accommodation Letter is attached to this email. I will plan to attend office hours (today/tomorrow/etc.) to discuss our plan for accommodations in your class.

For reference, I plan to use the following accommodations in your class:

• (Accommodation A): this applies in your course because (...)
• (Accommodation B): this applies in your course because (...)
• (Etc.)

I'm looking forward to meeting you!

Sincerely,

(your name)

Meeting with Your Instructors

Meet with instructors 1-on-1 to discuss your Accommodation Letter during office hours or a scheduled appointment time. Go through each accommodation you are requesting and discuss a plan for implementation. 

Following Up with Your Instructors 

It is strongly encouraged for you to follow up with your professor via email after your meeting to outline and summarize your discussed plan for accommodations, including communication expectations. This is beneficial because… 

1. There is written record of your Accommodation Letter handover and meeting
2. There will be a written reminder of accommodation plans for both of you to reference

Continue communication throughout the semester to notify your professor of needed accommodations.

Faculty are responsible for maintaining confidentiality and for facilitating accommodations outlined on the Accommodation Letter. The Accommodation Letter is a confidential document and should only be shared with need-to-know individuals who are part of the accommodations implementation process. If discussing student accommodations with others is necessary, keep students' identities confidential as often as possible. Students' disability statuses must also be kept confidential from other students in the class. 

1. Assist students in finding a time to meet with you 1-on-1, especially if your scheduled office hours conflict with students’ other courses. Be open to meeting with students even if you don’t feel it is necessary. Many students value this time to learn about your course and expectations.
2. Listen closely to students’ requests and assist students in planning for your course. Carefully review each student’s Accommodation Letter as accommodations are individualized.
3. Outline your course with each student to ensure mutual understanding of policies, communication expectations, and what is needed to ensure accommodations can be smoothly and effectively implemented.
4. Contact a student’s RCPD Access Specialist listed on the Accommodation Letter with questions or at the first sign of concern regarding use of accommodations.  

The Accommodation Letter Addendum is primarily used for students who need accommodations in clinical rotations and field placement settings. Since the clinical/practical experiences are not classroom based, their accommodations don’t generally fit well on the Accommodation Letter form. This process is highly interactive and individualized, so advance planning is important. Students will continue to use their Accommodation Letter form for any classroom based accommodations.

Contact your Access Specialist if you need to start the Addendum process.

Clinical/medical students can find more details on our website.

Under both the Americans with Disabilities Act, as recently amended, and Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act, a reasonable accommodation is considered to be a modification or adjustment to a course, program, service, or facility, which ensures that a qualified student with a disability is not excluded, segregated, or otherwise treated differently.

• Reasonable accommodations are tailored adjustments that level the playing field.
• Reasonable accommodations must not compromise essential functions of the course or program.
• Reasonable accommodations are individually determined after review of medical documentation and an interactive needs assessment between an RCPD Access Specialist and the student.

An accommodation would not be considered reasonable if it:

• Fundamentally alters the essential nature of the course, curriculum or program
• Constitutes services of a personal nature (such as private tutoring)
• Results in an undue administrative or financial burden for the institution
• Results in posing a direct threat to the health or safety of self or others

Temporary Adjustment Letters are created for students with temporary conditions and/or conditions requiring additional documentation. Instructors should treat these the same as permanent Accommodation Letter accommodations during the time the adjustments are valid.

Sometimes, temporary adjustments will later become permanent, and an Accommodation Letter will be created for the student. Other times, when the Temporary Adjustment Letter expires the student no longer needs academic adjustments and services cease. There is an expiration date at the top right corner of the form; if an instructor receives an expired Temporary Adjustment Letter, they should reach out to the student and specialist, who are listed on the form.

Permanently registered RCPD students automatically receive priority in the course enrollment process each semester via a priority enrollment appointment assignment. Students should work with their academic advisor to determine which classes to take, then take advantage of the RCPD priority enrollment date which is typically within the first day or two of the enrollment period. Enrollment by appointment dates are listed in the MSU academic calendar and students are notified by the Office of the Registrar. RCPD cannot assist with overrides into full classes.