/Institutions/Lander-University/json/Current/Undergraduate-Catalog-local.json

/Institutions/Lander-University/json/Current/Undergraduate-Catalog.json

Students with Disabilities Policy

Lander University recognizes its responsibility to assist academically qualified students with disabilities to achieve their academic goals. To this end, Lander University has made, and will continue to make, every effort to ensure that its physical facilities are accessible to students with disabilities. Elevators and lift devices, reserved parking spaces, properly equipped restrooms, and ramps are available.

In addition to removing physical barriers, Lander University is committed to ensuring equal access to academic and nonacademic programs. While Lander University will neither lower its academic standards nor alter degree requirements, it will make appropriate academic adjustments and reasonable modifications to policies and practices to allow the full participation of students with disabilities in the same programs and activities available to nondisabled students. The modifications do not give disabled students a competitive edge but rather eliminate competitive disadvantages, as required by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American Disabilities Act of 1990.

Services for Students with Disabilities
Lander University is committed to ensuring that programs and activities are accessible to qualified students with disabilities. The Director of Student Accessibility and Testing Services coordinates services, helps students determine reasonable accommodations based on their diagnosed disabilities, and serves as a liaison between students and faculty or administration regarding accommodation concerns. The Office of Student Accessibility and Testing Services, located within the Student Success Center, is also available to meet with prospective students to discuss the services offered at Lander University.

Services Available
Reasonable accommodations are available for physically and learning-disabled students. Documentation of disability is required. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the Office of Student Accessibility and Testing Services of any need for services in adequate time to allow for their arrangement.

Students with Learning Disabilities
The University attempts to make reasonable accommodations for students with learning disabilities to have access to success.

The types of accommodations a student is eligible to receive based on their diagnosis are determined on a case-by-case basis by the student and the Office of Student Accessibility and Testing Services, based on the information contained in appropriate documentation (up-to-date psych/educational evaluation not more than three-years old) which the student is responsible for providing, as well as an interactive interview. “Faculty Contact Accommodation Information” is provided to each professor at the beginning of each semester to inform professors of the accommodation(s) the student may require. It is required that the student discuss with each professor the student’s accommodation requirements at the start of each new semester (The Director of Student Accessibility and Testing Services is available to accompany the student in the initial meeting with the professor at the student’s request).

Although the University is committed to providing academic accommodations to students with learning disabilities, there is no specific program for students with learning disabilities at the University. Students with learning disabilities may find, however, that the support services available to the general student population are also useful to them.

Disability Accommodations Committee
When a student with a disability strongly feels that reasonable accommodations have not been made, that student should seek resolution within the administrative channels for the area in which accommodation is in question. The student may arrange an appointment with the Director of Student Accessibility and Testing Services to assist in mediation of the situation. If a satisfactory outcome is not attained, the student may request a hearing of the matter by a duly appointed ad hoc committee chaired by the Director of Student Accessibility and Testing Services. The committee consists of representatives from each college, as well as pertinent campus offices. The creation of this committee was necessitated by the need to provide fair review of accommodation requests and of different situations that may arise regarding the provision of reasonable accommodations to students. The committee is conducted by situational case review without using any names of students and faculty/staff involved. The recommendation of the committee is made available to the student and/or any other person(s) directly involved.

For Further Information
Students needing more information should contact the Office of Student Accessibility and Testing Services at the address below. If there is a need for special assistance, it is the student’s responsibility to inform the Office of Student Accessibility and Testing Services in sufficient time to allow for the arrangement of services. Prospective students should feel free to contact the Director of Student Accessibility and Testing Services to discuss services available at the University. Inquiries should be directed to:

Anissa Lawrence,
Office of Accessibility and Testing Services,
Lander University, Greenwood, SC 29649-2099
(864) 388-8915, Email: alawrence@lander.edu

Housing Accommodation Requests by Students with Disability
Housing and Residence Life provides a variety of housing options. The majority of rooms in the residence halls are double occupancy and a few are equipped to meet the needs of students with disabilities. Students requiring single room occupancy may request a private room. Students with disabilities should request housing needs as soon as they are admitted to the university. All documentation is due to the Office of Student Accessibility and Testing Services by March 1st for new students and February 1st for returning students. Documentation submitted later will be considered and Lander University will make a good faith effort to provide reasonable accommodations but may not be able to guarantee that appropriate residential provisions will be completed within that semester.

Students requesting housing accommodations need to meet with the Office of Student Accessibility and Testing Services and submit all necessary documentation as soon as possible be to secure the requested accommodation. Late submissions will receive housing accommodations only if space becomes available.

Important information regarding special accommodation requests:
• The fact of medical diagnosis does not guarantee or automatically qualify the student for a special or priority room assignment.
• Lander University provides many types of housing in multiple residence halls. Statements or recommendations from your physician or treating medical professional should not be interpreted as automatic approval of a specific housing accommodation or room assignment.
• Residential Life is unable to provide special housing accommodations based solely on a diagnosis of ADD, ADHD, or Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
• Disability or specific medical need will take priority over residence hall preference.
• Accommodations are provided to the individual student, if approved, not to her/his group or preferred roommates. The student is required to assess the importance and significance of the accommodation versus preference of roommate(s) or residence hall.
• Single-occupancy rooms are very limited in on-campus housing and may not be recommended except in cases involving clear and substantiated need.
• If a student requires services in housing from a third-party company, the student must notify the Office of Student Accessibility and Testing Services before access will be provided to the third-party company.

These two departments will consult to consider the accommodation requested:

The Department of Housing and Residence Life Lander University CPO Box 6019 320 Stanley Avenue Greenwood, SC 29649-2099 (864) 388-8266

The Office of Student Accessibility and Testing Services Lander University CPO Box 6041 320 Stanley Avenue Greenwood, SC 29649-2099 (864) 388-8915