Faculty Rights and Responsibilities

The University of Iowa relies on faculty and staff to provide access to all of its programs and activities to students with disabilities. The University accepts only those students who are qualified for admission regardless of their disabilities. Accommodations are provided for eligible students in order to level the playing field so that students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to succeed in their academic pursuits.

What are your responsibilities as an instructor?

Faculty are required to include in course syllabi a statement encouraging students to make an appointment with the instructor if they need course adaptations or accommodations, if they have any emergency medical information of which the instructor should be aware, or if they need special arrangements in the event the building must be evacuated. Instructors are encouraged to bring the statement to the attention of the students at the first class meeting.

Communication between faculty and students is key to providing an environment where a student with disability can realize his or her academic potential, however it is not the responsibility of faculty to determine the legitimacy of the student's disability or the appropriateness of the requested accommodations.

Faculty should send students with disabilities to Student Disability Services (SDS) before providing accommodations. Professionals in our office review disability documentation submitted on the student's behalf and identify appropriate accommodations.

The SDS advisor then meets with the student individually to discuss how the functional impact of his/her disability may relate to course requirements. Together, the advisor and student complete the Student Academic Accommodation Request (SAAR) form which is then delivered to the instructor for approval and signature.

Accommodations do not become official until the forms are signed by the faculty, student, and SDS advisor and returned to our office. If a requested accommodation seems to violate the goals or requirements of a course, the instructor should consult with the SDS advisor to arrange for an accommodation that provides access without compromising academic standards.

What are your rights as an instructor?

Faculty and staff have the right to: