Academic Accommodations

When appropriate, reasonable academic accommodations will be made. It is generally considered non-discriminatory to adhere to academic standards that are essential to a course of study (i.e.: setting a grade point average requirement for admission to a particular program). Requests for academic accommodations must be made in a timely manner. All requests for services should be made directly to the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services (OARS). Academic adjustments must be supported by the documentation and may include the following:

Classroom Accommodations

Classroom accommodations may include but are not limited to: sign language interpretation; assistive listening devices; accessible technology for note-taking; preferential seating, and accommodated testing. Students receiving in-class support services must attend classes on a regular basis or risk losing those services.

As with all University programs, online learning requires effective accommodations to ensure student accessibility. Students must be connected with OARS to be approved for accommodations. Web-based courses may or may not warrant the same accommodations as traditionally taught courses.

Students requesting accommodations for Web-based courses must fill out the Welcome Form on the OARS Portal. Upon connecting with the office, students should follow these steps in accordance with whether they are on or off campus, if requesting accommodations.

For on-campus students:

  • After registering for an online course, connect with the OARS Team to discuss accommodations.
  • Bring the syllabi and course documents from the online course to the appointment at OARS. Letters to faculty will be written by a professional staff member and the student. Letters will only be written with student input and signature.
  • As always, it is the student’s responsibility to deliver faculty notification letters to those faculty members to whom they wish to disclose their disability and need for accommodations.
  • For online courses, the faculty letter will be emailed to the instructor by OARS.
  • For blind/visually impaired students, textbooks should be sent to OARS via mail. Please follow the text conversion policy.

For off-campus students:

  • Once you have filled out the Welcome Form on the OARS Portal and all documentation has been submitted, arrange a phone meeting with OARS by calling the office at (336) 334-5440.
  • The student should then email the syllabi and course documents to OARS.
  • Letters to faculty will be written by the professional staff member and the student.
  • In an online setting, it remains the student’s responsibility to disclose their disability.
  • Faculty letters will be emailed to the online instructors by OARS.
  • For blind/visually impaired students, textbooks should be sent to OARS via mail. Please follow the text conversion policy.

Degree Requirement Modification

Students are expected to complete all degree requirements for graduation in their major. The ADA requires that universities offer reasonable accommodations to qualified students; however, it does not require the adjustment of standards that would fundamentally alter degree requirements.

If a student deems it necessary to request deviation from the prescribed course of study, the student should consult the dean of the college or school, or the chairperson of the department of the student’s major. Any deviations from the applicable published degree requirements must have the approval of the appropriate departmental chairperson or school dean and the approval of the Dean of Undergraduate Studies.

Foreign Language Accommodations

UNC-Greensboro and the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (LLC) recognize the importance of providing options and accommodations for students with special needs. For this reason, UNCG offers a Modified Foreign Language (MFL) Program in Spanish. Sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences, the MFL Program is designed to meet the needs of foreign language students who, because of their learning differences or disabilities, are unable to complete their foreign language requirement through traditional means. The MFL Program is intended to assist students with a demonstrated need to achieve their goals and meet their curricular demands by providing more individualized instruction in the target language along with academic advising, close monitoring of progress, and student assistance in understanding specific learning needs.

For more information view the Modified Foreign Language (MFL) Program Website.

Internships and Practicum

If a student will require accommodation, it is the student’s responsibility to request them in advance. Because the student may not fully realize the need for accommodation—they may not have a sense of what the internship setting will specifically demand—the student should initiate a meeting as early as possible prior to placement during which information about internship expectations might be shared and, once better informed, the student might then initiate a request for accommodative planning.

The student, the academic unit, and OARS need to begin early to plan for accommodations. Because it may be difficult to know what accommodations will be needed, early communication with the internship or practicum site involved is strongly encouraged. The nature of accommodations may vary across agencies and academic units may prefer early agency involvement in identifying needed accommodations.

The student, the academic unit, and OARS should identify the accommodations needed, including resources and adaptive/assistive equipment, in advance of negotiations with the placement agency.

The student and the academic unit should seek a placement agency that (1) will provide an appropriate educational experience, (2) will make reasonable accommodations for the student, and (3) will negotiate with the student and the university to provide the services needed.

The student, the academic unit, OARS, the university legal counsel, and the placement agency will develop a plan and negotiate accommodations satisfactory to all parties. Placement agencies are also subject to ADA requirements and may have a contact person who is familiar with the accommodations already being provided to agency employees. The agency ADA contact person (if one is assigned) may be able to provide assistance in making arrangements for student placements.

The student must be an active participant throughout the process of identifying a placement agency and identifying and negotiating accommodations.

Testing Accommodations

Initiating the testing accommodation procedure is the responsibility of the student. Testing accommodations may include extended time, scribe, computer for written exams, use of a spell checking device, calculator, readers, and accessible test formats such as Braille and enlarged print. Unless there is a time conflict, tests will be scheduled at the same time as the rest of the class. A student who misses a test or exam scheduled with OARS will be required to notify the faculty member. OARS is not able to reschedule exams. Rescheduling of exams is the responsibility of, and should be initiated by, the student in consultation with the faculty member, and a faculty member must approve the rescheduling. A student who is late for a scheduled exam must finish the test in the time remaining (extended time will be calculated from the scheduled time of the test, not the time of arrival). Final exams will only be rescheduled in accordance with university policy.

Students may schedule their testing appointments in the UPL or OARS, via The TracCloud platform

For detailed instructions for scheduling a test, please visit The University Proctoring Lab.

Text Conversion

Students connected with OARS who wish to have alternative access to printed material may use office equipment to convert text or request materials be converted. Eligibility for this text conversion is determined on an individualized basis.

OARS will make every attempt to provide materials promptly or train the student in how to independently convert text materials. In the event that students can not secure materials in an alternative format, OARS will either train the student in text conversion, assist in requesting text conversion or will provide converted text. Typically, 4-6 weeks notice is required to obtain alternate formats of the text. Late requests will result in a delay in providing materials. However, consideration will be given to the most expedient manner to obtain materials. Please note: All alternate format materials are intended for a student’s individual use and should not be shared with others. Any duplication of materials is prohibited. The following formats are available:

  • Determine which books you will require. This information can be obtained by calling or emailing the faculty member of the course or by contacting the UNCG bookstore (this should be done as soon as you register for classes and/or 6-8 weeks prior to the beginning of the next semester. You will need to have the following information about each book: title, author, publisher, edition, ISBN number, and/or any other information listed on the publishers page of the manuscript (the page behind the title page in most texts).
  • Using this information, search the publisher’s website to find out if the book is already available in e-text format. If the e-text format of the book is available it should be purchased by the student directly from the publisher.
  • If you are requesting an audio format, contact Learning Ally to determine if any of your books are available.
  • Audio books may also be available from the Library of Congress
  • National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS)
  • Book Share

If you are unsuccessful at obtaining the book using the above proceeding steps, contact the OARS Team for the next steps

Study Abroad Accommodations

In order to determine what accommodations might be possible abroad, the interested student, OARS, the study abroad advisor, and the host institution will need to work together to assess the student’s needs and the possible accommodations. It is the responsibility of the interested student to contact the International Programs Center and OARS as far in advance as possible regarding their accommodations.

  • Students should consult with the International Programs Center with regard to their interest in studying abroad.
  • OARS and the International Programs Center will gather access information and contact the host institution. Reasonable and appropriate accommodations will be provided after all parties have discussed the options available.
  • If additional accommodation needs arise while the student is at the host institution, the student will need to contact their study abroad advisor, the host institution and OARS. A decision will be made to determine if the additional accommodation is reasonable and appropriate.
  • When students return from studying abroad OARS requests that they provide feedback regarding their experience and make suggestions to be used for future study abroad experiences.

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OARS is located on the second floor of the Elliott University Center (EUC) in Suite 215.

OFFICE HOURS: 8:00 am- 5:00 pm, Monday-Friday
VOICE: 336.334.5440
FAX: 336.334.4412
EMAIL: [email protected]

Modification of course expectations

NOTE: This guidance is based on information provided by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) under the Department of Education. OARS encourages collaboration with Faculty and Students when making accommodations.

The occasional MCE is a disability-related accommodation that adjusts assignment deadlines, exam dates, attendance, and other course expectations, without fundamentally altering the objectives of the course/program. These modifications are typically needed for students whose disability impacts are chronic/episodic in nature. MCEs are only to be engaged when students experience a debilitating manifestation of their disability and are unable to meet a deadline, take an exam at the scheduled time, attend class, etc. The following points are addressed in this FAQ. 

  • Students should contact OARS as early as possible if an MCE may be needed. Modifications may not be made retroactively. 
  • Course modifications, such as changes in attendance expectations and assignment deadlines are determined on a course-by-course and case-by-case basis. 
  • MCEs must be assessed and approved by OARS professionals and will then be listed in the accommodation letter. 
  • Students and instructors should discuss how MCEs will be implemented (e.g., accessing missed course content, making up any missed course activities, etc.), as soon as possible.  
  • Additional absences may not be reasonable for many labs, classes that are performance/activity-based, group work, classes that meet less than three times weekly, are short term (e.g., eight weeks or less), or that already have more than three absences allowed without penalty. Discuss these and other concerns with OARS. 

Generally, frequent absences and/or extensions for all/most due dates are not considered reasonable. Planning, preparing, working, and meeting deadlines are part of the expectations for college-level students. Unexpected illness or injury, recent diagnosis, onset or change in condition, etc. may warrant a withdrawal from a course or, when appropriate, an incomplete grade. Please discuss these occurrences with OARS. 

Student FAQs About MCE

FACULTY MODIFICATION COURSE EXPECTATION

  1. Communicate with instructors as soon as possible once accommodation letters are released. Accommodations may be implemented differently depending on the class and may not necessarily be reasonable for all classes or class sessions. Contact instructors (by phone, email, or in person) as soon as possible. For example: 

Dear Professor ________,  

You may have received an email from OARS regarding accommodations in your __________ class. I would like to discuss with you privately how these accommodations can be implemented in your class. I plan to consult with you during your office hours. (Or, I am unavailable during your office hours, but would be available at these times: <name some blocks of time you are available>. Would any of these work for you?) I would prefer to meet (indicate virtually or in person).  

Thank you.  

(Your name) 

  1. Maintain a log of meetings with instructors. 
  1. If there are concerns, request a consultation with OARS by calling 336/334-5440, or emailing [email protected].
  2. Please remember, MCEs are to be used only when you are experiencing disability symptoms impacting your ability to complete an assignment that, without the symptoms, would otherwise have been completed on time.  
  3. Please remember, MCEs are not meant to apply to all classes, all assignments, or all types of assignments in a class.

I am not doing well academically this semester and feel I should set up accommodations. Are academic adjustments retroactive? 

No, accommodations are not retroactive. Academic accommodations begin when instructors are provided with an accommodation letter. OARS is happy to work with you at the time you choose to connect. Some accommodations require time to implement. 

  1. Adjustments may be necessary when a student experiences a disability-related flare-up, preventing attendance or timely completion of work.  
  1. These scenarios must be discussed with OARS and, when determined to be reasonable, will be listed in the accommodation letter.  
  1. The adjustment considers past frequency of disability-related flare-ups resulting in absences or delays in submitting assignments. 

  1. Communicate with instructors as soon as possible. Include information as to when you expect to make up any information you missed. For example: 

Dear Professor <name>,  

I will be missing (or “missed”) your <course label, section> class today due to a manifestation (or flare-up) of my disability. I plan to get notes from one of my classmates and follow-up with you for clarification as needed. Please consult with OARS (copied) should you have concerns regarding this accommodation. 

Thank you for your support!  

(Your name) 

  1. Track your number of missed classes. You are responsible for knowing how many classes you have missed. Unlimited and excessive absences may not be reasonable to obtain course objectives. Additional absences over the agreed-upon modification might be unreasonable and would therefore negatively impact your grade. Instructors may ask you to consider withdrawing and/or taking an incomplete. Discuss with OARS if you need to miss more classes than indicated in your accommodation letter. 
  1. If there are concerns, request a consultation with OARS by calling 336/334-5440, or emailing [email protected]. 
  1. Please remember, MCEs are to be used only when you are experiencing disability symptoms impacting your ability to attend class when, without the symptoms, you would otherwise have been in attendance.  
  1. Please remember, this accommodation is not meant to apply to all/most classes.  

  • Communicate with instructors as soon as possible. Input from instructors will be considered in assessing whether modifications to deadline adjustments are reasonable for each course. Include information as to when you expect to make up any information you missed. For example: 

Dear Professor <name>,  

Due to a manifestation (or flare-up) of my disability, the (name of assignment) will not be completed on time. I expect to have it to you by (indicate date/time). Please consult with OARS (copied) should you have concerns regarding this accommodation. 

Thank you for your support!  

(Your name) 

  • Please remember, extensions of due dates are to be used only when you are experiencing disability symptoms impacting your ability to complete an assignment; without the symptoms, you would have completed it on time. 
  • Please remember, this accommodation is not meant to apply to all/most assignments or all types of assignments.  
  • If there are concerns, request a consultation with OARS by calling 336/334-5440, or emailing [email protected].  

With or without reasonable accommodations, college students are required to complete the same amount of work as their peers and must be graded with equal rigor. Missed class material/participation may equate to missed course work in classes where participation is part of the grade. Consult with your instructor and/or OARS regarding any concerns. 

  1. Contact OARS as soon as possible to discuss options; 336/334-5440, or [email protected]. Options may include taking a reduced course load, withdrawing from one or more classes, switching to an available online program, requesting an incomplete, etc.  
  1. Additional helpful resources are listed on the student resources page. 

What is an Incomplete?  

In cases where a student cannot complete course requirements because of illness or other reasons beyond their control, they may request an incomplete “I” grade. Incomplete is a temporary grade given at the discretion of the instructor.  

Students must arrange with their instructor to set a timeline for completing their work to earn a permanent letter grade in the course. At maximum, all work must be completed by six months after the end of the term when the Incomplete grade was given. Unfinished incomplete grades will change to “F” grades. More information about incomplete grades can be found in the University Catalog. 

What is a withdrawal for extenuating circumstances?  

  1. First, talk to your advisor to discuss the impact of withdrawing from a class.  
  1. These withdrawals do not affect your GPA. 
  1. Undergraduates: 
  1. To withdraw prior to the withdrawal deadline, you may do so via your Genie account. This will appear as a “WX” on your transcript and will count toward your maximum number of withdrawals.  
  1. Course withdrawal requests after the withdrawal deadline are managed through the Students First Office. Approved requests will appear as a “WE” on your transcript and do not count toward your maximum withdrawals. 

Helpful Link to Academic Calendar 

  1. Graduate Students: Before withdrawing, review the information from the Graduate School: 
  1. Withdrawing prior to the withdrawal deadline. 
  1. Withdrawing after the withdrawal deadline, due to extenuating circumstances. 
  1. Retroactive Withdrawal Policy 

Helpful Link to Academic Calendar 

  1. Class grades based on attendance may be impacted even with an MCE. Attendance and participation are important parts of learning class material. Missing classes may prevent participation in activities that cannot be made up and critical information may be missed. Missing vital class activities or several class sessions may result in a grade reduction. For some classes (such as labs, activities, speakers, etc.), attendance may be a fundamental requirement. If an MCE would result in a fundamental alteration of course requirements, for which there is not a reasonable alternative, the accommodation may not be reasonable. Be aware of any percentage of the course grade that may be based on active participation. For some classes, excessive absences may result in the need to seek an incomplete (if the work can be made up) or a withdrawal from the course.  
  1. Please consult with OARS to discuss any concerns regarding the implementation of MCEs. 336/334-5440 or [email protected].  

If physical attendance is a consistent concern, consult with your advisor to determine if online classes/programs are an option. Consult with OARS if remote participation is only an occasional or temporary need. 

Unexpected illness or injury, recent diagnosis, onset, or change in condition may warrant a withdrawal from a course, or, when indicated, an Incomplete grade. Communicate with your instructors as soon as possible to determine your best options. OARS staff are available for consultation, should you require accommodations related to a temporary disability or long-term impact on major life activities.  

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