Frequently Asked Questions by Faculty

When a student is granted accommodations, their professors are notified through an electronic letter that is available in Starfish  as a flag notification under “Tracking Items”. It will also be emailed to faculty members currently listed as the student’s instructors within the Starfish portal. once at the beginning of each semester after the approval period has begun.

Please reference communications sent by the AARC at the beginning of the semester to get an initial list of approved students, sent after the Add/Drop period ends.

Accommodations take effect on the date listed at the top of a student’s accommodation letter. Some students seek and receive accommodations in the middle of a semester; their accommodations would become active on that date. Accommodations are not retroactive.

Please refer to our Accommodated Testing Procedures

Yes, accommodations are not a suggestion but rather legal guidelines on how to provide access to students. There are however instances when the essential functions of a course, department, or accrediting body would result in an accommodation not being applicable. If you believe an accommodation is not applicable or have  accommodation related concerns please contact AARC staff.

The onus for discussing accommodations lies with the student, if you desire to initiate discussion due to lack of action by students we recommend sending an email.  Face to face conversation may also be appropriate as long as this conversation is done in a confidential manner.

Never discuss a student’s accommodations with them in front of or with others, unless the student has given you permission to do so.

No, while a copy of the students accommodation letter will be sent out to each of the professors for that term a student may feel the need for accommodations for some courses, but not all. They may also feel the need to apply accommodations to specific  situations in your class but not all.

Students desiring to use testing accommodations may test in the AARC  testing center or  a space designated by the professor. If a professor choses to administer an exam for which accommodations have been requested he/she agrees to provide and oversee the appropriate provisions of accommodations.