The Services for Students with Disabilities office (SSD) is pleased to announce the implementation of Accommodate, a core electronic case management system that will assist students, faculty, instructors, and staff in requesting, approving, and implementing disability-related accommodations.
To learn more about the process and see step-by-step instructions based on your role at the university, please see our Students and Faculty/Staff pages.
UPDATE RE: VISA LETTERS, ACCOMMODATE, AND TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS
We recognize that many course quizzes and exams have already begun, yet many instructors are still struggling with how to provide students with the reasonable disability-related testing accommodations they require.
We have been working to provide some immediate answers to the questions and concerns that have been raised by many faculty regarding individual student accommodations - the initial information we have is below:
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If a student presents an old VISA letter - even if it says it is expired - please accept it and provide them with the accommodations listed. (Still encourage ALL first time Accommodate users to complete the Student Application so they can eventually get entered into the Accommodate System and have a new "Accommodations Letter" generated).
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If a student indicates to an instructor that they believe they need an accommodation, but they do not have a current Accommodations Letter OR an old VISA letter, the instructor can provide the flexibility requested. Flexibility related to additional time on quizzes/exams, a limited distraction environment, providing course materials/slides in advance, and deadline extensions are just a few examples of the type of flexibility that could be provided by an instructor while the student completes the Accommodate application process.
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Note: This will not be considered an official accommodation until the student has connected with the SSD office, as described above.
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Here are additional details on testing accommodation spaces—made available through partnerships with the U-M Library and the Registrar’s Office—and updated information on requesting a room to provide students with testing accommodations.
REGISTRAR'S OFFICE
If instructors need a room to provide testing accommodations, the first option should be to reach out to their department’s curriculum contact to utilize the Registrar’s office room reservation system by emailing ro.curriculum@umich.edu with the following information: Class associated with the request, Department Name, Date Needed, Size and/or Configuration, Special Equipment Needed, Reservation Beginning and End Time.
U-M LIBRARY
We are also partnering with the U-M Library to provide spaces for testing accommodations this semester. These spaces are available beginning 9/27/21 for this purpose.
While the Library is providing access to these spaces for testing accommodations, the Library does not provide actual test proctoring services. Instructors must provide the proctors, but SSD will reimburse them for their time until the Testing Accommodation Center is fully operational. After that point, instructors must work with SSD to see if reimbursement will be available for proctoring services performed outside of the TAC.
LIBRARY SPACES, REQUESTING, AND ACCESS (INSTRUCTOR / PROCTOR WORKFLOW)
SSD CARRELS - HATCHER GRADUATE LIBRARY SOUTH
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Hatcher South Room 4-400 (Capacity: 1 student, 1 proctor)
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Hatcher South Room 5-500 (Capacity: 1 student, 1 proctor)
Times available: During all Hatcher Open Hours (Mcard required to enter after 5 p.m.)
To request: self-book using this link in LibCal:
https://umich.libcal.com/reserve/SSDtesting
Use the name of the class as the title of the reservation. These spaces can be reserved for up to 4 hours, as far as two weeks in advance and up to four hours before the test. Please do not share this link broadly, as it can be used to book space for testing accommodations only.
Access: Check-out room key with M-Card at South Hatcher Information Services Desk and use elevator to go to 4th or 5th floor. Upon leaving, be sure to lock the room and return the key to the desk.
Help: For assistance with the reservation process, contact libraryroomschedulers@umich.edu.
Please note that this space is also used by SSD students for open study, so we encourage making reservations in advance.
MEETING ROOMS - HATCHER GRADUATE LIBRARY NORTH
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Hatcher North 310 (Capacity: 2 students, 1 proctor)
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Hatcher North 311 (Capacity: 2 students, 1 proctor)
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Hatcher North 100 Gallery Lab (Capacity: 20)
Times available:
Monday - Thursday, 5 - 7 p.m. Please note Hatcher closes at 7 p.m.
Sunday: 1:30 - 7 p.m.
(Mcard required to enter after 5 p.m.)
To request: Email libraryroomschedulers@umich.edu and include class name, date, time, and # of students that will be testing. Rooms can be reserved for up to two hours. Please make reservation requests at least 2 days in advance.
Access: Check-out the room key with M-Card at North Hatcher Information Services Desk and either take the ramp on the left to Gallery Lab or elevators on the right to 3rd floor. Upon leaving, be sure to lock the room and return the key to the desk.
All proctors and students must adhere to current campus COVID-19 policies.
LIBRARY STAFF WORKFLOW
LIBRARY ROOM SCHEDULERS:
For reservations of 310, 311, and Hatcher Gallery Lab, place reservations as you would for a library employee. The title of the reservation should be the name of the class.
NORTH INFORMATION SERVICES DESK STAFF:
Confirm reservation in Google Calendar and check-out key with Mcard.
SOUTH INFORMATION SERVICES DESK STAFF
Confirm reservation in LibCal by going to “Spaces and Locations” and checking Hatcher Graduate Library and then SSD Carrels Testing Accommodation. Check-out key with Mcard.
Students who are registered with SSD who use the space as a drop-in study space will still be able to do so. We will not take advance reservations, and South Desk staff will need to check LibCal each time the 4-400 or 5-500 key is checked-out to ensure there is not an upcoming testing accommodation reservation. If there is, please indicate to the student that they will need to finish 15 minutes prior to the reservation.
LIBRARY / SSD CONTACTS FOR THIS PARTNERSHIP
Library contact: Steve Griffes (sgriffes@umich.edu) or Library Operations Outreach & AV Services Department Library at operationsoutreach@umich.edu.
SSD contact: Lori Bolchak (bolchalk@umich.edu)
We also anticipate being able to schedule quizzes and exams in the original MLB Testing Accommodations Center starting 9/27/21. There will be SSD staff present to proctor these exams between 8am - 5pm, and instructors will be responsible for delivering the exams to the TAC prior to each exam, and returning to pick them up as well.
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Note: Currently, SSD will reimburse individuals used for proctoring within departments - to utilize this option please contact Lori Bolchalk at bolchalk@umich.edu. Once the TAC is available for use you will need to work with SSD to determine if proctor reimbursement is available for assessments conducted outside the TAC.
We recognize that this is not the ideal state, and we look forward to working together as we transition from VISA letters to the adoption of the Accommodate system for all student and instructor needs related to accommodations. Once additional information is available we will communicate those updates to everyone, and they will also appear on the SSD website (ssd.umich.edu). In the meantime, if there are specific questions regarding how to best provide accommodations please contact SSD at ssdoffice@umich.edu.
