Paper Exam Procedure
The following is the procedure for a paper exam taken in Disability Services:
- The faculty member will receive an email from Disability Services about a week before the quiz/test regarding testing arrangements. The purpose of this email is to confirm the date and time the student has requested to take the quiz/test in Disability Services so that a room and proctor can be arranged.
- Disability Services will also need to know how the quiz/test will be delivered and how the completed quiz/test should be returned.
- Delivery Options: campus mail, fax, drop off, email
- Return Options: campus mail, fax, pick up, email
- The faculty member does not need to actually get the quiz/test to Disability Services until just before the exam. There is no rush as long as Disability Services knows the quiz/test is on the way.
EduCat Exam Procedure
The following is the procedure for an exam on EduCat taken in Disability Services:
- The faculty member will receive an email from Disability Services about a week before the quiz/test regarding testing arrangements. The purpose of this email is to confirm the date and time the student has requested to take the quiz/test in Disability Services so that a room and proctor can be arranged.
- Disability Services will work directly with the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) to make arrangements for the student to have extended test time.
- The Coordinator of Disability Services may set a password for the quiz/test specifically for the student receiving extended test time. At the regularly scheduled date/time of the exam, a test proctor will be responsible for typing in the password for the student taking the quiz/test in Disability Services.
**NOTE: If a student is approved for a test reader, they may utilize a piece of assistive technology called a Reader Pen on their quizzes and tests in order to meet their accommodation. The Reader Pen will read the exam aloud to the student; however, it will only work with a paper copy of the exam. In the event that a student requires a Reader Pen but the quiz/test is on EduCat, the faculty member may either provide a paper copy of the exam or ask Disability Services to pull one directly from EduCat with assistance from the Center for Teaching and Learning.**
Additional Information
- If the professor prefers to email the quiz/test and would like the student to take it on a Scantron sheet, please let Disability Services know as we have Scantron sheets available.
- Please notify Disability Services of any special testing instructions. Some examples include:
- Use of calculator (including type of calculator, if necessary)
- Use of periodic table
- Use of notes, textbook, or notecard with formulas
- If one part of the quiz/test should be collected before beginning the following part
- Every effort will be made for the quiz/test to be given at the same time as the rest of the class. If for some reason a different date or time needs to be arranged, the student must make arrangements with the faculty member and Disability Services ahead of time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a student become eligible for academic accommodations through Disability Services?
To be eligible for services, including classroom accommodations, students with disabilities must schedule an intake appointment with Disability Services and present professional documentation - such as an IEP, 504 plan, or documentation of a diagnosis from a licensed clinician - to the Disability Services Office. Please email disability@nmu.edu with any questions.
How do I know if a student in my class has accommodations?
Students who have met with Disability Services, provided adequate documentation, and been approved with appropriate accommodations are given a Letter of Accommodation that they are required to share with instructors each semester. The Letter of Accommodation will indicate which accommodations apply to specific courses. Students need to share a copy of their letter each semester, even if they have had the same instructor in previous semesters. Accommodations can change each semester and they are not retroactive. Students can obtain a copy of their Letter of Accommodation through the Disability Services Student Portal.
If a student has not presented you with their Letter of Accommodation, you are not obligated to accommodate them. It is reasonable to ask the student to see their Letter of Accommodation.
I've received a student’s Letter of Accommodation. Do I need to reach out to the student individually or will they reach out to me to discuss the specifics?
All students who have accommodations are instructed to have a discussion with their instructors regarding the specifics of their accommodations. However, it is a good idea to give a simple announcement during class reminding students with accommodations that they should talk to you individually. Announcements such as this should be conducted in such a way as to preserve the anonymity of students with disabilities.
What are the most common accommodations that are offered to students at NMU?
- Extended Test Time - Students who qualify to receive extended test time are eligible to receive time and a half (X1.5) or double time (X2) on any test, quiz, or exam.
- Alternate Test Site – Disability Services has several distraction-reduced testing rooms that students are able to test in. A trained proctor is always present to facilitate and monitor testing security.
- Test Reader/Test Reader Pen
- Books in Alternate Format
- Note Taking
- Classroom Preferential Seating
Based on the student’s diagnosis and the interactive intake process, Disability Services and the student will determine which accommodations might best suit the student’s needs and be reasonable from the University's standpoint.
How am I notified if a student or students in my classroom are requesting to utilize testing accommodations?
If a student qualifies for testing accommodations and would like to utilize them, they must submit a test request through the Disability Services Portal at least 5 business days prior to the date of the test, quiz, or exam. Disability Services has several hundred students that receive testing accommodations and several logistical pieces that need to be accounted for. Beginning one week prior to the test date that the student provides, we will email the instructor from dstesting@nmu.edu with the request and a series of questions regarding the test. It is crucial that the instructor responds to these emails in a timely manner to ensure that Disability Services has collected the correct test details. If you have several students in the same class receiving testing accommodations, you will get a separate email with each request. You can respond to one test request email indicating that the information you’ve provided will apply to all students taking the test with our office.
Can I accommodate students on my own in the classroom?
If you have the ability and are willing to provide students with extended time in the classroom or another location (i.e. office space), and the student is comfortable with this arrangement, you are able to do so. However, the student’s preference may be to take their exam/quiz within the Disability Services Office, and if this is the case, they are able to do so.
What do I do if I receive an email from your office stating that you are unable to find a peer notetaker for a student?
Students who qualify for a peer notetaking accommodation are given a supplemental copy of one of their peers' notes. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that we will find a student willing to share their notes with another peer. If that’s the case, we will reach out to gather some information about the nature of this course and whether this accommodation is relevant or how to best implement it. Are notes/slides provided prior to class, are they delivered to students in some other format/fashion, or are they unnecessary altogether? If one of these is the case, we will reach out to the student and inform them. Or perhaps there is a particular student in the class you could reach out to and see if they would be willing to serve as a notetaker. The final option would be for you to provide this particular student with a set of notes or supplemental material for each class session to meet the accommodation.
It seems like the number of students who are receiving accommodations is increasing. Is that really the case?
During the 2022-2023 academic year, 500-600 students were registered with Disability Services at NMU. This number is a drastic increase from past years due to factors which include the expanded definition of “disability” within the ADA, an increase in the number of students receiving accommodations in secondary education, and an increase in the number of students with disabilities who pursue higher education.
What information do I need to include on my syllabus regarding students with disabilities?
You must use the following unaltered ADA statement for your syllabi.
If you have a need for disability-related accommodations or services, please inform the Coordinators of Disability Services in the Dean of Students Office at 2001 C. B. Hedgcock Building (227-1737 or disability@nmu.edu). Reasonable and effective accommodations and services will be provided to students if requests are made in a timely manner, with appropriate documentation, in accordance with federal, state, and University guidelines.
Can I ask a student who is having obvious difficulties whether he or she has a disability or refer the student to Disability Services?
Disability Services discourages professors from asking directly about the possibility of a disability for a number of reasons. The regulations and interpretations of the pertinent disability rights laws forbid unnecessary inquiries into the existence of a disability. A direct inquiry could also be considered intrusive or insensitive. You should tell the student that you notice he or she is having a difficult time and encourage him or her to talk with you about gaining assistance. You can guide the student to the Writing Center, All Campus Tutoring, Counseling Center, or other resources that you would provide to any student. If the student shares with you that he or she has a past history of a disability or suspects he or she has a disability, it would then be appropriate to refer the student to Disability Services.
What if a student with a disability is failing?
It is important for instructors to remember that providing reasonable accommodations for a student with a disability does not guarantee success in the course. Students with disabilities might not master the course material, just like any other student. Students with disabilities have the same right as other students to fail as part their educational experience.
What do I do if I have a student in my class who requires closed captioning?
Please contact the Center for Teaching and Learning at ctl@nmu.edu or 906-227-2483 for assistance.
Who do I contact with any additional questions or concerns?
Please reach out to the Disability Services Office at disability@nmu.edu or 906-227-1737. We are located in 2101 Hedgcock.
What do I do if a student asks for an accommodation that is not listed on their Letter of Accommodation?
Professors are not required to provide any accommodations that are not included on a Letter of Accommodation. If a student is seeking additional accommodations, please refer them to speak with the Disability Services Office about any changes to their approved accommodations.
If additional accommodations are approved, the student will receive an updated Letter of Accommodation. When the student receives this letter, they are required to share the updated version with you in order to receive the accommodations.