Frequently Asked Questions

The following presents an overview of the roles and responsibilities of SAEO, Instructors, and Students in ensuring that students with disabilities have equal access to courses at VCU:

Student Accessibility and Educational Opportunity (SAEO)

Supports all members of VCU’s community toward the goal of ensuring the equal, positive inclusion of students with disabilities into VCU’s community. Receives and reviews accommodation requests from students, engaging in the interactive process in a timely manner to identify appropriate accommodations. Consults with faculty and students to ensure understanding in the implementation of approved accommodations. Reviews professional documentation as necessary to support decision making. Engages in deliberative, collaborative process with instructors, departments, and administrative entities as needed to make determinations regarding accommodations which may fundamentally alter essential elements of a course, program, or university activity, and identify alternative supports for the student.

Instructors

Proactively consider the accessibility of course activities, content, requirements, and teaching methods. Set academic standards and learning objectives for courses. Engage in the interactive process as needed, with support of SAEO - this includes timely responses to students and SAEO as necessary to acknowledge, implement, or discuss accommodations. Implement the approved accommodations listed in student accommodation letters, unless they would fundamentally alter an essential learning objective of a course. Where an alteration is identified, instructors work with SAEO to identify alternatives. Contact SAEO in the event of receipt of requests for accommodations as yet unapproved by SAEO. Expect all students, including those registered with SAEO, to abide by VCU’s code of conduct and academic integrity policies. Assure confidentiality of disability-related information. Refer students identifying themselves as having a disability to SAEO. Contact SAEO where any policy or guidance is unclear for further support.

Students

Disclose status of disability to SAEO, should they wish to receive accommodations. Provides documentation if requested by SAEO to document the nature of their disability, how it impacts them, and the need for specific requested accommodations. Engage with SAEO in an interactive process to identify appropriate accommodations. Notify faculty of academic accommodations, where and when they intend to use them, in a timely manner. This includes providing instructors with their Accommodation Letter. Communicate with faculty about approved accommodations, and with their case manager at SAEO where these accommodations are not effective.

If requesting housing accommodations, students will also need to submit the housing application, and should provide documentation as outlined in SAEO’s guidelines for documentation. More information about the process is available on the SAEO webpage here.