Policies

Non-Discrimination Statement

Slippery Rock University's non-discrimination statement can be viewed here.

Respect of Individuals in the Community

Slippery Rock University provides an environment that respects, encourages, and promotes the talents and contributions of all. Slippery Rock University values a community with a shared sense of purpose, where people demonstrate mutual respect and appreciation. Slippery Rock University values diversity that honors and includes all persons regardless of age, creed, disability, ethnic heritage gender, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status in academic and extracurricular endeavors, in the working environment, and in the daily life of the university community.

Confidentiality  and Request to View Records

Students with disabilities are protected from discrimination under federal and state legislation. SRU upholds these best practices in regard to the documentation, records and other information of students:

• Disability related information is treated as medical information and handled under strict rules of confidentiality.

• The Office of Disability Services is the campus unit designated to collect and hold disability related information pertaining to students.

  • This information is maintained in appropriate formats (e.g. paper or computerized forms) and kept in secure files with limited access, separate from other records.
  • Unless otherwise directed, the Office of Disability Services will destroy individual records three years after a student's graduation or when a student has withdrawn from the university.
• Specific disability related information is shared only on a limited basis. It is shared only when there is a compelling reason for the disclosure of the information to the campus authority seeking its disclosure. The exceptions to confidentiality are extremely rare.

Confidentiality of Records for the Office of Disability Services (ODS)  

The University will make every effort to respect the privacy of students we serve in accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Information obtained through this process may be shared with other on campus service providers including but not limited to: Student Health Services, Dean of Students' office, The Office of Student Support, the Student Counseling Center, Care Coordination Team, and the Campus Behavioral Intervention/Response Team as necessary or applicable. If we receive credible information that a student’s life is in danger and/or there are student concerns or issues, we will create a care referral to the Dean of Students’ Office and the Office of Student Support. The Office of Disability Services will be in contact with other offices as needed to assist with the planning and support of the students.   

Students may request to review their records with the Director of Disability Services, students may also request ODS to release records with the proper release forms signed. ODS will ONLY release accommodation letters and personal disability documentation to the student. If the student requests other records, the decision will be made on a case-by-case basis. This will be done in person, online (zoom, teams, etc.) or through a phone meeting. The student can choose to have parents or other support individuals present at this meeting. Students or others involved in the conversation will not be permitted to photograph the documentation. Disability Services will only email approved documentation to the student, for release, to their SRU (Slippery Rock University) email address. If the person requesting documents is no longer a student, we can send them to a personal email address, the request to send to an alternate email address must be in writing. ODS will not fax or mail documentation.   

Requests to view or release records should be sent directly to disabilityservices@sru.edu.  

Faculty

In regulating and implementing disability legislation, the US Department of Justice has indicated that faculty members do not have a need to know regarding a student's specific disability condition/diagnosis. Such identification could be prejudicial or have the unintended effect of increasing the institution's vulnerability to charges of harassment or retaliation. Thus faculty do not have a right to view actual disability documentation, including testing data or the names of medical or other diagnosing professionals. Faculty do have a right to know that it has been appropriately verified by a designated campus office and that certain accommodations have been identified to address environmental barriers. At SRU, faculty should expect at minimum to receive a letter of accommodation outlining this information from the Office of Disability Services for each student served by the office.

Administration

Administrative departments (admissions, financial services, etc.) may have a need to collect information on the numbers of students with disabilities enrolled, accommodations offered, and the activities of the Office of Disability Services. Typically, these departments do not need personally identifiable information in order to conduct statistical surveys and reports. Personal identifiers are removed.

Reduction of Course Load Procedure

The Office of Disability Services occasionally recommends a reduced course load as an academic accommodation for a student with a disability. Unlike part-time status, authorization for a reduced course load permits a student to register for a course load that is less than full-time, while still being considered a full-time student in regards to access to certain campus services. Students authorized for a reduced course load are entitled to most services enjoyed by full-time students.

While students will only be billed for courses in which they are actually enrolled, all other charges, including fees assessed for full-time students, will apply. Please note, course load reduction to a student's schedule which brings them under full-time status may result in changes to a student's financial aid package. Consultation with the Office of Financial Aid is strongly encouraged before pursuing this accommodation; disability services does not have access to student's financial information and cannot provide financial advice. If a student is receiving Office of Vocational Rehabilitation funding, a reduction in course load can also alter funding amounts. The student's OVR counselor should be directly consulted regarding reduction of course load. Students residing in housing will need to also notify the directors of Housing and Residence Life if they are dropping below a full course load. Twelve credits are considered by the University to be a full-time course load.

Application Process

1. Students seeking the accommodation of a reduced course load must have complied with the accommodation review and approval procedure of Disability Services. Medical documentation of the disability which supports the accommodation of a reduced course load must be provided to Disability Services by the student. If a reduced course load is recommended by Disability Services, then the Dean of the student's College must approve the recommendation. The student will be eligible for a reduced course load only after this process is completed.
2. Students seeking the accommodation of a reduced course load must notify Disability Services each semester that they intend to utilize the reduced course load accommodation. Such notification must occur during the drop/add period. The student must send an email to the director, natalie.burick@sru.edu to notify of reduced course load.
3. Students seeking the accommodation of a reduced course load must meet regularly with their assigned academic advisor to review academic progress. Compliance with all University and College requirements must be fulfilled. By seeking a reduced course load, a student may need to adjust course sequencing or pre-requisites in consultation with their advisor. policies and procedures is mandatory.
4. In some cases, there may be a maximum time limit to complete a degree program. Where a student is facing such a time limit due to receipt of a reduced course load accommodation, the student is responsible for formally requesting an extension of that time limit from the Dean of the student's College.
5. Students who have been approved for the accommodation of a reduced course load need to understand that there are implications of that status for their student account and their financial assistance. Students are strongly advised to discuss any concerns with Student Accounts and the Office of Financial Aid Office.

Policy for course substitution

Policy for Course Substitution (PDF)

Consideration for Absences and Extension on Assignments

Consideration for Absences Procedure (PDF)
Extenstion on Assignments Procedure (PDF)