Academic Adjustments/
Accommodations
Students with documented disabilities should submit their application and supporting documentation to the Office of Disability Support Services in a timely fashion. Students may begin the process of applying for adjustments/accommodations (accommodations) at any point during their time at FDU.
For students new to FDU or for existing students who wish to apply for accommodations, applications, and documentation should be submitted by the following dates to allow a reasonable timeframe to accurately assess and approve accommodations before the first day of classes:
- Fall Semester: July 1
- Spring Semester: January 2
To apply for academic accommodations, eligible students will follow these steps:
1. Complete and Submit an Online Application
• Follow the instructions to complete and submit the online application: New Students Apply for Disability Support
• Upon successfully submitting the online application, the student will receive a confirmation email that will contain information on our documentation guidelines and instructions for submitting supporting documentation.
2. Submit Supporting Documentation
• Students should submit a copy of their most recent disability-related documentation to the Office of Disability Support Services.
Note: While IEP and 504 Plans from high school are sometimes helpful, they are not always sufficient documentation of a disability.
• Students can submit their documentation by uploading it to the secure online portal (myDSS), mailing it, or faxing it to the DSS office.
• Once applications are completed (i.e., an online application accompanied by supporting documentation), they will be reviewed by the Office of Disability Support Services.
3. Receive Notification of Decision
• The Office of Disability Support Services’ determination of academic accommodations will be based on the documentation and information provided by students.
• Once approved, a staff member of Disability Support Services will contact the student and schedule a meeting to discuss the next steps regarding the implementation of approved accommodations.
Once approved, eligible students will follow these guidelines:
• Submit a Request for Accommodation Letters to be Sent to Professors
• Students are responsible for requesting accommodation letters. Students will login to myDSS to request that their letters of accommodation(s) be sent to their professors. Once the request has been submitted, the Office of Disability Support Services will send the student’s professors an electronic copy of the approved accommodation letter(s).
• Accommodation letters do not disclose details of the student’s disability.
• Academic accommodations will not be provided until the professor receives the accommodation letters.
• Accommodations generally are not retroactive.
• Monitor Progress and Contact DSS for Further Assistance
• As the semester progresses, it is the student’s responsibility to monitor their academic progress. If students require additional assistance with their accommodations, contact the Office of Disability Support Services immediately.
• If students require academic assistance or additional support services beyond what the Office of Disability Support Services provides, contact the office for a referral to the appropriate campus resources.
• Future Semesters
• Students will not need to reapply for services each semester but must submit a request for accommodation letters to be sent to professors:
1. Click on “Log Into MYDSS”
2. Select the courses to obtain accommodation letters based on previously approved accommodations.
3. Select the accommodations to have included in each letter of accommodation based on previously approved accommodations.
4. Submit the request.
• Once the request has been submitted, the Office of Disability Support Services will send an electronic copy of the approved accommodation letter(s) to the student’s professors.
• Students seeking to make changes to their academic accommodations must contact the Florham campus at florhamdss@fdu.edu or the Metropolitan campus at metrodss@fdu.edu.
Common Academic Adjustments and/or Accommodations
The Office of Disability Support Services (DSS) provides a variety of accommodations to students with disabilities based on their documented needs. Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis, taking into account what is most appropriate and reasonable for an individual student based on their documented disability-related need, and essential requirements of their academic program. Commonly provided accommodations include but are not limited to:
Testing Accommodations
- Extended Time on Tests
This academic accommodation typically constitutes “time and a half” based on standard exam allotted time. Instructors may provide this academic accommodation by allowing a student extended time immediately before or after a scheduled exam time, during office hours, or at any other mutually agreed upon time and location. Alternatively, the Office of Disability Support Services can arrange for a proctor to administer the exam in the DSS office with appropriate notice.
- Distraction-reduced Testing
This academic accommodation provides a student with a less distracting space to take any course exam. Instructors may provide this academic accommodation by administering the exam in their office or somewhere within their department. With appropriate notice, the student can also choose to take the exam in a distraction-reduced testing room arranged by the Office of Disability Support Services.
- Use of a Calculator
This academic adjustment/accommodation is provided for students with a math disability. Students are allowed to use a non-scientific basic calculator on math exams. Students must bring their calculators to the testing location.
Class Accommodations
- Assistance with Note-taking
This academic accommodation provides students with note-taking assistance. Please note that the student is responsible for regularly attending the class. Note-taking assistance is not a substitute for class attendance.
- Use of a Laptop or Computer
This academic accommodation may apply to both in-class activities and exams. If approved, students should use their computers for in-class work. Students requiring a computer for their exams will take their exams at the Office of Disability Support Services on an office computer.
- Preferential Seating
This academic accommodation is for students who would benefit from sitting in a specific location in the classroom.
- Assistive Technology
The Office of Disability Support Services provides students with access to a variety of assistive technologies. These include but are not limited to:
• Captioning
• Adaptive computer keyboards
• Assistive listening devices
• Books in an alternate format
• Use of audio recording software for notetaking
• Screen readers
• Speech-to-text Software
Other Accommodations
- Priority Course Registration
Students with certain disability-related needs may qualify to receive priority registration on a case-by-case basis as a reasonable academic accommodation. The priority registration accommodation provides students with the opportunity to register for classes on the first-day registration opens.
- Graduate and/or Professional Licensing Exam Requests
If students need to submit verification of accommodations to testing or licensing agencies, students can email a request to the Florham campus at florhamdss@fdu.edu or the Metropolitan campus at metrodss@fdu.edu at least 2 weeks in advance of the submission deadline. Students are responsible for contacting the testing or licensing agencies to acquire the correct forms for the Office of Disability Support Services. Accommodations approved at FDU are not always transferable outside of FDU. To support accommodation requests, students may need to submit additional documentation directly to the licensing agencies.