Accommodations
Messiah University is committed to providing for the needs of enrolled or admitted students who have disabilities under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended by the ADAAA of 2008.
Messiah University is committed to providing services to any student who, through a recent assessment, can document a disability and who requires accommodation. There is not one type of accommodation for all students with disabilities. Each accommodation must be decided on a case-by-case basis. Some common accommodations provided include:
- note takers
- extended time on exams
- testing in a quiet environment
- large print materials
In general, University policy calls for reasonable accommodations to be made for people with disabilities on an individualized and flexible basis. Accommodations made may be in the policies, practices, or procedures, unless the modifications would fundamentally alter the nature of the course, program, service, or facilities. Nothing in the ADA or ADA amendments requires approving an accommodation that lowers standards or alters core program, course, or job requirements. Although programs are not required to have all the resources disabled individuals may need, they are expected to have the flexibility and capacity to provide reasonable accommodations as needs arise. It is the responsibility of people with disabilities, however, to seek available assistance at the University and to make their needs known.
The philosophy at Messiah University combines broad decentralization of many services so that people with disabilities are integrated into the campus community, with centralization of the disability-related services that are necessary for access to campus courses, programs, facilities, services, and activities.
Students are encouraged to request accommodations before their classes begin. However, accommodation requests will only be considered before the last week of classes starts.