Faculty Resources
Partnering for the Good of the Students
We are so appreciative of the time and effort you put into creating a positive learning environment for all students. We are here to partner with you in the learning process. We want to work alongside you in creating equitable opportunities for all students with disabilities to engage in higher education.
As we consider this a partnership, we are available for feedback and conversations at any time. Our collective goal of supporting students includes making sure you feel supported. Additionally, we are available for consultation for specific student concerns as well as for general universal design for your classroom.
Syllabus Statement
Academic Accommodations from the Accessibility Services Office
Regardless of whether the course or the student is on-campus or remote, Merrimack College provides reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities through the Accessibility Services Office. Students who have, or think they may have, a disability are invited to contact the Accessibility Services Office via the online request form found on the Accessibility Services website: merrimack.edu/aso, email [email protected] or by visiting us on the third floor of McQuade Library.
Students are encouraged to contact the office as soon as possible via the website or via email at [email protected] to ensure adequate time to meet and create a plan. Students already registered with Accessibility Services are encouraged semesterly to request for their letters to be emailed and students are responsible to then email the letter to their instructors personally. The Accessibility Services Testing Center remains available to students whether in-person or remote. While it is understood that some students will not use all accommodations in all courses, accommodations can not be made retroactively.
Testing Center Information
Students taking exams in the Testing Center must request testing appointments via Accommodate at least 1-week prior to the test date. We will then email the professor to alert you of the request and the reasonable date and time for the exam with accommodation as well as to confirm the test information, materials allowed (if any) and plan for the transaction of the exam. Upon receipt, please complete the form and upload the exam on Accommodate no later than 1-business day in advance. For example, if the exam is scheduled for a Monday at 8:00 am, then we would ask for the exam and corresponding information no later than the previous Friday at 8:00am.
All testing at the Testing Center, including final examinations, must be started and completed Monday-Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Should the class exam time exceed these hours, we will assign a different test time for the student as close to the actual exam time as possible, and will communicate that to you. This might mean that the student is taking an exam at a different time or, on a rare occasion, a different day than the rest of the class (as is the case for night classes, for example).
You can find the steps for uploading the exam information form and exam information here.
Please note, your Accommodate log in should be the same as your MyMack account. If you need support resetting your password, please reach out to [email protected].
Typical Academic Accommodations
Extended Time
Extended time applies to quizzes, exams and all time-constrained academic assessments, such as in-class writing for a grade or a take-home exam limited to a few days. Importantly, extended time is added onto the total allotted time given to the entire class, not how long a professor anticipates an assessment may take students. For example, if the class is allotted 2 hours for an exam, then the student with 100% extended time would receive four hours.
This accommodation does not apply to papers or assignments, as students should be notified well in advance of a long-term assignment and its due date. Student requests for extensions, typically an additional day or two, are granted at the discretion of the instructor.
Reduced Distraction Test Location
Reduced distraction location does not require that a student test alone. Rather, it simply requires that common distractions in the test location be reduced, often by having fewer students and distractions in the testing room. This is often achieved via utilizing the Testing Center. However, if agreed upon between instructor and student, an alternative location can be determined.
Use of an Exam Laptop
This accommodation requires a student to reserve an exam laptop through the Accessibility Services Office at least one week in advance of a test, which typically takes place in our testing center. We ensure that the laptop is fully charged, the exam is loaded and the internet connection and calculator function are disabled. Students use this accommodation for various purposes which could include type and/or read-aloud software.
Use of a Calculator
This accommodation allows for use of a simple calculator if such use does not fundamentally alter the nature of the course or test. Instructors must specify whether use of a graphing calculator is permitted.
Electronic Note Taking
Students use a laptop or other device to take notes during a particular class.
Audio Recordings
Students use an electronic device to record the lecture for learning purposes. Students agree to not share, publish or quote recorded material without the consent of the instructor and to turn off the recorder when requested to do so by the instructor. **Regarding online synchronous courses- we ask that you provide these students with the zoom recording of the lectures as soon as they have been made available to you.**
Electronic Textbooks
Our office will help students to acquire textbooks in electronic format for independent study.