What are Academic Accommodations?

Academic accommodation as required by law is not meant to compromise academic standards. It is intended to create an opportunity for students with disabilities to learn and for professors to evaluate fairly. Students with disabilities expect access and opportunities, not alterations in academic expectations. Academic requirements and course objectives should remain unchanged. Modifications may need to be made in the way a student receives information or demonstrates knowledge but not in the academic proficiency standards.
In accordance with the USG Board of Regents' policies and procedures, the University's non-discrimination policy, the Georgia Equal Employment for People with Disabilities Code, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 as amended, and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Georgia College prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability and provides reasonable accommodations to eligible staff, faculty, and students unless doing so will impose an undue hardship on the University. 
Requests for assistance with academic accommodations should be made to the Student Disability Resource Center, 478-445-5931 or disability@gcsu.edu.

Examples of Reasonable Academic Accommodations:

Students with disabilities may not require the same accommodations throughout their college courses and will vary according to how she/he is functioning at that time. Student needs are assessed on an individual basis and requests for accommodations must have documentation to substantiate the need. Accommodating students with disabilities does not mean setting different standards for them. It may mean allowing students to demonstrate what they know in a mode that fits their needs; adapting classroom presentations or activities to ensure an accessible educational environment; or allowing the use of adaptive equipment such as tape recorders, voice amplifiers, or print enlargers. For students with disabilities, these accommodations are critical to success in school.

There is no one list of reasonable academic accommodations that will serve the needs of all students with disabilities. The following are some basic examples:

  • Extended time on examinations (This does not mean extended preparation time)
  • Allow students to take exams in a distraction-reduced setting

Although it is the duty of the University to provide reasonable accommodations, it is the responsibility of the person with the need to request a reasonable accommodation.