Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, you do. Clark’s University Advisory Board has established a minimum guideline that all students must complete. The minimum requirements include: 32 complete units (one unit is the equivalent of four semester credits per course), the fulfillment of both Critical Thinking requirements (Verbal Expression and Formal Analysis) and all of the Perspectives (Aesthetic, Global, Historical, Language and Culture, Scientific, and Values), and the completion of major requirements. Learn more about Clark’s Perspective system.

We recognize that learning disabilities might make a math course, a foreign language, etc. difficult for some to learn. For this reason, students are allowed to take a course Pass/Fail. To receive a passing grade, a student must earn a C- or better when taking a course Pass/Fail. It is not recommended that a student take more than two courses Pass/Fail while at Clark, but this option may be beneficial if a student feels a course might be too challenging or may hurt his or her grade point average (GPA).

The two requirements that many students with disabilities ask about are the Formal Analysis and Language & Culture requirements. Calculus and Statistics fulfill the formal analysis requirement, but there are other options. Courses in Geography, Economics, Sociology, Management, Philosophy, and Psychology fulfill the Formal Analysis requirement as well. In many cases, a student has to take a Research Methods course as a part of his or her major, and most of these courses fulfill the Formal Analysis requirement. These research skills courses are still math-based, but may not be as intimidating as a Calculus or Statistics course.

To fulfill the Language and Culture requirement, a student normally takes a foreign language. If a student has a disability that impacts their ability to learn a foreign language, taking American Sign Language (ASL) is generally a great option. Learning ASL is a lot different than learning a spoken language and it is well known as a language students with language based disabilities can learn and learn well! Some students have also found success in taking Latin.

Academic accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis by the Office of Student Accessibility Services. The staff review the submitted documentation provided by a qualified practitioner and meets with the student in order to make this determination.

Some examples of accommodations for students with disabilities include:

Use of recording device in classroom
Students who have had the accommodation of a note taker in high school find that using a recording device, such as a smartpen or an audio record program on a laptop, in class is a more appropriate accommodation. It is always advised that a student inform the faculty member that they will be recording the lecture.

Extended time on all timed in-class tests

Based upon the documentation provided, it is possible that extended time on a test will be a reasonable accommodation.

Whenever possible, testing accommodations of extended time should be administered through the specific academic department. When this is not possible, students and faculty can request assistance from Student Accessibility Services.

Computer access for written work and essay tests
If a student has the accommodation of computer access for tests, computer access should be made available through the specific academic department or Student Accessibility Services. Students are not allowed to use their own laptops for tests without written permission from their faculty member.

Classroom relocation
Students with mobility impairments or chronic medical conditions who feel that a class location is not accessible may request classroom relocation. Student Accessibility Services will work with the Registrar’s Office to process these requests.

Assistance in locating textbooks in an alternate format

Clark University has an institutional membership with Bookshare. Students who qualify for text in alternate format may request assistance in locating and ordering their textbooks through Bookshare.

Please review the policies for requesting text in alternate format.

Clark University requires that all students who are requesting accommodations submit recent (in most instances recent is considered to be within the past three years) documentation. This documentation is used to determine eligibility for accommodations and services and must clearly state the diagnosed disability, the functional limitations resulting from the disability, and how these limitations impact academic performance.

An individual qualified to diagnose the particular disability must write documentation on professional letterhead. See the documentation page on our Web Site.

Individualized Education Plans and 504 Plans are not considered sufficient documentation, but may be included with the necessary documentation.

Students are encouraged to self-identify as early as possible. It is suggested that students self-identify as soon as they make their enrollment decision. A summer meeting or Zoom Meeting to review documentation and discuss accommodations with Student Accessibility Services is strongly advised.

If you choose to talk to your instructors about your disability, follow these tips.

1. Set up a meeting with your instructor to talk about your accommodation letter. Doing it in this way helps to remind the instructor that this information is confidential and not to be shared with others.
   • Visit the instructor during office hours (hours are usually posted in the syllabus).
   • E-mail your instructor to set up an appointment.
   • Ask your instructor after class to arrange a meeting time.
2. At the meeting, refer specifically to your accommodations as identified in your Letter of Accommodation the instructor would have received via email. Your letter will not identify your specific disability.
   • You do not have to share specific disability information. You may just want to share that you are a student with a disability and what your accommodation needs are. Use assertive communication skills to discuss your needs with your instructor.
3. If you decide to share specific disability information, be sure to use brief, positive everyday language that focuses on your strengths and abilities and effective accommodations.
   • Be prepared when you talk with your instructors; have an idea of what you want to talk about with them. With busy schedules, instructors appreciate forethought and succinct explanations.
   • It is your choice as to how much information you wish to share concerning your disability.
4. Discuss the information on the letter by approaching it as you are a student registered at the Student Accessibility Services and these are the accommodations that you are to receive. Be prepared to answer any questions.
   • If you do not feel comfortable answering the professor’s questions, you can refer him or her to Student Accessibility Services

As a student with a disability, you are entitled to certain rights. The University must respect your rights, which include:

• Equal access to academics (courses and programs), services, jobs, activities, and other facilities available through the University.
• Reasonable and appropriate accommodations
• The expectation that the documentation you provide will be kept confidential. You have the choice over who can, and who cannot, know about your disability, that is, except where it’s required by law.

Your first responsibility is to self-identify. If you do not identify as a student with a disability, Student Accessibility Services cannot provide you with accommodations.

After you have self-identified, you should provide the office of Student Accessibility Services with the appropriate documentation. This documentation should adhere to all the documentation guidelines found on the Documentation Guidelines webpage.

Before every semester, it is the responsibility of the student to make a Semester Request in Accommodate. In most cases, making this request within the first two weeks of school will provide sufficient time to implement accommodations. However, some accommodations require significant advanced notice (text in alternative format, accessibility requests, housing accommodations).

You must request accommodations in a timely manner. For more information please read the accessing accommodations link.