Policy 1201 — Policy on Students with Disabilities

2 — POLICY

2.1 Equal opportunity

Mount Allison University is dedicated to the academic and non-academic development of all students. Recognizing that persons with disabilities may have different pathways and methods to achieve success, the University will continually work to remove attitudinal and structural barriers that may hamper or prevent academically qualified students with disabilities from participating fully in University life.

2.2 Fairness

The University recognizes that students with documented disabilities may require certain accommodations not required by other students in order to have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their achievement of academic objectives.

2.3 lndividualised Support

The University recognizes that academically qualified students with disabilities may require individualised assistance. All students are expected to maintain the University's academic standards whether or not they are receiving individualised assistance. Assessment and evaluation outcomes should remain consistent with course objectives when implementing accommodations.

2.4 Access

The University will ensure that academically qualified students with disabilities have access to all of its programs, facilities and services.

 

3 — IMPLEMENTATION

3.1 Responsibilities of the University

To ensure that academically qualified students with disabilities may pursue a post-secondary education of quality, the University will create and maintain a barrier-free environment by:

a. providing all reasonable support services; and

b. promoting an attitude of respect for persons with disabilities; and

c. encouraging sensitivity to the needs of persons with disabilities; and

d. informing the university community about the services available to students with disabilities ensuring that such services are delivered in ways that promote equity; and

e. consulting with faculty and staff regarding disability issues both in the classroom and on campus; and

f. providing reasonable accommodations to the point of undue hardship where warranted and without compromising academic standards; and

g. notifying those involved in accommodation implementation (e.g. faculty, lab instructors, etc.) of approved accommodations in a timely manner to allow for supports to be arranged accordingly; and

h. providing each new student who self-identifies as having a disability with information regarding specific services and accommodations available at Mount Allison through the Meighen Centre (https://mta.ca/current-students/accessibility-services); and

i. reviewing disability documentation in a timely manner to ensure compliance with specific guidelines; and

j. consulting with students with disabilities about decisions relating to matters affecting them while respecting students' confidentiality (see section 4); and

k. ensuring that the provision of services to students with disabilities is provided by advisors with academic qualifications and professional expertise specific to the area of disabilities.

3.2 Responsibilities of students

Students with disabilities requiring assistance from the University shall:

a. initiate contact with the Meighen Centre on campus as early as possible and make the nature of their disabilities and needs known; and

b. ensure that comprehensive, current documentation is provided to the University regarding their specific disability before services can be provided. Documentation guidelines for specific disabilities can be found on the Meighen Centre website (https://mta.ca/current-students/accessibility-services); and

c. undertake a reasonable amount of self-advocacy to ensure that they are provided with equal opportunities by the University. It remains the decision of the individual student whether to request an accommodation or to self-identify as a person with a disability. Students should be aware, in any case, that requesting accommodations must be supported by their documentation which meets disability documentation guidelines as set out by the Meighen Centre.

3.3 Responsibilities of Faculty

In order to ensure that academically qualified students with disabilities may pursue a post-secondary education at Mount Allison, the Faculty will:

a. provide reasonable accommodations and services to students with disabilities that align with the guidelines established by the Meighen Centre; and

b. strive to include persons in learning environments without discrimination based on disability and within reasonable constraints; and

c. consult, as needed, with the Meighen Centre regarding accommodations that potentially undermine the academic integrity or essential requirements of a course.

 

4 — Confidentiality

Confidentiality means that only people who have a legitimate need for information should have access to it and that they should only have access to as much information as is required. The University respects the rights of privacy of the individual. To this end, information on students with disabilities will be treated as confidential. Staff of the Meighen Centre will only share information with faculty/staff involved in accommodating a student and will limit the information shared to what is required to provide accommodation. No information will be shared beyond the above parameters without the informed consent of the student involved.

5 — Appeals

5.1 Students

Academic: Students who believe that they have not been treated fairly in accordance with this policy in an academic matter are encouraged first to discuss the matter with the instructor. Any matters unresolved by discussion between students and instructors may be appealed to the appropriate Department Head, then to the academic Dean, and then to the Provost and Vice-President Academic and Research.

Non-academic: Students who believe that they have not been treated fairly in accordance with this policy in a non-academic matter are encouraged first to appeal to the Manager or Director of the non-academic department in question, or to the Director of Student Life, then to the Vice-President, International and Student Affairs.

5.2 Faculty and Staff

Faculty or staff who believe that an accommodation creates undue hardship or breaches the essential requirements of a course or program are encouraged to discuss the matter with Meighen Centre staff. Unresolved matters can be appealed to the appropriate Department Head, then to the academic dean, and then to the Provost and Vice-President Academic and Research.

 

6 — Review

This policy shall be reviewed every 3 years.