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A department within Student Affairs

Policies

University and DRS Policies on Accommodations

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DRS policies on documentation and accommodations

As a faculty member, you may receive an accommodations letter from a student at the beginning of the semester, but you may not know how that letter came about. It represents the final product of a well-defined and strictly observed procedure established by DRS to:

  1. document the student’s disability;
  2. evaluate the effects that disability may have on his/her academic performance; and
  3. devise meaningful and reasonable ways to give that student full access to a Temple education, in light of her/his functional limitations.

Registration and decision-making process

To receive accommodations and services, students must register with Disability Resources and Services.

Step 1
The student must provide DRS with a completed Student Intake Form and recent disability documentation.

Step 2
The student will participate in an intake meeting with a DRS Coordinator who specializes in the type of disability involved. The coordinator will assess the documentation and interview the student. If the documentation of the disability is adequate and up-to-date, the intake coordinator and the student will discuss accommodations the student has received in the past, strategies that have helped the student succeed, and accommodations that might be effective in the Temple context.

Step 3
Based on all the available information, the coordinator will decide what accommodations, if any, would be appropriate. He or she then drafts the letter to reflect that decision.

Documentation of disability defined

Documentation is an evaluation, assessment, or detailed letter from a doctor or other qualified professional from the appropriate field of concern and not a family member of the student. This documentation will establish eligibility for services and will support requests for specific accommodations.

The documentation must:

  • be typed, signed, and on official letterhead;
  • identify a diagnosis;
  • describe the functional limitations of the disability (i.e. how the disability currently affects the student’s major life activities, including academic performance);
  • be supported by complete, relevant educational, developmental and medical histories;
  • include the names and scores of testing assessments used to draw the conclusions in question;
  • include suggested educational recommendations justified by assessments; and
  • be less than five years old.

Learning disabilities require the following specific documentation:

  • a comprehensive evaluation, typically called a psycho-educational assessment.

The accommodations letter is the basis for implementing accommodations in a given course.

  • DRS recommends to each student that s/he hand-deliver the letter to each professor and engage in a discussion about the student’s needs. For suggestions about how to handle this discussion, students can watch the Access TU Videos.
  • A professor need not retroactively provide academic accommodations in a situation where a student did not provide the accommodations letter earlier.
  • If a student’s needs change, DRS may modify the accommodations letter after consultation with the student.
    Accommodations never necessitate that faculty change the essential requirements of the course.

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Temple University Policies

Alternate Format Policy

Temple University is dedicated to the inclusion of students with a disability in all activities, programs and services offered by the University. In compliance with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, public institutions are mandated to provide qualified persons with a disability access to alternative format materials as needed for educational purposes. The production of alternative format materials is a reasonable accommodation to a disability that requires a high level of cooperation between Temple University and its students. Read the full alternate format policy.

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Personal Care Attendant Policy

In compliance with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Temple University permits the use of a personal care attendant (PCA) by qualified students with a disability to access all building facilities, classrooms, programs, activities and events.

Under this policy, Temple University does not provide individuals with personal devices or services of a personal nature including assistance with personal care services (i.e., dressing, bathing, feeding, transfers, errands, etc.). Students are responsible for hiring, training, supervising and payment of their PCA services. 
Read the full personal care attendant policy.

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Service Animal Policy

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Temple University permits the use of service animals on its campuses in order to achieve access to programs, activities and services. Under this policy, Temple University does allow service animals in all buildings, classrooms, residence halls, meetings, dining areas, recreational facilities, activities and events when the animal is providing an approved service for a student with a documented disability. Read the full service animal policy.

List of all Temple University Policies and Procedures.

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Test taking accommodations

Students who benefit from extended time, distraction-reduced settings and/or assistive technology may be approved to take their tests at DRS.

FAQs about testing accommodations at DRS.

Main Campus test taking services availability
Monday - Friday 
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Students taking evening and/or weekend classes
Any students taking evening and/or weekend classes that require test taking accommodations outside DRS office hours should make arrangements with faculty to take the test at an alternate location. 

Students taking exams on other campuses
Students taking exams on campuses other than Temple Main Campus should refer to the Contact Us page to identify the appropriate contact person for that location.

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Procedures and responsibilities for test taking accommodations

To be effective, efficient, fair, and secure, testing accommodations at DRS require the collaboration of the student, the instructor, and DRS staff members.

Student Responsibilities:

  • Give your professor your accommodation letter as soon as you receive it.
  • Initiate discussions with your professor about your exam accommodations.
  • Collaborate with your professor to complete the Test Administration Form (Main Campus Form, Ambler Campus Form).
  • Submit the completed test administration form to DRS at least three (3) business days in advance of the test date. DRS staff will not accept incomplete test administration forms.
  • Arrive at DRS at the scheduled time to begin the test. If you are late, the length of the delay will be deducted from your overall time.
  • Abide by policies related to academic integrity and academic misconduct as outlined in the university’s Code of Conduct.

Faculty Responsibilities:

  • Collaborate with your student to complete the DRS test administration form.
  • Submit the test to DRS three (3) business days before the test date in one of the following ways:

    Email
    Email drstest@temple.edu

    Confidential Fax
    Fax 215-204-6794

    Hand-deliver
    Either you or a designated colleague can hand-deliver the test. Under NO circumstances can students deliver their own tests to DRS.

  • Notify DRS in advance if you require an extension of the test delivery deadline.
  • Contact DRS by telephone 215-204-1280 or email drstest@temple.edu to notify your student of changes to the test content prior to or during test period.
  • Consider being available by telephone or email during the test should the student require clarification of any aspect of the test. Please provide the best contact method to the student.

DRS Responsibilities:

  • Collaborate with faculty to ensure that all tests we proctor are administered in an environment respectful of the students’ needs and the academic integrity of the testing process.
  • Meet with the student and make disability-related testing recommendations via accommodations letters available in a timely manner.
  • Respond to all requests for clarification about our testing procedures within 24 business hours of receipt of inquiry.
  • Ensure that all test materials are provided to students in an accessible format.
  • Protect the academic integrity of tests by:
    • Only accepting complete test administration forms;
      Only accepting changes to test administration forms in writing from faculty;
    • Ensuring that students do NOT deliver their own tests to or from DRS;
    • Providing secure proctoring services;
    • Reporting any suspicion of violations of the Code of Conduct to appropriate faculty.
  • Provide four options for return of tests to faculty within 24 hours of completion (provided we have accurate information):
    • DRS courier to a location where a staff member is available to sign acknowledgment of receipt;
    • Confidential fax;
    • Email to faculty TUmail account;
    • Faculty or a designated colleague may pick up tests from DRS.

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