Accessibility Statement for Syllabi

Accessibility Statement for Syllabi:

Bethel University is committed to accessibility for students with disabilities and the Office of Accessibility Resources & Services (OARS) is a resource to ensure students experience access. Instructors will provide accommodations once the student is registered with the OARS office and has been approved for accommodations.

Students with a documented disability may contact OARS to learn more about how to register for accommodations. Reasonable accommodations are approved upon registration and an interactive process between the student and OARS.
Students registered with OARS are responsible for logging in to their AIM Accessibility Accommodation portal (via MyBethel) each term to request their Faculty Notification Letter of Accommodations. Accommodations are not retro active and cannot be applied prior to the faculty’s receipt of the letter.

OARS recommends the student and faculty discuss how accommodations may apply in the specific course. Accommodations cannot modify essential requirements or fundamentally alter the nature of the course. Consultation with OARS may be necessary to clarify reasonable accommodations based on the course. If there are any questions or concerns, contact OARS at oars@bethel.edu or 651.638.6833.

Former Process for Accommodations:

Starting Fall 2021, the Office of Accessibility Resources & Services (OARS) initiated a new process for sending accommodation letters. The process puts more ownership on the student. The syllabus statement above reflects this expectation.

	Prior to Fall 2021	Fall 2021 and Beyond
1) Who is responsible for sending accommodation letters	OARS sent accommodation letters on behalf of the student. OARS sent letter with all of the student’s eligible accommodations.	The student is now responsible to login to their AIM portal to request their letters to be sent. The student has ownership over which accommodations they would like to request to utilize for each class.
2) When accommodation letters are sent	2-3 weeks before the start of term or as a new student registered with OARS during term.	Varies. The student is encouraged to send the letter 2-3 weeks before the course begins. It may be earlier or later as the student now has ownership.
3) What accommodation letter is communicating	Letter communicated that the student is registered with OARS and their eligible accommodations. Initiated conversation for students to then state their intent to use accommodations.	Student is communicating their intent to use accommodations by requesting their letter to be sent and selecting from eligible accommodations. OARS recommends the student and faculty discuss how accommodations may apply in the specific course.