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Academic Accommodations

Welcome

At Saint Vincent College, we believe every student deserves an equal opportunity to succeed. Our Office of Academic Accommodations ensures that learning is accessible for all students. We provide reasonable accommodations and support in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Students may begin the process at any time during the academic year, but we strongly encourage early contact—especially for first-year students. To be eligible for accommodations, students must submit appropriate documentation to the coordinator of Academic Accommodations. Please note that accommodations generally do not carry over to future semesters or academic years; requests must be renewed as needed.

We work closely with the Student Academic Success office, which offers academic coaching and helps students connect with other offices and resources on campus.

Academic Support and Resources

Getting Started

How to apply

To apply for academic accommodations:

Documentation Guidelines

  • Appropriate documentation of a disability is required to receive accommodations.
  • A diagnosis alone does not guarantee specific accommodations; requests are reviewed individually.
  • Documentation identifies functional limitations and determines reasonable accommodations.
  • All disability documentation is treated confidentially.

Types of Accommodations

Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis. Below are examples:

Testing Accommodations

Available for quizzes, exams, midterms, and finals. Students approved for testing accommodations must complete the Academic Support Exam Request Form and/or the Final Exam Request Form on the MySV portal. Possible accommodations include:

  • Extended time
  • Distraction-limited testing environment
  • Use of assistive devices

Note-Taking Support

Note-taking services supplement, not replace, a student’s own notes. Options include:

  • Supplemental note-taking services (Note taking Request Form on MySV portal )
  • Assistive equipment (e.g., Livescribe Echo Smartpen)

Assistive Technology

Various tools and devices may be available to support learning needs.

Academic Resources

Saint Vincent College offers additional resources to support student success:

  • Student Academic Success Office (SSS-TRIO and Act 101)
    Located on the 4th floor of Alfred Hall; provides tutoring, mentoring, and academic coaching.
  • Office of Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR)
    Pennsylvania residents may receive funding for disability testing, tuition, adaptive equipment, and other services. Call 1-800-762-4223 for more information and a referral to a local OVR counselor.

Temporary Accommodations

Students with temporary medical conditions (e.g., broken bones, concussions, surgery, infectious diseases) may be eligible for temporary accommodations.

  • These conditions are not considered disabilities but may limit participation.
  • Documentation and recovery updates are required.
  • Complete the application for services; a meeting will be scheduled to discuss reasonable temporary accommodations.

Policies and Student Rights

FERPA

Saint Vincent College follows established procedures for confidentiality, release of student information, and student rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Disclosure & Eligibility

The Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibit discrimination based on disability and require reasonable accommodations for qualified students who request them.

  • A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment that allows equal access to courses, services, and facilities.
  • The college is not required to make substantial changes to curriculum or program functions.
  • Students must follow the application process and provide documentation of their disability and its impact on coursework.
  • Requests must be made by the student directly (except for minors under 18). Parents/legal guardians may assist with permission, but the student must engage in the interactive process.
  • Each request is reviewed individually.
  • Accommodations do not remove course requirements, excuse absences, or apply retroactively.

Grievance Procedure

Grievances regarding academic accommodations or disability support services must be submitted in writing within four weeks of the incident to the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success.

Saint Vincent College complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

  • Information for Faculty

    The following is information to assist faculty who may have students receiving Academic Accommodations.

    Please use the following statement to be included in your course syllabi:

    For [INSERT SEMESTER AND YEAR], students with disabilities who may be eligible for academic accommodations and support services should contact Mrs. Nicole Kerr, the Accommodations Coordinator to schedule a meeting. Mrs. Kerr can be reached at 724-805-2371 or by email to AcademicSupport@stvincent.edu. Her office is located in the Academic Affairs suite on the 2nd floor of Headmasters Hall (above post office). Reasonable accommodations do not alter the essential elements of any course, program, or activity. The Notification of Approved Academic Accommodations form indicates the effective date of all approved academic accommodations and is not retroactive.

    Testing Accommodations

    Students who have accommodations for quizzes and exams will submit a request via the Academic Support Exam Request form. Academic Accommodations will communicate via email when a test has been requested by a student. Quizzes and exams will need to be sent via email or hardcopy to Academic Accommodations, along with any supplemental materials and instructions. Once completed, the quizzes/exams can either be picked up in Accommodations or dropped off to the instructor.

    Referrals to Academic Accommodations

    If a student tells you that they have a disability/medical condition, or that they received accommodations before, please direct them to contact Nicole Kerr in Academic Accommodations. Be mindful that not all students who struggle academically have a disability and you should never ask a student if they do. Please provide students with as many resources as possible, including Academic Accommodations, and allow the student to reach out independently. If you have any questions, please contact our office.

    Supportive Measures through the Title IX Office

    A student may be receiving Supportive Measures through the Title IX Office. While these Supportive Measures may look and operate in a similar manner to Academic Accommodations, the legal requirements behind them are different.  In addition, in some cases a student may be receiving both Academic Accommodations and Supportive Measures, and the Academic Accommodations Office has a role in both. When a student is receiving Supportive Measures, the Academic Accommodations Office will assist the Title IX Office with the coordination of some of these Supportive Measures (e.g., extended test or assignment time, note-taking requests, use of assistive devices, etc…). You will be contacted directly with further information by the Title IX Coordinator when Supportive Measures are being provided to a student.

Contacts

Lisa Tatone
Director of Student Academic Success
lisa.tatone@stvincent.edu
724-805-2255

Nicole Kerr
Coordinator of Academic Accommodations
nicole.kerr@stvincent.edu
724-805-2371

Dr. Lea Delcoco-Fridley
Academic Accommodations Specialist
lea.delcoco-fridley@stvincent.edu
724-805-2255

Dr. Dana Winters
Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success
dana.winters@stvincent.edu
724-805-5773

Academic Support and Resources
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