Disability Accommodations Policy
Pitzer College complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and applicable federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability.
Pitzer Academic Support Services (PASS) coordinates reasonable accommodations for qualified students with documented disabilities. Disability may include, but are not limited to, physical, sensory, learning, medical, and psychological conditions that substantially limit one or more major life activity.
Admission to Pitzer College is based on academic qualifications and potential to satisfy Pitzer's rigorous academic standards. Students are not admitted to a modified program of study. Following admission, students seeking accommodations must register with PASS and provide current, appropriate documentation from a qualified professional. For all students wishing to be accommodated for disabilities, students are required to provide a recent professional evaluation which identifies the disability, describes the challenges to participation in college life the student faces due to the condition, and recommendations for specific accommodations. All documentation must contain the name, title, and professional credentials of the evaluator. All reports should be on letterhead, typed, dated, and signed, and should include information about what tests and/or records were used to make the determinations.
PASS engages in an interactive process to determine reasonable accommodations on a case-by-case basis. Accommodations are designed to provide equal access while maintaining the academic integrity of courses and programs. Fundamental alternations and retroactive accommodations are not provided.
Accommodations must be requested a minimum of two weeks in advance of being needed. Failure to do so may result in an inability on the part of the College to provide requested assistance in a timely manner. Students are responsible for activating their accommodations each semester and providing advanced notice to their professors. Upon activation, faculty are notified, consortium wide, through an official accommodation letter. Faculty must be afforded one week after receiving the accommodation letter to implement accommodations.
The requested accommodations should maintain the academic integrity of the courses and the academic program as a whole while attempting to meet the student’s needs. Pitzer College does not routinely waive academic requirements for students with disabilities. Rather, our policy is to assist the student in his or her efforts to meet Pitzer requirements by making reasonable accommodations. As additional support, referrals may be made to campus resources, including counseling, academic support, and tutoring services.
Disability-related information is maintained as confidential in accordance with FERPA and shared only with appropriate college officials with a legitimate educational interest.
Students who believe they have experienced disability-related discrimination may pursue resolution through Pitzer's grievance procedures.