1. Offices
  2. Academic Support Services

Faculty Resource Guide

Faculty play a vital role in ensuring equal access for students with disabilities and accommodation needs. Students registered with Pitzer Academic Support Services (PASS) are encouraged to work with their instructors at the beginning of each semester to arrange approved accommodations. 

PASS supports more than 300 students each year with a wide range of disabilities, including learning, visual, and hearing impairments, physical an mental health conditions, and other health-related needs. Accommodations are determine individually in collaboration with students. 

This guide provides faculty with information and resources to help create accessible learning environments. PASS staff are also available for consultations and presentations on accommodations and related topics. 

 

Faculty Roles, Rights, and Responsibilities

Roles

Faculty are responsible for promoting accessibility by:

  • Providing reasonable accommodations
  • Ensuring access to learning materials and activities
  • Maintaining confidentiality

Examples of reasonable accommodations include:

  • Adjusted exam arrangements or use of Testing Center
  • Alternative methods of meeting course requirements
  • Permission to use assistive technology (e.g., audio recorders, electronic note takers, laptops)
  • Allow alternative ways to demonstrate mastery

Students must request accommodations by activating them in the PASS Portal. Additionally, confidentiality must be maintained Documentation should be stored securely, and discussions should take place privately, only with individuals who have an educational need to know. PASS staff are available to assist with questions or concerns.  

Rights

Faculty have the right to:

  • Maintain academic standards and determine course content and methods
  • Verify accommodations with PASS
  • Deny requests not approved by PASS or not accompanied by official documentation
  • Assign grades based on demonstrated work
  • Fail students who do not meet course requirements

Faculty members do not have the right to:

  • Refuse approved accommodations
  • Questions the validity of a student's disability
  • Request a student's medical or diagnostic records

Responsibilities

Faculty must:

  • Be familiar with disability laws and campus accommodation policies
  • Refer students to PASS when appropriate
  • Provide approved accommodations promptly upon receiving official letters
  • Maintain confidentiality of all disability-related information
  • Ensure course materials are accessible (e.g., handouts, videos, captioning, digital formats). For captioning and audio contact help@pitzer.edu or call (909) 607-3065.
  • Contact PASS if there are concerns about accommodations before taking further action

 

Syllabus Statement

PASS recommends including an accessibility statement in every syllabus to encourage communication and early requests for accommodations. A detailed syllabus with objectives, assignments, schedules, and due dates also helps students plan ahead and request services when needed. Whenever possible, provide syllabi and other course materials in an electronic format to provide direct access.

Sample Statements

  • "If you have a disability and may benefit from academic accommodations, you are encouraged to contact both your faculty and Pitzer Academic Support Services by email at academicsupport@pitzer.edu at the beginning of the semester to begin the process of getting registered for accommodations."
  • "Students using PASS must contact their faculty during office hours to discuss approved accommodations. All accommodations require prior authorization from PASS."
  • "Pitzer provides reasonable, individualized accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973."

Faculty are also encouraged to select textbooks as early as possible and avoid last-minute changes to allow time for alternative formats preparation.