Academic Accommodations
PASS is committed to meeting the needs of its students and striving for inclusion and access to all Pitzer classes, programs, and activities. This is done through determining reasonable accommodations or by redesigning aspects of the campus experience.
Requesting Academic Accommodations
Reasonable accommodations are determined following an individualized assessment of each request. Among the factors considered in determining reasonable accommodations for students are:
- The nature of the student’s disability
- Accommodations that have been accessed by that student in the past
- Whether the requested accommodations will allow the student to effectively access and participate in the course or program
- Whether the requested accommodations will alter the essential requirements of the course or program.
Steps to Register for Academic Accommodations:
Fill out the application and upload your documentation to our online accommodation system HERE. If this is your first time requesting accommodations, submit documentation preferably at least 2 weeks before your first examination. Newly admitted students are advised to to start this process one they have confirmed admission to Pitzer, by June 1st.
Supporting documentation should include: A specific diagnosis, licensing and experience of health care professional, major life activities impacted, list of accommodations needed to participate student life at Pitzer. Documentation guidelines can be found HERE.
Step 2: Set up an appointment with PASS
Email us at [email protected] to set up a time to meet with our staff to review your accommodations, discuss the process, and answer any questions you may have. You are responsible for setting up this appointment in order for your accommodations to be established.
Step 3: Request your accommodation letter in the portal each semester
Once registered with PASS, each semester students will need to log into their accommodation portal to request their accommodations for their new courses. Please request your accommodations at least 1 week before your examinations.
Click here for a step-by-step guide on how to request your accommodation letter in the portal.
If you utilize exam accommodations, you’ll also use the portal to schedule exams with the SDRC. Pitzer students should schedule their accommodated exams at least 7 business days prior to the exam to ensure there is enough room and time to effectively accommodate the request.
Click here for a step-by-step guide on scheduling exams with the SDRC.
If you have notetaking accommodations, you will also need to request notes each semester. Click here for instructions.
Step 4: Follow up on any accommodation logistics
If there are any concerns, questions, or difficulties that need to be addressed, please contact PASS soon as possible to ensure that your accommodations are rendered in a timely manner. We will quickly do our best to facilitate the accommodation process and offer support.
Note: It is important to follow the established timelines because a failure to do so may result in an inability on the part of the college to provide requested assistance in a timely manner. Accommodations are not retroactive and both our office and faculty must be allowed sufficient time to implement the accommodations. Extenuating circumstances are determined by our office and can include sudden acute onset of a psychological condition, hospitalization, flare up of an existing disability, an injury, recent onset of a disability or disability related complications, undue delay in documentation, or a late add of a course. In such circumstances, Academic Support Services will assist with arrangements to provide accommodations and support.
Examples of Academic Accommodations
We provide a wide array of accommodations and services. Listed below are examples of what PASS can provide:
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- Private test area for exams
Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC)
The Student Disability Resource Center is the centralized resource center for support for students with disabilities across the 7C campus communities. The SDRC works closely with the Disability Coordinators on all the campuses to ensure that students receive academic support services and accommodations to empower them to achieve their academic goals, while ensuring equitable treatment and access to all programs and activities across all campuses. For more information, please visit the Student Disability Resource Center website.
Placement Exam Accommodations – Incoming First Year Students
Please note that some but not all placement exams are untimed. If you are an incoming first year student and you need to request accommodations for your placement exams, please contact PASS and we will coordinate your accommodations.
Differences between high school and college accommodations
In high school, services were implemented by a team of educators and parents with an aim toward promoting your success. When you enter college the responsibility shifts. You must seek out assistance by contacting PASS to arrange access.
This is a fundamental change in the way that you relate to instructors and advisers; as a college student, you will now initiate all services and accommodations, and self-advocacy will play a bigger role. Students must be able to describe their disability, identify strengths and weaknesses, and identify any accommodations needed and how to be a competent self-advocate. Click HERE and HERE for more information on the differences between high school and college for students with disabilities.
Transition to college
Academics
- Course schedules in college are different than high school. Classes can vary in length and days per week; you may have a Tuesday/Thursday class that is 90 minutes long and a Monday class that meets for 3 hours once per week.
- Students are expected to keep track of important dates and manage their time. You’ll be responsible for scheduling your own time to complete assignments, study, eat meals, and to relax and have fun.
- Professors won’t be checking in with you to make sure you’re working on assignments, and often times they won’t remind you of important due dates or exam dates coming up. Most professors will provide all due dates in advance in the course syllabus that you’ll receive on the first day of class.
- Instructors often plan their courses so that students do a lot of their learning outside of class including acquiring knowledge and facts from outside reading and library research.
- Most successful students expect to spend 2-3 hours of studying for each hour they are in class, and students with disabilities may need to plan on a few more hours.
- Be prepared for the first round of tests. They are often very different than students expect. Don’t wait to get help! Go to the professor’s office hours, utilize tutoring, the writing center, and academic coaching.
- Professors in different courses usually schedule tests without regard to the demands of other courses or outside activities.
- Professors may not follow the textbook. Instead, to amplify the text, they may give illustrations, provide background information, or discuss research about the topic you are studying. Or they may expect you to relate the lectures/class discussions to the textbook readings.
- Professors expect you to get from classmates any notes from classes you missed.
- Professors are usually open and helpful, but most expect you to initiate contact if you need assistance.
- Testing is usually infrequent and may be cumulative, covering large amounts of material. You, not the professor, need to organize the material to prepare for the test. A particular course may have only 2 or 3 tests in a semester.
Pitzer students have access to Academic Coaching and other resources. An academic coach focuses on helping you with learning strategies and life management skills which, in turn, empowers you to successfully manage academic demands.
Life Skills
- Students who begin college after high school may not only be adjusting to a new learning environment but very possibly, even a new city and friends.
- It may be the first time they are living on their own. They may need to learn to budget their money, cook, maintain an apartment, do laundry, and learn how to live with a roommate.
- Students will need to learn how to manage/handle conflict, whether with a roommate, classmate, or group.
Pitzer students have access to many resources to support mental health and wellness, and to help navigate difficult life situations that might come up while in college.
