Student Disability Services

Michigan Tech is supportive of instructors who chose to utilize Universal Design for Learning (UDL) practices such as providing extended time on quizzes, tests, and exams for the entire class as a way to remove time constraints or barriers for students.

• Instructors should be communicating to the entire class that they are using Universal Design (UDL) practices so that all students are aware of this practice (e.g. “This test was designed to be completed in 45 minutes. To relieve time pressures, I am giving everyone 90 minutes to complete the test.”).
• Students who utilize disability accommodations must be provided their accommodations in addition to this practice (in the example above, if they have a 2x accommodation, they must receive 3 hours to complete the test).
• A student using an accommodation may choose not to use their accommodation if they feel the extended time given to the entire class is sufficient.
• If instructors choose to use Universal Design (UDL) practices, it would be appropriate to include this information on their syllabi in addition to making announcements to the class before each quiz, test, or exam. 

Michigan Tech is committed to ensuring that all qualified individuals with disabilities have the opportunity to take part in educational programs and services on an equal basis. The aim is to provide this opportunity in an integrated setting that fosters independence and meets the guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Student Disability Policy.

We offer many accommodations for students who provide supporting documentation of a disability. These range from accommodations in the classroom to special software on all computers in the library. Review a list of these accommodations.  Read our Guide to Setting Up Your Accommodations.

Faculty who are looking for detailed descriptions of classroom accommodations can find them separately through our online definitions.

Please fill out the Student Disability Services Accommodation Request Form, and upload all documentation you have to this form. If you cannot attach your documentation, please email sds@mtu.edu or fax to 906-487-3530. We will accept psychological evaluations, 504 plans, IEP, or notes from a healthcare professional that you have an established relationship with, preferably on the letterhead, with their signature and credentials. For information about our documentation policy, please review the Student Disability Policy and information about Documenting a Disability. Failure to register a disability with the Student Disability office in a timely manner will lead to delays in receiving services. If you have any questions, email sds@mtu.edu or call 906-487-3558.

For students with the accommodation of "Chronic Medical Absences", they can receive up to 4  excused absences per class for each semester, except for labs and other classes that only meet once a week, they will be allowed 2 absences per class for each semester.

For all other absences, please refer to the Dean of Students for their absence policy.

You may be allowed to use your Chronic Medical Absences accommodation during finals week but it must pertain to your documented disability. 

• We do not allow preemptive requests for Chronic Medical Absences.
• You will need to follow our process for requesting your Chronic Medical Absence as you have during the semester.
• You must have one of your four Chronic Medical Absences remaining to use. You will not be given additional absences during finals week. If you do not have any remaining Chronic Medical Absences you may choose to request an Excused Absence through the Dean of Students Office. A Dean of Students absence will require documentation.

If you do need to utilize a Chronic Medical Absence during finals week, it is your responsibility to follow up with your instructor about a make up exam date and time. This may include requesting an incomplete from your instructor if a make up exam is not reasonable within the remainder of finals week. As a reminder, to be eligible for an incomplete a student must be passing the course, have an extenuating circumstance, and have completed the majority of the course. An incomplete is at the discretion of the instructor. 

Students with the accommodation of Extended Time, cannot have more than 2 finals in one day.

In order to use accommodations during Finals Week, you must have your accommodations in place by the Monday of the LAST WEEK OF CLASSES.

For documenting Emotional Support Animals (ESA) or Service Animals (SA), please read the ESA/SA guide and print the appropriate form - fill out and return to the Student Disability Services Office:

• ESA
• Service Animal