Fall '24 FINALS Reminder: Students and instructors—be prepared for finals accommodations by discussing exam options and following the steps to schedule and refer finals at the Exam Accommodation Center. Learn more!

Notification Letters

What is a Notification Letter?

Notification letters are your official notice of accommodations, approved by our office, for a student in your class. After a student generates their Notification Letter for your course, you will receive their letter via a link sent to your email. These letters state the accommodations students have requested for your course for the noted semester.

The college, faculty, and staff are obligated under the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to provide reasonable accommodations to students with disabilities.

Before meeting with your student(s), take time to familiarize yourself with both your obligations and your student’s responsibilities regarding accommodations in college: Shared Responsibility Statement

Learn more about why we implement accommodations on campus: Click here!

I received a Notification Letter; What do I do now?

Follow the Accommodation Process!

  1. Review the official accommodation letter using your Accommodate Portal 
  2. Wait for the student to initiate the conversation about implementing accommodations in the classroom or reach out to them first if you prefer.
  3. Collaborate with the student and create an implementation plan for their accommodations in your course.
  4. Document the implementation plan for you and the student to refer back to.
  5. Reach out to SAS if you have any questions or concerns.

Resources for Discussing Accommodations

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    Maintaining Confidentiality

    Upholding the confidentiality of accommodations is essential for respecting student privacy and complying with legal requirements. Learn more about how to ensure these standards are met.

  • Photo of two people meeting in an office. The photo is shot over a student's shoulder looking at an older women who is talking and smiling to the student

    Tips for Discussing Accommodations

    Use our five tips for discussing accommodation implementation with your students to feel well-prepared and ensure the conversation remains positive and constructive.

  • Up-close photo of a person's hands typing on a laptop keyboard with document logos floating over the image

    Documenting the Implementation Plan

    Make sure you and your students are on the same page all semester by documenting the implementation plan with our Accommodation Planning Tool.

The staff is awesome. Without people like them, it would be so much more stressful to implement accommodations.

Instructor using SAS & EAC Services

Feasibility and Timing of Requests

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    Deadlines for Accommodations Notifications

    You may notice Notification Letters arriving in your inbox at the beginning of the semester and wonder about the timing of these requests. Learn more about when students can submit Notification Letters and the relevant timelines.

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    Concerns about Feasibility

    What is a feasible accommodation in your course and how is that determined? What do you do if there is a concern over the impact of an accommodation on your course? Learn more about what to do if there are concerns about feasibility.

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    Timing of Implementation

    When do you need to have accommodations implemented in your course? What do you do if you have issues with implementing them? Learn what is considered to be a reasonable timeframe for implementation and the responsibilities of both you and the student.

Accommodation Statement for Syllabi

Iowa State University is committed to advancing equity, access, and inclusion for students with disabilities. Promoting these values entails providing reasonable accommodations where barriers exist to students’ full participation in higher education. Students in need of accommodations or who experience accessibility-related barriers to learning should work with Student Accessibility Services (SAS) to identify resources and support available to them. Staff at SAS collaborate with students and campus partners to coordinate accommodations and to further the academic excellence of students with disabilities. Information about SAS is available online at www.sas.dso.iastate.edu, by email at accessibility@iastate.edu, or by phone at 515-294-7220.

Other Resources

Implementing Exam Accommodations

There are various options for proctoring exams with accommodations, from providing support within your department to utilizing the ISU Testing Centers or the Exam Accommodations Center. Read our guide to learn about practical solutions to ensure students receive the accommodations they need during exams in a way that works for you and the student.

Implementing Exam Accommodations - A Guide for Instructors

Request a Presentation

Student Accessibility Services (SAS) offers a variety of presentations designed to provide valuable information and support on topics related to student accessibility and accommodations at ISU. Click the link below to view our different presentations to determine what would fit your needs best, then complete our request form to contact our office!

Available Presentations + Request Form

Still have questions?

Send us an email or give us a call!