Faculty Information on Procedures, Resources, and Forms

When a student with a disability enrolls in a course, faculty and instructors can expect two things to occur. First, an e-mail arrives from the UNK Disability Services for Students (DSS) office. It lists and describes the specific accommodations assigned to the student.

Second, the student with a disability contacts the instructor or faculty member to discuss how best to implement each accommodation in the specific course. Students have a responsibility to communicate their needs to each instructor. If a student does not make arrangements with the instructor sufficiently in advance, the accommodations listed in the e-mail need not be provided. However, when a student requests assigned accommodations, they must be provided as soon as reasonably possible.

Occasionally, an instructor or faculty member may find that an accommodation conflicts with an essential element of the course. In this case, contact the Disability Services for Students (DSS) office for a meeting and provide the accommodation in question until the situation is resolved.

In most cases, the notification e-mail is sent approximately 10 days in advance of the semester. However, if a student registers with Disability Services for Students after classes have begun the e-mail is sent as soon as possible thereafter. The student's status as a person with a disability is confidential.

For more information about the disability accommodation process, see the Responsibilities section below or contact the Disability Services for Students at (308) 865-8214 or unkdso@unk.edu.

Occasionally, a student may claim disability status and ask a faculty member or course instructor for accommodations directly rather than going through the Disability Services for Students registration process. While granting this request may seem easier in the short term, it creates problems for the student, faculty or instructor, and the university in the long term.

It is strongly recommended that any student who identifies themselves as having a disability complete the registration process with Disability Services for Students (DSS) before being provided any disability-related accommodations. If a student identifies themselves as having a specific disability, medical diagnosis, or psychological diagnosis please refer them to Disability Services for Students (DSS). Keep in mind that the referral is made after a disability diagnosis is disclosed.  It is not appropriate to ask someone if they have a disability.

The UNK Testing Accommodations is located in MSAB 164 and is available for students who require exam accommodations that cannot be provided in the classroom. Only those accommodations previously approved by the Disability Services for Students (DSS) office will be provided at the DSS Testing Center. The Testing Center Guidelines describe student and faculty responsibilities in this process and must be followed in each testing situation. Testing Accommodations Guidelines for Students & Faculty

In the event an instructor does not submit a test to the DSS Office Testing at the appointed time, the student will wait approximately ten minutes and then contact the instructor for guidance as to when the test will be delivered to the Testing Center.

For Closed Captioning and Transcription Services for In-Person or Synchronous Courses:

In person and/or remote transcription services for students taking in-person or synchronous classes will be provided by the Disability Services office.  Faculty will be notified of this accommodation for students in their courses by a Faculty Notification Letter and follow up contact will be made by the transcription provider to discuss details. 

Please contact Disability Services for Students with questions at 865-8214 or unkdso@unk.edu

For Closed Captioning service options for ONLINE CLASSES, please contact:        

eCampus
University of Nebraska at Kearney
Communications Center Building, 3rd Floor
Kearney, NE 68849-4220
Phone: 1-800-865-6388
Phone: 1-308-865-8211
Fax: 308-865-8090
email: ecampus@unk.edu 

For Closed Captioning or Transcription services for public events or videos used on the  UNK website please contact:

Steph Gallaway
gallawaysk@unk.edu
Digital Media Producer
Communications & Marketing
CMCT #30, University of Nebraska at Kearney
Office: 308.865.8136 // Mobile: 308.249.3208

A transcriptionist may be in the classroom to facilitate communication between the deaf/hard of hearing student, the instructor, and fellow students. Instructors should interact with the deaf/hard of hearing student just as they would with their other students. The transcriptionist will position her/himself in the classroom where she/he can easily access instructor and student discourse. Depending on the student's degree of hearing loss and preference, the transcriptionist will raise her hand and communicate the student's questions or comments.

Transcription may also be provided remotely by an off-campus transcriber using the student’s laptop, cell phone, or other device.  The student will need to be allowed to have this device in the classroom.  It may also be helpful for a Zoom link to be provided if possible and for instructors to speak clearly and repeat student questions so that the transcriber is able to capture the classroom discussion.

Students with many types of disabilities, such as people who have low vision, a learning disability, or severe arthritis, require assistance in taking notes during class. Instructors are asked to make a request that a volunteer from the class share their notes with a student who has a disability. The intention of this accommodation is to assist students who cannot generate a complete set of notes on their own; it is not a replacement for attendance. Therefore, notes are only provided when the student with a disability attends class.

If the student with a disability has a complaint about the quality or delivery of the notes, it is his/her responsibility to alert the Disability Services for Students Office. The instructor may be asked to assess the quality of the notes, or ask for another volunteer.

• Provide information and services so that students with disabilities may participate in all of the programs, services, and activities of the institution.
• Provide services in a timely fashion.
• Review documentation of a disability for eligibility and determine on behalf of the institution what types of accommodations are appropriate.
• Keep disability-related information confidential, discussing it only with those who have a valid reason to know.
• Help faculty and staff provide reasonable accommodations.
• Consult with university administration, faculty, and staff on the provision of services, accommodations, and access as required under current federal and state law.
• Advocate responsibly for the rights of persons with disabilities.

• Voluntarily identify disability-related needs to the Disability Services for Students office.
• Provide documentation of disability to the DSS.
• Formally request needed accommodations and services in a timely manner.
• Notify the DSS of any changes or concerns in needed services or accommodations.
• Abide by the student code of conduct set by the university.
• Attend class and maintain the academic standards set by the university, the college, and the department.
• Use services responsibly and treat service providers and faculty with respect and courtesy.
• Abide by the policies of the DSS; specifically the Student Handbook) & Documentation Guidance on this site.

• Include a statement in your syllabus informing students about reasonable accommodations.
• Refer students to the DSS to have the disability documented and appropriate accommodations determined.
• Help provide reasonable accommodations including the use of auxiliary aids, note-takers, and captioned videos.
• Provide advising, counseling, and instruction to students with disabilities in a fully accessible environment.
• Show confidence in students abilities to achieve their intellectual, personal, and professional potential.
• Keep disability-related information confidential.
• Discuss all student-related information directly with the student.

• Provide a campus in which educational, cultural, and extracurricular activities are physically and programmatically accessible.
• Create policies that encourage the inclusion of persons with disabilities in all programs and activities.
• Provide a process so students with disabilities may address their grievances with the institution and the office(s) that provide service