Who Receives This Accommodation
Students with disabilities who navigate with a wide variety of disability-related experiences are approved for this accommodation. Granting extensions on assignments makes sure the student is not unfairly penalized for having to use alternate means or methods to access written materials and complete their work. Examples of when a student may benefit or be approved for this accommodation:
- Students dealing with fluctuating and unpredictable periods of exacerbations of their condition associated with chronic illnesses or mental health disabilities
- Students who need frequent rest periods or who can work only for short periods of time, such as those with recent concussions, brain injuries, or chronic illnesses
- Students with reduced or limited stamina with difficulty sitting, reading, writing/typing for extended periods due to chronic illnesses, physical disabilities, or injuries
- Students who rely on adaptive technology (e.g., screen readers or speech-to-text software) to read and/or write as this process may be slower than reading with normal eyesight
NEW – CHANGES: For students approved for Assignment Extensions
For students approved for Assignment Extension(s) – This accommodation provides extra time for out-of-class assignments or take-home exams due to an exacerbation of a disability or a disability-related condition. When needed for a disability-related reason, student is eligible for a 1-day (24-hour) extension to a limit of two out-of- class written assignments, and the student must notify the instructor before using this accommodation
If the student believes more flexibility is necessary for assignment extensions, the student must contact SAS who will consider the request and will discuss with the student and instructor to determine the appropriateness given the specifics of the course. Different classes call for different agreements (e.g., lab classes may call for less flexibility than lecture classes). If granted, an agreement outlining which assignments (e.g., presentations, group work, discussion boards, etc.) may be potentially affected, and how much more time will be granted for each assignment, will be created.
How to Evaluate the Reasonableness of Assignment Extensions in a Class
The accommodation for Assignment Extensions should always be considered on an individual class basis, allowing an intentional and critical analysis how the sequencing of assignments and their corresponding deadlines are essential to the class learning goals and pedagogical parts. While a late assignment policy may be incorporated into the grading scheme and syllabus, this accommodation is intended to change any stated policies to let some flexibility account for the student’s disability-related need.
The accommodation should be provided unless the accommodation significantly compromises the integrity of the course as offered. If you believe assignment extensions are impossible, then instructors should consult with an Accessibility Specialist to determine the reasonability of the request within the specific context of your class. SAS will consult with instructors using these questions to determine the reasonability:
- What does the class description and syllabus say about assignment deadlines or late work?
- How is the final class grade calculated? To what extent are assignments factored into the final grade? Are there any alternative grading schemes for assignments (i.e. one assignment grade may be dropped, etc)?
- Are assignment deadline policies consistently applied? (i.e.., Have any exceptions made to the policy for non-disabled students, such as for athletic travel or religious observances? If so, then these exceptions must also be granted to students with disabilities.)
- What is the purpose of the assignment? Is it necessary to have it completed before an exam? Before a discussion?
- Is the material being learned in the class sequentially? Does each week’s material build on the material learned in the previous week(s)? (This may shorten the window of time in which an extension can reasonably be granted.)
- Are assignments used as class content when they are due? Are students required to actively participate in class discussions/activities based off of the assignment? (e.g. problem sets reviewed as the first lecture on that content)
- Are answer sets released that would affect a student’s ability to ask for an extension? If so, how important is the timeliness of providing the answer sets to student learning and course sequencing?
- Are there other lab or class sections the student could attend to catch up on missed material?
- Does the assignment involve teamwork? Would failure to complete the assignment on time compromise the educational experience of other students in the class?
- Is it possible for students to “work ahead” in this class?
SAS Responsibilities in Supporting Assignment Extensions
- Reviews documentation and meet with students to better understand their disability-related experiences. Through this interactive process, a Accessibility Specialist will determine if a student is eligible for Assignment Extensions to mitigate disability-related impacts throughout the quarter. If so, Assignment Extensions will be listed as an eligible accommodation on the student’s accommodation letter.
- Consults and supports faculty in determining reasonableness of accommodation or how to start this accommodation, given essential class elements.
- Provides support to students and faculty when questions or difficulties arise related to the accommodation.
Faculty Responsibilities When Facilitating Assignment Extensions
- Once instructors have been notified of eligibility for accommodations, instructors should note that the accommodation provides extra time for out-of-class assignments or take-home exams due to an exacerbation of a disability or a disability-related condition. When needed for a disability-related reason, student is eligible for a 1-day (24-hour) extension to a limit of two out-of- class written assignments, and the student must notify the instructor before using this accommodation.
- If the student believes more flexibility is necessary for assignment extensions, the student must contact SAS who will consider the request and will discuss with the student and instructor to determine the appropriateness given the specifics of the course. Different classes call for different agreements (e.g., lab classes may call for less flexibility than lecture classes). If granted, an agreement outlining which assignments (e.g., presentations, group work, discussion boards, etc.) may be potentially affected, and how much more time will be granted for each assignment, will be created.
If you believe the accommodation is unreasonable in light of your class goals or pedagogical methods, contact the student’s Accessibility Specialist right away as instructors should never unilaterally deny an accommodation. Instructors are expected to clearly articulate why flexibility is unreasonable.
- The instructor should engage in dialogue with the student or SAS regarding assignment extension expectations: delineate the preferred communication process for when the student needs to tell you about a disability-related extension, typical grace period for an extension, and any critical assignments that cannot be extended.
- When a student needs to use this accommodation, they are responsible for telling their instructor promptly. ”Timely” is defined as “as soon as possible.” Instructor must reply to the student’s request for an extension to negotiate if a deadline extension is workable for that assignment.
- Instructor will ask for consultation with SAS if they believe that extending the deadlines for assignments would change an essential element of their class or if they have questions about what a reasonable amount of time extensions is within the context of their class.
- If extensions are pedagogically possible, the instructor will work with the student in good faith to determine a reasonable amount of time and set a new deadline for each eligible assignment.
- Instructor will verify the specific plan for the new assignment due date in writing (by email) with the student.
- SAS is always available to mediate any concerns about Assignment Extensions, including concerns about academic integrity and logistics of this accommodation. SAS remains a neutral party in evaluating what is reasonable as an accommodation and is here to support you..
Student Responsibilities When Eligible for Assignment Extensions
- Students approved for Assignment Extensions must ask for their accommodation letters on myACCESS student portal and distribute their accommodation letters to instructors at the beginning of the semester, or as soon as they are made eligible for the accommodation.
- For students approved for Assignment Extension(s) – This accommodation provides extra time for out-of-class assignments or take-home exams due to an exacerbation of a disability or a disability-related condition. When needed for a disability-related reason, student is eligible for a 1-day (24-hour) extension to a limit of two out-of- class written assignments, and the student must notify the instructor before using this accommodation
- If the student believes more flexibility is necessary for assignment extensions, the student must contact SAS who will consider the request and will discuss with the student and instructor to determine the appropriateness given the specifics of the course. Different classes call for different agreements (e.g., lab classes may call for less flexibility than lecture classes). If granted, an agreement outlining which assignments (e.g., presentations, group work, discussion boards, etc.) may be potentially affected, and how much more time will be granted for each assignment, will be created.
Students should clearly understand if or how assignment extensions will be granted, given the class learning goals and structure. This entails knowing the finite number of extensions that can be allowed, how to communicate with the professor when they need to ask for an extension, and any critical assignments that cannot receive an extension.
When a student needs to use this accommodation for an upcoming assignment, they are responsible for contacting the instructor through email early to ask for the extension and clarify a new due date.
- Never are students required to present documentation to instructors to justify a disability-related need for an extension.
- Students should not plan on the extension being automatically provided and should always use this accommodation, if available, with care.
- If a student receives a paper or assignment extension and cannot meet the deadline, a new extension request must be made.