Policies & Procedures

Students are responsible for informing professors about the need for exam accommodations. We encourage students to speak with their professors within the first two weeks of the semester (or as early as possible) so that they have adequate time to organize arrangements. 

If a professor cannot personally administer accommodations for an exam (such as extra time), the student must submit these needs to arcaup.edu (the Academic Resource Center) via the exam accommodation form no later than two (2) weeks before the exam date.

Arrangements for exams may differ for each class. Students are responsible for understanding the procedures within each class and communicating with the professor and ARC (if applicable) if they have questions or concerns. 

Audio Recording Lecture Policy

With the permission of the professor, students with approved accommodations may record the audio of class lectures. Such recordings are for their personal study only. For this reason, any portion of the recorded lecture may not be shared or published online. Recorded lectures must be erased at the end of each semester.

Computer for Notetaking Policy

Students with approved accommodations may use their personal computer for note-taking in class. Computers used for notetaking during class must be used for that purpose or for other classroom activities approved by the professor. If this accommodation is used in a way that violates classroom policies (other than “no electronics/computers/etc.” for which this accommodation serves as an exception) then the accommodation will be taken away and be exchanged with a different accommodation. In the case that a student has violated this policy, the professor and Director of Student Development will discuss if a violation has occurred and decide next-steps.

As a student with a disability at The American University of Paris (AUP) you have the right to:

• The right to choose if and when you will disclose your disability.

• Equal access to courses, programs, services, and activities offered through the University.
• Reasonable accommodations and adjustments, when needed, to achieve equal access.
• Decide whether to use the approved curricular and co-curricular accommodations.
• All other rights and privileges available to other students at AUP.

As a student with a disability at AUP you have the responsibility to:

• Meet qualifications and maintain essential institutional standards for courses, programs, and activities. 
• Self-identify as an individual with a disability when an accommodation is needed and to seek information, counsel, and assistance as necessary and in a timely manner.
• Engage with the Academic Resource Center in the interactive process of registering and provide documentation from an appropriately qualified professional.
• Follow university procedures for obtaining and implementing reasonable accommodations and services.
• Inform the Learning Accommodations Coordinator of any concerns about classroom accommodations, disparate or disparaging treatment related to disability, or access issues on campus as soon as the issue arises.  

The American University of Paris has the right to:

• Identify and establish essential functions, abilities, skills, knowledge, requirements, and standards for courses, programs, services, and activities, and to evaluate students on this basis. This includes academic integrity and the Campus Code of Conduct. 

• Request and receive relevant and current documentation that supports requests for accommodations or services.
• Deny a request for accommodations or services if the information provided through the interactive process does not show the request is reasonable or appropriate, results in a fundamental alteration of the program, or provides a health and/or safety risk.
• Review requests, and through an interactive process, determine equally effective accommodations or services to meet access needs.

AUP has the responsibility to:

• Meet with students to discuss access needs when requested.
• Provide information that can be accessed by all students in a way that works for their individual disability needs.
• Ensure disabled students have equitable access to all courses, programs, services, and activities and provide or arrange for reasonable accommodations or services when needed.
• Receive, review, and store documentation to support a student’s eligibility for accommodations.
• Provide written notification of the accommodation.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff regarding appropriate reasonable accommodations.
• Maintain confidentiality of records and communication as required under FERPA.

Faculty has the right to:

• Maintain academic standards for courses

• Determine course content and how it will be taught
• Confirm a student’s accommodations and ask for clarification about a specific accommodation (listed on the student’s accommodation letter) with ARC
• Deny a request for accommodation – if the student has not been approved for such accommodation or if a letter has not been sent by Learning Accommodations Coordinator
• Award grades appropriate to the level of the student’s demonstration of mastery of material
• Fail a student who does not perform to passing standards

Faculty members do not have the right to:

• Refuse to provide an approved accommodation for a documented disability when the accommodation is deemed reasonable
• Challenge the legitimacy of a student’s disability
• Review a student’s clinical documentation, including diagnostic data

Faculty has the responsibility to:

• Understand the laws and university’s guidelines regarding students with disabilities

• Implement best practices in teaching to reach a diverse community of learners
• Provide requested accommodations and academic adjustments to students who have documented disabilities in a timely manner

• Ensure instructional materials are accessible and usable by all students
  • The TLC can work with faculty to ensure equal access to course content. Accessible materials may include captioning, exam proctoring, alternative course notes, and document conversion.
• Maintain confidentiality of a student’s disability status
• Ensure that the testing environment is equitable to peers in the class (i.e. testing without disruptions, allowed materials, identical instructions, etc.), and that the student has access to all clarifications and details provided during the exam given to the entire class.