Learning Difficulties

At AUP, disability support services are developed to allow all students the opportunity to study and be evaluated as fairly as possible. On this page, you can access more information about our services and download the exam accommodation request form.

Academic accommodations

Student Development

The Student Development Guidance Counselor is the first contact for disability support services. She coordinates with the Academic Resource Center to provide the appropriate needed accommodations for students with a learning or physical disability. Additionally, the Guidance Counselor will provide information about on-campus support services and off-campus learning specialists for testing and/or support. Students must file for a learning accommodation, providing all relevant documentation to the Guidance Counselor, within the first three weeks of the semester.

Academic Resource Center (ARC)

In collaboration with the Student Development Guidance Counselor and the Academic Affairs Office, the Academic Resource Center will review and approve accommodation request forms for upcoming exams, will manage laptop requests and serve as a liaison with professors regarding accommodation arrangements, drop-off and pick-up laptops at exam locations, and deliver completed exams to professors.

Procedures and requirements

Academic accommodations for exams will only be considered after the student has submitted valid documentation to the Office of Student Development indicating the educational disability and the recommended accommodations. The Office of Student Development Office will liaise with the Academic Resource Center who will then notify all relevant faculty and staff members, and recommend specific accommodations to professors.

Procedures

• Valid documents must be submitted to the Office of Student Development within the first three weeks of the first semester of attending AUP; the disability will then be officially registered. Summer students must register within the first week of classes.
• Students should make an appointment with their professors, preferably during their office hours, to discuss accommodation requests.
• Students must submit an exam accommodation form to the Academic Resource Center for each exam that requires accommodations.
• Forms must be submitted two weeks before the date of the exam. Late forms will not be accepted.

Important Note: once a student has submitted valid documentation, there is no need to present it again at the beginning of each semester, as long as the documentation remains valid. However, it is the student’s responsibility to request from the Academic Resource Center that current professors be notified of his or her disability and of needed accommodations, and to provide the name of each professor.

Requirements for documentation

Documents that will be considered and accepted as valid, must meet the following criteria:

• Must be current, and less than 3 years old.
• Must be issued by a licensed disability specialist.
• Originals must be presented, so a copy can be made and kept on file.
• Must specify clear and reasonable accommodations. AUP staff members are not qualified to make recommendations to faculty based on testing results alone.

If your documentation doesn’t meet all of the above criteria, you will be asked to be retested in order to be eligible to receive accommodations at AUP. Please contact the student counselor for a referral to a specialist.

Frequently asked questions

I think I may have a learning disability. Where do I go?

If you want to be tested, or if you want to know about how to register for academic accommodations during your studies at AUP, you should make an appointment with the student guidance counselor in the Office of Student Development at the start of the semester—and ideally at the beginning of your studies. We work with off-campus specialists who are qualified to conduct widely accepted testing in American higher educational environments.

What if I’m not sure if I need accommodations this semester?

It’s better to be registered, and for your professor to be aware of your eligibility from the beginning of the semester, even if you decide you don’t need to request exam accommodations.

How do I go about discussing my learning disability with my professor?

Your professor will already have received a memo from the Academic Resource Center regarding your eligible accommodations, so this discussion will be welcome. Most likely, professors have had other students with similar requests in their classes before you. We highly recommend you discuss your disability during your professor’s office hours because this will allow for adequate time to go over the entire semester’s logistics regarding your specific accommodations: the dates of exams, the use of a laptop for class notes or exams, and/or applying the extra time on exams.

In addition, you can talk about your general academic strengths and weaknesses to determine if there is additional support your professor can provide. In the event that a professor doesn't understand your request, you can always speak to the Academic Resource Center, who can help communicate with faculty.

What accommodations am I eligible for?

An exam accommodation form must be filled out by the student and professor to request the Academic Resource Center support for exams (a proctor, a clean laptop, a room reservation, etc). If you’re eligible for extra time, a laptop, or a separate location as part of your accommodations for exams, you should complete the above mentioned web form no later than two weeks before the anticipated exam date. Last minute requests for exam accommodations cannot be honored. Please, plan ahead!

Once I’ve submitted my completed exam accommodation request form, when will I know the confirmed arrangements for my exam?

Someone from the Academic Resource Center will send an email to you and your professors after they have processed your request. Stop by, or call the ARC if you haven’t been contacted at least 48 hours before the exam.

I feel awkward approaching my professor regarding my paperwork—what should I do?

Remember that AUP professors are happy to work with you, and they see exam accommodation forms as a tool to best measure the knowledge you acquire in a course rather than your disability. Since your needed accommodations are based on personalized testing, they will be considered seriously by professors at AUP. Give your professors a chance to provide guidance and advice early in the semester. Don’t put off these conversations.