Student-athletes with long-term disabilities and/or short-term injuries/conditions may qualify to use accommodations through the Accessibility Resource Center. These student are required to follow Accessibility Resources Center procedures and meet documentation requirements. Use the button above to review documentation requirements and fill out the online application. The Director or Assistant Director of Academic and Support Services for Student-Athletes may be more involved in the communication process when a student-athlete sustains an injury. The following procedures should be followed when student-athletes with or without on-going accommodations experience injuries that impact their performance in the academic setting.
Student Athletes with On-Going Accommodations
When a student-athlete registered with the Accessibility Resource Center (accommodation letter already in place for the semester) receives an injury that impacts him/her in the classroom, the subsequent steps will be followed:
- Director or Assistant Director of Academic and Support Services for Student-Athletes notifies the Dean of Students Office of the injury/condition notifying them of the student’s injury and the extent class time defined to be missed based on the neurologist’s feedback.
- The Dean of Students Office sends an official memorandum to the injured student’s instructors notifying them that the student may be out for medical reasons for the period of time defined by the neurologist. If the student-athlete has sustained a concussion, in the memorandum the instructors may be notified that the student may not be able to check email and may need complete cognitive rest for the defined time.
- If there is additional missed class time advised based on feedback from follow up appointments with the neurologist, the Director or Assistant Director will continue to communicate with faculty about the duration of the absence from class.
- All temporary accommodations defined by the doctor are sent to the Director and Assistant Director. The Director or Assistant Director will forward the student-athlete the temporary accommodations for the student-athlete to meet and have ongoing communication with their professors to review temporary accommodations.
- If the neurologist makes academic accommodation recommendations that are NOT already included on a student’s current accommodation letter, the student is responsible for meeting with the Accessibility Resource Center to have the accommodation letter amended. If the recommendations for new accommodations are reasonable, an amended accommodation letter will be sent to the student’s instructors.
- If there are no recommendations, the student will continue to use the accommodations already in place. Students are encouraged to review their accommodation letters with faculty to ensure proper provision of accommodations.
Student-Athletes with Temporary Injuries/Conditions
When student-athletes with no history of a diagnosed disability are injured or are temporarily impacted by a medical condition, the subsequent steps will be followed:
- The Director or Assistant Director notifies the Office of Student Affairs of the injury/condition if the student-athlete will be missing class time.
- The Office of Student Affairs sends an official memorandum to the injured student’s instructors notifying them that the student will be out for the period defined by the doctor for medical reasons. If the student-athlete has sustained a concussion, the instructors will be notified that the student may not be able to check email and may need complete cognitive rest for the defined period of time.
- If there is additional missed class time advised based on feedback from follow up appointments with the neurologist, the Director or Assistant Director will continue to communicate with faculty about the duration of the absence from class.
- If the neurologist makes academic accommodation recommendations (i.e. extra testing time), the Director or Assistant Director will work with the student to determine next steps and refer the student to the Accessibility Resource Center as needed.
- The Director or Assistant Director will inform the student-athlete of the policy that allows them to makeup a test in the testing center based on a concussion.
- The Accessibility Resource Center may request additional documentation if the student requests to use accommodations beyond the temporary period.
Return to Learn
The Director or Assistant Director will work closely with student-athletes as they recover from a concussion or other injuries. This will include ongoing communication and scheduled appointments as needed until the athlete has fully resumed all academic work and is caught up on all course work.