requesting an accommodation
although you may request an academic accommodation at any time, you should request it as early as possible. some academic adjustments may take more time to provide than others.
please note that disabled students are not required to self-disclose or register with the campus accommodations coordinator, although we encourage them to do so. students seeking academic accommodations or adjustments must contact the local campus accommodations coordinator to request such services. students who are unsure whom to contact should check with their academic dean or campus instructor.
how does the accommodations process work at rasmussen college?
first, you’ll want to contact the campus accommodations coordinator (cac) at your campus so they can help you locate the necessary forms and guide you through the process. you will need to:
- complete the student request for accommodations and document review form, which can be obtained from the cac and completed electronically or handwritten.
- obtain the necessary disability documentation to submit with this form. you can either submit:
- your most recent iep evaluation (contact your high school for a current copy).
- the qualified professional documentation form. this should be completed by a recognized professional, such as a learning disabilities specialist, educational specialist, physician, licensed psychologist or professional counselor who is qualified to perform psychoeducational or neuropsychological evaluations. do not fill in the information yourself.
- note: if you cannot obtain this documentation from a healthcare provider, your request will still be reviewed.
- complete a hipaa/ferpa authorization if you are willing to allow us to contact your previous school or your qualified professional to discuss your educational needs.
- schedule an appointment with the cac. this can be done over the phone or via a web chat.
- send all forms and any related documents to your cac prior to the appointment. be ready to discuss your disability and how it affects your ability to acquire knowledge and skills.
step 2: campus accommodations coordinator (cac)
the cac will interview you to develop a well-rounded picture of your needs, review your documentation and advise you if more information or more complete documentation is indicated. then, they send all necessary forms to the rasmussen accommodations committee.
step 3: rasmussen accommodations committee (rac)
the rac reviews your documentation within 2–3 weeks of receipt. they work with the cac to determine eligibility and recommend reasonable accommodations based on the requests you submitted, documentation of your disability and what is appropriate under the law. members of the rac may contact you or your qualified professional (if you provided a hipaa/ferpa authorization) to obtain additional information necessary for decision-making. they will determine eligibility, approve or deny requested accommodations and notify you and the cac. the rac also sends the cac the privileged and confidential memo and rasmussen college student accommodations instructor notification memo.
step 4: meet with cac
the cac schedules a meeting with the student to review the decision. if you are not eligible, the cac will:
- provide the privileged and confidential memo, explaining the basis for the decision
- request that you sign the notification memo to document receipt of this information
- provide counseling on available student support services available to you
if you are eligible, the cac will:
- provide the privileged and confidential memo and review the decision
- request that you sign the accommodation plan to document receipt of this information
- review the instructor notification procedures with you
- provide you with electronic or paper copies of the signed rasmussen college student accommodations instructor notification memo to distribute to each of you instructors
- follow up and provide support to you as needed in the implementation of the accommodations
step 5: meet with your instructors
present a copy of the instructor notification memo to each instructor and for every term that you continue to want the accommodation. meet with the instructor to make arrangements for how the accommodation will be provided in the course. do not wait until the last minute—the instructor needs reasonable time to put things in place for you. you can contact the cac if there are any complications in the provision of the accommodation or if you have any questions about the process.
be sure to reapply for the accommodation about six weeks prior to your anniversary date (one year after the date of initial approval) by contacting the cac and completing the returning student accommodations request.
resolve accommodations issues
if you are having trouble accessing your accommodations, meet with your instructor and share your concern. share your ideas for addressing the concern and work with the instructor to put the accommodation in place. if this does not adequately meet your needs, make an appointment with the cac to resolve your concern. if your concern has not been resolved through these steps, you may choose to use the disability appeals process by contacting the campus director.