Student Accommodations
As Whitworth University shifts from our in-person classes to alternative modes of delivery, our obligations to provide already activated accommodations in new remote formats are still in place. In some cases, in-person accommodations will not be needed. In other cases, adjustments to an accommodation will need to be made with the new format. In addition, ESS will have in-person proctoring at reduced capacity until changes to COVID protocols allow for full capacity.
Once students learn more about the learning activities that their courses will be using, they can bring additional accommodation needs to the attention of the ESS director. The sooner instructors communicate to their students about the learning activities they will be using, the sooner we can identify any additional accommodation needs. Instructors will need to allow adequate time between the announcement of their adjusted course activities and the implementation of any adjusted accommodations.
We will address problems that arise together, and we will work together to determine a solution as quickly as possible. Instructors should prepare to accommodate students within the new class format.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are common student questions about ESS accommodations in light of COVID-19.
Will I still receive accommodations if my classes move to an alternative mode of delivery?
Yes, accommodations are still active. In some cases, in-person accommodations will not be needed. In other cases, adjustments to an accommodation will need to be made with the new format. As always, if a student experiences some new challenge with an online class, they can request an accommodation adjustment through ESS. Students should keep in mind that any accommodation adjustment must be related to their disability.
What if I have a disability that is worsened by prolonged computer use/screen time?
Review your current active accommodations (Memorandum of Accommodation). If you think you need to modify or add an accommodation to support remote/online learning and test-taking due to disability-related need, please email Katie McCray (kmccray@whitworth.edu) explaining what you need and why.
Will I still receive extended testing time if my professor uses a timed online platform for my quizzes and exams?
Yes. ESS will ensure instructors have instructions on how to extend testing times within Blackboard. Instructors should also know how to extend time within other timed online platforms used.
Important: Because we are all adjusting to this new format, students may need to send reminder emails to their instructors before starting a quiz or exam in Blackboard to ensure your time has been extended. If you notice your time has not been increased, stop the test immediately and email your professor to make the correction.
I use audio quizzes/exams, but my test are on Blackboard; how do I receive audio?
If audio is needed for a quiz/exam, the student will need to take the paper test version in person at ESS (following ESS Test Proctoring Policies & Procedures). In order for ESS to produce audio for a quiz/exam, faculty will have to provide ESS with the text file (Word doc). Attempting to pull quiz/exam text from Blackboard may be more cumbersome and in some cases unsuccessful. Therefore, faculty are strongly encouraged to create their quizzes and exams in a Word document first, then add the text to Blackboard's formatting process (for online testing students); this method allows faculty to submit the Word doc to ESS for audio processing.
Should I check my Whitworth email address regularly?
Yes. It is important to check your Whitworth email addresses regularly for ESS accommodation information.