The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) require that no qualified person shall, solely by reason of disability, be denied access to, participation in, or the benefits of, any program or activity operated by a university.

Under the provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, a university may not exclude an otherwise qualified student with a disability from any course of study or counsel students with disabilities into more restrictive career paths than are recommended to students who are non-disabled.

The ADA is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities.

Accommodations

Measuring student progress in the classroom is an essential component of the educational process for all students. Providing reasonable accommodations to a student with a disability does not guarantee success on exams. Remember that students with disabilities may not master the course content, just like other non-disabled students. Students with disabilities have the same right as other students to fail as part of their educational experience.

That being said, some students with disabilities require that testing procedures be adapted to ensure the measurement of the student’s academic achievement, not the functional limitations caused by the student’s disability. The purpose of extended time testing is to minimize the impact of the disability on the student’s performance. Extended time on tests assures equal opportunity to show content mastery by providing time that is necessary to compensate for the disability.

To create a fair testing situation, students may need some or all of the following accommodations: extended time on tests, accessible test site, special equipment (i.e., word processor), readers and/or scribes, alternative format (i.e., large print), or reduced distraction test environment.

Studies

Several studies have been conducted to determine the effects of extended time testing for students with disabilities as compared to non-disabled students. The University of California conducted a study indicating that extended time makes a significant difference in the performance of students with disabilities, while only slightly improving the performance of non-disabled students.

Litigation

A recent legal decision on the issue of extended time determined that “extended time is a reasonable accommodation for a student whose documentation specifically calls for that accommodation. The university is required to ensure that the student is provided additional time to complete tests and/or coursework in order to provide an equal opportunity for that student.”

Extended Time Policy

Suffolk University students with a disability who have submitted complete and appropriate documentation to the Dean of Students (DOS) Office may be eligible to receive classroom accommodations. The policy on extended time at Suffolk includes both extended time for exams and extensions on coursework.

At Suffolk University, extended time for exams constitutes “time and a half” based on standard course time (i.e., under this accommodation, a 50-minute course will provide a student with 75 minutes to complete an exam). Standard course times can be found on page 30 of the Suffolk University Catalog. Instructors may provide this accommodation by administering the exam through the Ballotti Learning Center (BLC), or by allowing a student extended time directly before or immediately after a scheduled exam time, during office hours, or at any other mutually agreed upon time and location. The DOS Office strongly discourages the allowance of “time intervals” while taking an exam (e.g., allowing a student to begin an exam, leave to attend another class, and return to complete the exam). Exams should be completed during the initial administration of the exam. Only under extraordinary circumstances will this accommodation extend beyond 3 hours. Extended time for exams will often be accompanied by the accommodation of separate setting for exams.

Based on the nature and severity of othe disability, a student may require extensions on coursework throughout the semester, which can include assignments, projects, papers or take home exams.

This accommodation is requested on a per-project basis and is granted at the discretion of the instructor in the spirit of providing reasonable accommodations.

Academic Honesty

Students receiving extended time are expected to uphold the same standards of honesty as would be expected under ordinary circumstances and preserve the academic integrity of the exam. Suffolk University insists upon the highest standards of academic integrity in all student work. Penalties for academic misconduct are severe and may result in suspension or expulsion. A full discussion of the responsibilities of students in this matter can be found in the Undergraduate and Graduate Student Handbooks and the Policy and Procedures Handbook.

Shared Responsibility

Students with disabilities have the first responsibility to report their needs to the faculty in a timely manner as faculty are not required to anticipate students’ special needs. Faculty should state on the syllabus that students inform them of their special needs as soon as possible to ensure that those needs are met in a timely manner. If a student waits until the day of an exam to ask for extended time or a separate testing area, the student has failed to make the request in a timely manner. If the student fails to ask for extended time until late in the semester, the instructor is only required to provide accommodations from that time forward and does not need to offer make up exams. When a student discloses a disability, faculty members should ask what they could do to facilitate learning.

Using the BLC to Administer an Extended-Time Exam

Student Procedure:

Student requests services through the DOS Office.

Upon request for services and receipt of appropriate supporting documentation, the DOS Office drafts a letter authorizing extended time for exams.

Student picks up letter from DOS Office and hand delivers to the instructor (within first two weeks of semester).

Student meets with instructor to discuss special needs in course and determine testing accommodations.

Student must initiate arrangements with instructor at least one week prior to exam date.

Exams are scheduled based on times available through the BLC unless the student and instructor agree upon alternative arrangements.

Student will be permitted to enter the private testing area of the BLC (if appropriate) with only those materials specified on the Faculty Request Form for extended time testing.

Faculty Procedure:

Currently, the BLC is experiencing significant space constraints and may not be able to accommodate your request at your preferred time. Departments and instructors who are able to accommodate the extended time request of students are strongly encouraged to do so.