Frequently Asked Questions

Contact Campus Services at 404-413-9500 or in University Bookstore Building, Suite 200.

Contact User Services or call 404-413-2820.

Contact the Facilities Customer Service Center at 404-413-0600.

During the intake process, request an accommodation for priority seating in the classroom. Once approved, it will be added to the accommodation letter. Notify the Access and Accommodations Center (AACE) for the placement of a desk or chair in the classroom.

Contact AACE for a Housing Accommodation Request Form and University Housing at 404-413-1800.

The process begins with a precise understanding of the definition of a service animal. A service animal is defined as a dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Examples of such work or tasks include guiding a person who is blind, guiding a person who is deaf and pulling a wheelchair. Service animals are working animals, not pets.

A service animal is allowed in all public areas of a facility. For example, in a hospital, it would be inappropriate to exclude a service animal from areas such as patient rooms, clinics, cafeterias or examination rooms. However, it may be appropriate to exclude a service animal from areas where the animal’s presence may compromise a sterile environment.

Secondly, the student must be prepared to accept the responsibilities of having a service animal on campus generally and in University Housing. The person with the disability is responsible for keeping the service animal under control. A service animal must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices. In that case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls. The person with the disability is the only person who should give the service animal commands.

The third step in the process is designed to ease the student’s access to University Housing and public spaces on campus. If the student who has a service animal is already registered with AACE, he/she must complete the following:

• Housing Accommodation Request Form

Students not registered with AACE must register by completing and submitting the following to the office:

• Housing Accommodation Request Form
• Voluntary Disclosure Form

A staff member from AACE will contact students within 15 business days about their housing accommodation request. Additionally, all students must complete a Housing accommodations and orientation appointment. Students are also encouraged to indicate on their housing application that they will need a housing accommodation.

The process begins with a precise understanding of the definition of an emotional support, comfort or therapy animal. An emotional support animal is an animal that provides assistance to a person with a disability or provides emotional support that alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of a person’s disability. An emotional support or comfort animal is not a pet. Typically, an emotional support animal is prescribed to an individual with a disability by a licensed physician such as a psychologist with training in the area of the person’s disability and is an integral part of a person's treatment process.

Secondly, the student must be prepared to accept the responsibilities of having an emotional support animal in University Housing. Emotional support animals are only allowed within a person’s residence in University Housing. Assistance animals must not be taken into the common areas of the residence halls, apartment offices, administrative offices or public student living areas.

The owner must ensure the animal is manageable and does not create a nuisance in or around the home setting. The owner is solely responsible for providing the necessary care and food for the animal.

The third step in the process is designed to determine a student’s eligibility for the accommodation of an emotional support animal in their assigned room. If the student who has an emotional support animal is already registered with AACE, he/she must complete the following forms and submit them to the office:

• Housing Accommodation Request Form
• Documentation to support the housing accommodation request.

Students not registered with AACE must register by completing and submitting the following to the office:

• Housing Accommodation Request Form
• Voluntary Disclosure Form
• Documentation to support the housing accommodation request

A staff member from AACE will contact students within 15 business days about their housing accommodation request. Additionally, all students must complete a Housing accommodations and orientation appointment. Students are strongly advised to indicate on their housing application that they are requesting a housing accommodation.

Residents who have committed to raise and train service animals must apply for a housing accommodation. Service animals in-training are allowed in all public areas of a facility. However, no service animal in-training may enter a housing facility until approval has been granted. The student who has a service animal in-training must submit the following:

• Housing Accommodation Request Form
• A copy of the agreement or letter from the accredited school for Seeing Eye, hearing, service or guide dog

A staff member from AACE will contact students within 15 business days about their housing accommodation request. In addition, residents must notify University Housing in writing if the training program has been concluded and the approved service animal in-training is no longer in residence. To raise and train a new service animal, the resident must file a new request and follow the same procedures as before.

Eligibility for priority registration is determined during the intake appointment with an AACE provider. Appointment times can be verified through PAWS. Contact AACE if there are any problems with priority registration.

Contact an AACE provider. In some instances, it may be possible to relocate a class. However, students are encouraged to utilize the Panther Express and to allow sufficient travel time between classes during course registration.

Eligibility for alternative media is determined during your intake appointment. Eligible students will meet with the technology coordinator to determine the type of alternative media that best suits their needs. Students must provide proof of purchase for each converted textbook.

The registration process is the same. Students must complete a request for academic accommodations along with documentation substantiating their diagnosis (see Documentation Guidelines). Once their application is reviewed, the Intake Coordinator will contact them to schedule an appointment to meet with their assigned AACE provider. After the appointment, students will receive an accommodation letter outlining their approved accommodations. Students may email their accommodation letter to their online instructors to obtain their signatures.

There are several resources for tutoring on campus. One resource is Student Support Services, which provides tutoring to students with disabilities on a limited basis. Students will need a referral from AACE.

AACE must receive written or verbal confirmation from the instructor to allow students who are more than 30 minutes late for an exam to take the exam. Otherwise, the exam will be returned to the department. Students who have a valid reason and cannot take the exam at the scheduled time, must notify AACE and their instructor. To reschedule, their instructor must notify AACE of the new date and time.

Provide the instructor with a copy of the Testing Request Form (T.R.F) form and send a reminder the day before the exam.

Students should schedule a meeting with their instructors as soon as their accommodations are approved to facilitate their testing accommodations. If there are any difficulties, students should contact their AACE provider to ask for assistance with communicating their needs with the instructor.

Contact your AACE provider. All reasonable academic accommodations must be granted unless they alter how the course is taught.

It is not a requirement that exams be proctored in AACE. Some instructors may decide to either proctor the exam themselves or have a teacher's assistant proctor the exam. This is acceptable as long as students are receiving their approved accommodations.

Instructors are within their rights to administer an alternative version of the exam if a student is taking the exam on a different day.

No. Although AACE may use a previous accommodation letter as a guide for establishing accommodations, current documentation must be submitted for review. AACE will generate a new letter.