Frequently Asked Questions

Qualified individuals with disabilities are protected by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), as well as other state and local regulations.  The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is chiefly civil rights legislation; oversight provided by the United States Department of Justice and he United States Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.

All enrolled students, visitors to our campus, potential students who are visiting as well as their parents, people attending campus events, faculty, and staff members are protected by these laws.

All students and employees of Elon University should be aware of and comply with these laws.

The Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility (AAA) is located on the 2^nd floor of Belk Library in Suite 226, and the hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 5:00PM.

Staff can be reached by calling (336) 278-6568 or via email at accommodations@elon.edu.

In order to access services, a student must disclose his or her disabilities to the AAA and provide documentation demonstrating that the individual has a mental or physical impairment which substantially, limits one or more major life activities, has a record of such impairment, or is regarded as having such and impairment.  Additional information and documentation may be requested as part of the interactive process.

Professors who have concerns about an individual who is not registered as a student with disability are encouraged to refer that student to AAA.

There are several differences between secondary and post-secondary services for individuals with disabilities:

The Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility (AAA) engages in the interactive process with all students who self-disclose a documented disability.  Reasonable accommodations will be offered to qualified students with following types of disabilities, which is not an exhaustive list: learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, psychological and psychiatric conditions, mobility issues, chronic illnesses, and sensory impairments.

The Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility (AAA) works with students on an individual, case-by-case basis and determine reasonable and appropriate accommodations to meet their specific needs through an interactive process.  What constitutes a reasonable accommodation may vary depending on the essential requirements of the course or program. Students are encouraged to visit the Office of Learning Assistance located on the 2^nd floor of the Belk Library and the Writing Center located on the 1^st floor of Belk Library for academic support beyond accommodations; these services are available to all students.  Students with appropriately documented disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations that allow them equitable access to buildings, programs, and curricula of the University.  Requested accommodations that would constitute a fundamental alteration to a course or program with not be granted.

Students are encouraged to register with the Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility (AAA) at any time after they have been admitted to the University and received their Elon email address and Univesity-issued student ID number – the sooner the better.  Documentation will not be processed until after students have been admitted.

That is entirely up to the individual.  There are some students who feel that disclosure is necessary in order for admissions officers to understand the type of students they are; these individuals may want to include information about their disability status in an admissions essay.  However, students will not be asked directly about their disability status during the admissions process, and disclosure is not required at this stage.

No.  Faculty members are provided accommodations letters (delivered by the student) which identify the individual as a student with a disability and list the accommodations that have been approved for that student.  No additional documentation is required for the faculty member.  Students are encouraged to have discussions with their faculty members about what their needs are and how their accommodations will be put in place; however, students are not required to disclose the specific nature of their disability issues.

The Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility (AAA) works with Residence Life and the University Housing Accommodations Committee to review requests for and provide approved reasonable housing accommodations.  More information can be found on our Frequently Asked Questions page under Housing Accommodations.

All students are required to fulfill Elon’s World Languages and Cultures requirement.  World language accommodations are provided either in the form of pass/fail or a substitution.  Students must have sufficient supporting documentation indicating the presence of a disability that will make learning a language extremely difficult; generally, a student must also demonstrate, a history of enrollment in such classes with poor results.  Typically, students who have never taken such classes will be asked to enroll; performance in the class will be evaluated before the end of the drop/add period, and a decision regarding the substitution will be made at that time.

Students should contact the Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility (AAA) to schedule a meeting with a staff member to discuss their request for a world language accommodation.  If it is determined that world language accommodation is reasonable and appropriate, AAA will write a formal recommendation to the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs.  The student will then need to schedule a meeting with the Associate Provost to discuss their request.  If the Associate Provost approves a student’s request for a substitution accommodation, alternative courses will be discussed, and the Registrar’s Office will be notified so a student’s transcript accurately reflects they have completed the World Languages and Cultures requirement whenever they complete the alternative course as part of their substitution accommodation.

Once you are registered as a student with a disability, further documentation of your disability is generally not required.  However, if there are changes in your condition or you require further accommodations that are not warranted through the initial documentation, further evaluation may be requested.

Students’ needs change from time to time and from class to class.  It is therefore a good idea to consider how your needs are being served and if there are any additional accommodations are necessary.

Completing a Semester Request ensures your approved accommodations are linked to the courses in which you are enrolled.  Once the Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility (AAA) processes your Semester Request, you will receive your official letter of accommodations that you should share with each of your faculty member.  Once you have shared your letter with your faculty members and had a conversation with each of them about your needs, your accommodations are considered active in your course(s).

Please note that during the Winter term or Summer session, some accommodations may not be appropriate due to the shortened or condensed format of the semester or session.  In addition, accommodations that are determined to the reasonable on the main Elon campus may not be reasonable or appropriate in the study abroad programs.

The faculty member should consult with the Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility (AAA).  The responsibility for reviewing and approving accommodations rests with AAA, not with faculty members or administrators outside of AAA.

Documentation for students with disabilities is thoroughly analyzed and all requests for accommodations must be appropriate and reasonable in order to be approved.  Upon presentation of the accommodations letter, faculty members are expected to help provide the accommodations that have been approved for each individual student unless such accommodations constitute a fundamental alteration of the curriculum.

No.  All disabilities-related information is shared with Elon University faculty and staff on a need-to-know basis only, and documentation from health care or other professionals to support a request for accommodations will not be shared absent unusual circumstances.  The records of students with disabilities are confidential.

Accommodations are not retroactive; faculty members are under no obligation to provide accommodations requested after a student takes an exam, misses or fails an assignment, etc.  Faculty members are encouraged to refer all non-registered students who indicate that they have disability-related needs to the Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility (AAA).

Faculty members are responsible for establishing attendance requirements for their classes and communicating those requirements clearly via their syllabus at the beginning of each term.  All students, regardless of disability, are responsible for fulfilling the essential requirements of the applicable course, program, or degree.

If a student has an approved flexibility attendance accommodation, the student and faculty member should discuss the faculty member’s attendance policy, and the student should explain their needs.  The Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility highly encourages students and their faculty members to complete the Flexibility with Attendance Plan, which can be found on the “Information for Faculty” section on the Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility (AAA) website. If the student misses class due to a disability-related reason, it is the student’s responsibility to notify AAA by emailing accommodations@elon.edu with a brief description of the reason for missing class.  The Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility will then send an email to the student’s faculty member(s) to confirm the missed class(es).

If a faculty member believes a student’s flexible attendance accommodation will create a fundamental alteration in a course, the faculty member may seek review through AAA’s Fundamental Alteration Review Process.  This process can be found on the “Information for Faculty” section on the AAA website.

If a faculty member has questions about how to implement an approved flexible attendance accommodation, please outreach to AAA.  We are happy to have a conversation and help you support your student.

Students who require accommodations are provided with notification letters for each of their faculty members.  These letters identify the individual as a student with a disability and list the accommodations that have been approved.  Faculty members can also login to their Faculty Accommodate portal to view which students have accommodations in their course(s). If professors have any questions or concerns regarding a student’s approved accommodations, they should contact the Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility (AAA).

No. Unless a student has signed a FERPA release, faculty and staff are not permitted or obligated to speak with parents or legal guardians about their student’s performance in the classroom.

1. Complete Intake Form in Accommodate or login to Accommodate and submit a supplemental request (if you already have an existing Accommodate account with other accommodations).
2. Enter Name, Date of Birth, and 7-digit Elon Student ID on the required Provider Documentation for Housing Accommodation Request form AND send it to your diagnosing/treating licensed healthcare provider to complete.
   1. In addition to this form, we must also have a note on your provider’s letterhead with the date of your most recent office visit, his/her professional credentials, and his/her signature.
3. Submit completed required Provider Documentation for Housing Accommodation Request form AND note on your provider’s letterhead to the Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility.
4. Complete Residence Life’s General Housing Application in Self Service and indicate need to request first-time housing accommodation on file on the application.
5. The Housing Accommodations Committee will review request, and Disabilities Resources will email student with an accommodation decision.
   1. If approved, Residence Life will make a housing assignment that meets student’s needs and will email students with an offer of placement that the student can either accept or decline.
   2. Assignments will be made according to Residence Life’s timeline.

Complete Residence Life’s General Housing Application in Self Service and indicate need to continue approved housing accommodation on file on the application.

Assignments will be made according to Residence Life’s timeline.

NOTE: A continuing housing accommodation DOES NOT mean you will be granted the same room exact room for next year. Rather, it indicates that Residence Life will place you in the same room/housing style based on the previously granted housing accommodation.

1. Login to Accommodate and submit a supplemental request (if you already have an existing Accommodate account with other accommodations).
2. Enter Name, Date of Birth, and 7-digit Elon Student ID on the required Provider Documentation for Housing Accommodation Request form AND send it to your diagnosing/treating licensed healthcare provider to complete.
   1. In addition to this form, we must also have a note on your provider’s letterhead with the date of your most recent office visit, his/her professional credentials, and his/her signature.
3. Submit completed the required Provider Documentation for Housing Accommodation Request form AND note on your provider’s letterhead to the Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility.
4. Complete Residence Life’s General Housing Application in Self Service and indicate need to change/update approved housing accommodation on file on the application.
5. The Housing Accommodations Committee will review request, and Disabilities Resources will email student with an accommodation decision.
   1. If approved, Residence Life will make a housing assignment that meets student’s needs and will email students with an offer of placement that the student can either accept or decline.
   2. Assignments will be made according to Residence Life’s timeline.

No, all housing accommodations are approved for the duration of the academic year to which the housing accommodation request applies.  If students need a housing accommodation for a subsequent academic year, they will need to either renew their approved housing accommodation or request a change to previously approved housing accommodation

Housing accommodation requests are reviewed on a rolling basis each month. Please see Important Dates pertaining to housing accommodation requests.

• All requests will be reviewed by the appropriate university officials on the Housing Accommodations Committee and a recommendation will be given to Residence Life.
  • Members of the Housing Accommodations Committee include university officials from the following areas: The Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility, Student Health, Counseling Services, and Residence Life.

• Diagnosis of a medical or mental health condition does not, in and of itself, automatically qualify you for a housing accommodation.
  • The committee considers the following factors in making its determination:
    • Severity of condition and associated impacts
    • Timing of request
    • Feasibility of request
    • Availability of housing options
• Recommendations or statements made by your medical physician or licensed mental health provider should not be interpreted as automatic approval for specific housing. The university has many different types of housing that match your needs.
• A medical or mental health need will take priority over requests for specific residence halls or roommates.
• Requests will be accommodated based on the level of need and space availability.
• Housing accommodations are provided for the individual student, not the student and their group. You must decide what the most important factor in your housing needs for next year is.

All first- and second-year students are required to live in on-campus housing. The only exceptions to this requirement are for those students who are living with their parent(s), and non-traditional students and transfer students who have been out of high school one year or more. In order to be exempt, the student must obtain approval from Residence Life.

Elon University has a wide variety of housing options and can accommodate most housing accommodation needs on campus.  As such, a release from the University’s residency requirement is generally not considered a reasonable accommodation. 

The University, in unique circumstances, may make an exception for a student from the required meal plan for documented medical conditions and disabilities. A meal plan appeal will only be considered and reviewed by the Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility (AAA) in collaboration with Auxiliary Services and Elon Dining for those who demonstrate that a university meal plan cannot in any way meet their dietary needs and provide appropriate supporting medical documentation. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain all required documentation from a licensed provider who is qualified to diagnose, manage, or treat the student’s condition. All documentation must be submitted according to the appeal timeline that will be listed for each semester. Incomplete appeals will not be considered and will be returned to the student with a denied appeal.

If you are looking for more information about the dining options offered, please explore the Elon Dining Menu Information webpage, which includes information about allergen-friendly areas to dine on campus. You can also find a contact form for our Campus Dietitian on the Health & Wellbeing page.

1. Students needing to request an adjustment to their meal plan will submit a request through the Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility (AAA).
   1. For students with no existing accommodations through AAA, you will be asked to complete an Intake Form in Accommodate.
   2. For students with any existing accommodations, login to Accommodate and submit a supplemental request.
2. At the time of submitting your request, we recommend also submitting your medical documents. Common examples of medical documentation for a dining-related accommodation request include but are not limited to: a completed Dining Accommodation Provider Form, letters from an allergist, gastroenterologist, endocrinologist, or other specialist, or letter from a licensed mental health professional. If not using the Dining Accommodation Provider Form, letters should be presented on professional letterhead from a licensed provider who is qualified to diagnose, manage, or treat the student’s condition and should include:
   1. A statement of the student’s diagnosis/diagnoses;
   2. A statement of impact of the diagnosis on a major life activity or bodily function (e.g., digestion, immune response, endocrine system, cognitive function, etc.);
   3. Procedures or tests used to determine the diagnosis (e.g., blood serum testing, allergen panel, colonoscopy, etc.);
   4. Severity of the impact on the student;
   5. If a specific diet is recommended, specifics about that diet or restrictions that the student must follow per the provider’s professional expertise;
   6. Recommended accommodations or adjustments to dining at Elon, including recommendations for special meals, adjustments to the meal plan, or similar.
3. After receiving a complete request for accommodations that includes a student submission of the request and appropriate medical documentation, the request will be reviewed by the Dining Accommodations Committee.
4. After the Dining Accommodations Committee meets for review of a student’s dining-related accommodation request, a decision will be rendered and sent to the student in writing via their Elon email address.

The below resources provide insightful information to help understand the important distinctions between ESAs and service animals:

• Legal Guidelines for Service Animals in NC – DRNC
  • An approved accommodation is not required for a service animal; however, students are welcome to voluntarily disclose their service animal to the Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility by completing our Voluntary Service Animal Registration form.
• Legal Guidelines for Emotional Support Animals – DRNC
• Please see Elon University’s Emotional Support Animal (ESA) policy for additional information.

1. Complete Intake Form in Accommodate or login to Accommodate and submit a supplemental request (if you already have an existing Accommodate account with other accommodations).
2. Enter Name, Date of Birth, and 7-digit Elon Student ID on the required Provider Documentation for Emotional Support Animal Request form AND send it to your diagnosing/treating licensed mental health professional to complete.
   1. In addition to this form, we must also have a note on your provider’s letterhead with the date of your most recent office visit, his/her professional credentials, and his/her signature.
3. Submit the completed required Provider Documentation for Emotional Support Animal Request form AND note on your provider’s letterhead to the Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility.
4. Complete the Owner’s Responsibilities ESA Agreement form.
5. Ensure roommates/suitemates (if any) complete the Roommate/Suitemate ESA Agreement.

1. Complete Residence Life’s general Housing Application in Self Service and indicate the need to continue approved ESA accommodation on file on the application.
2. Complete the Owner’s Responsibilities ESA Agreement form.
3. Ensure roommates/suitemates (if any) complete the Roommate/Suitemate ESA Agreement.

1. Complete the ESA Request to Change Form.
2. Ensure roommates/suitemates (if any) complete the Roommate/Suitemate ESA Agreement.

No, all ESA accommodations are approved for the duration of the academic year to which the ESA accommodation request applies. If students need an ESA accommodation for a subsequent academic year, they will need to either renew their approved ESA accommodation or request a change to previously approved ESA accommodation.

Emotional support animal (ESA) accommodation requests are reviewed on a rolling basis each month. Please see Important Dates pertaining to ESA accommodation requests.

• All requests will be reviewed by the appropriate university officials on the ESA Committee and a recommendation will be given to Residence Life.
  • Members of the ESA Committee include university officials from the following areas: The Office of Academic Accommodations and Accessibility, Counseling Services, and Residence Life.

• Diagnosis of a mental health condition does not, in and of itself, automatically qualify you for an ESA accommodation.
  • The committee considers the following factors in making its determination:
    • Severity of condition and associated impacts
    • Timing of request
    • Feasibility of request
• Recommendations or statements made by your licensed mental health provider should not be interpreted as automatic approval for an ESA.