ADA & Disability Services

A disability is any impairment that substantially limits any major life activities (examples: walking, seeing, breathing, focusing, sitting, hearing, self-care, etc.). This includes but is not limited to physical impairments, chronic medical conditions, mental health conditions, learning disabilities, and ADHD. A disability can be temporary or permanent. Within the context of an academic semester, we consider any impairment that will substantially limit major life activities for two weeks or more to warrant consideration of temporary ADA accommodations.

Accommodations allow students with disabilities to access the programs and services offered at Covenant College, as is their right under federal law. These accommodations do not give students an advantage, but rather allow them the opportunity to achieve to their fullest potential regardless of their disability. We want to help students implement and utilize accommodations that will address these barriers they face that allow access that those without disabilities already have.

In order to request accommodations, you can fill out the Disability Accommodation Request form and we will reach out to schedule a meeting with us.

Some things to keep in mind:

• Any student with a disability who believes accommodations would help them access academic or non academic services is encouraged to fill out the request form as soon as the student has been diagnosed with a disability or has knowledge that they need accommodations.
• New and transfer students are encouraged to fill out the Disability Accommodation Request form and reach out to the ADA Coordinator upon registration to the College.
• A student’s failure to give timely notice may hinder Covenant College’s ability to adequately coordinate services and provide instructors with reasonable notice of the approved accommodations as accommodations cannot be made retroactively.
• Academic accommodations will be granted on a case-by-case basis by the ADA Coordinator after official documentation is received.
• Common academic accommodations include low distraction testing environment, extended time for testing, audio books, and note-taking assistance.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) do not allow faculty or others access to disability-related information (e.g. diagnosis, medications). The Center for Student Success will not share a student’s medical information with faculty or staff without the student’s consent. The Center for Student Success personnel will confirm registration and approved accommodations on a need-to-know basis.

Students seeking accommodations should submit documentation to support their request. This documentation should meet the following requirements:

1. Adequately verify the nature of the student’s disability and include pertinent background information related to the disability. Documentation should state a diagnosis(es) and describe the current professional standards and techniques used to come to this conclusion.
2. Clearly describe how the student is substantially limited in one or more major life activities by this disability.
3. Clearly establish and explain the nexus between the functional limitations of the disability and the recommended accommodation.
4. Be current. This is generally defined as within a 3-year period of time unless the impact of the disability is stable over time. Each case is evaluated on an individual basis and exceptions may be granted depending upon circumstances and the disability.
5. Be provided by a licensed medical health care provider familiar with the student’s history and functional implications of the impairments. This person should be someone eligible to diagnose and assess in the field of the disability (e.g. a podiatrist would not be an appropriate professional to assess a digestive disorder, a mental health professional should diagnose a psychological disorder).
6. Be dated and signed, and include the name, title and professional credentials of the evaluator. Licensing or certification information should also be included.
7. Be printed on the letterhead of the evaluating professional and written in English.

See the policy in full detail here: Disability Accommodation Policy

A K-12 school plan such as an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) does not alone constitute documentation of disability but may be included in a student’s overall assessment as relevant background information. It’s helpful for us to see what worked for you in high school and will be considered along with other information to help determine your accommodations in a higher education setting.

It depends on the disability. For mental health conditions, documentation should be within the past 3 years at the time you request accommodations. We are primarily seeking documentation that will help us determine what barriers you may experience in the college setting. There are certain conditions that remain stable over time that do not require a time limit on documentation.

A student who feels as though they have been denied a reasonable accommodation or is dissatisfied with the determination that they are not eligible as an Otherwise Qualified Individual may appeal in writing.

Appeals must be made in writing within five (5) days of notification of the denial to the Section 504 Appeals Coordinator, Nesha Evans (nesha.evans@covenant.edu). It would be helpful to include:

• Date/time/location of occurrence
• What approved accommodation you believe was not adequately provided
• Any other relevant details or context
• Desired next steps, if applicable

The Section 504 Appeals Coordinator will schedule meeting(s) with the various individuals involved in the process. The Section 504 Appeals Coordinator will render a decision in writing. The decision of the Section 504 Appeals Coordinator is final.

The availability and use of this Covenant College Appeal Process does not prevent a student from filing a complaint of discrimination with external agencies such as the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR). That office will determine whether a further investigation is warranted.

Information about how to file a complaint with OCR can be obtained from: How to File a Discrimination Complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (ed.gov)

Certain accommodations that you received in high school may look different in college. Our office is happy to discuss these changes with you and help you work through these differences. In college, you are required to initiate the request for accommodations, communicate with professors, and initiate with our office when you have concerns. Self-advocacy is an important part of a smooth accommodations process in college.

Yes! CSS supports ALL students by providing the following:

• Peer coaching
• Learning/study strategies
• Time management skills
• Motivation/academic accountability
• Meeting with Student Success Coaches

Dining Services works with the ADA Coordinator to accommodate food allergies and special dietary needs. If you have a food allergy, intolerance, or physician ordered diet, please contact covenantdining@covenant.edu to fill out the Allergenic and Dietary Need form. Documentation from the student’s licensed medical provider will be required for consideration of changes to meal plan requirements.

Requests for information regarding Emotional Support Animals should be directed to the ADA Coordinator. The Emotional Support Animal policy can be found HERE.

Any housing accommodation requests must be sent to the ADA Coordinator, including documentation to establish a disability. You may fill out the request form here. Examples of housing accommodations include private room, sink in room, access to a kitchen, and a handicap accessible room.

• It is the student’s responsibility to notify their professor at least 3 days in advance of a test that they want to use their accommodations. The professor will then submit a list of students taking the test in the Testing Center. The Testing Center will work with students to schedule their test.
• Exams should be scheduled for the regular class time unless accommodations interfere with a class before or after or interfere with chapel. If there is a scheduling conflict, students should communicate with their professor to schedule a different time to take the test.
• The Testing Center is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 am–4:30 pm when classes are in session. The final testing slot of the day is 3:00 pm. The Testing Center is closed during chapel (MWF 11:00-11:35 am), and tests cannot be scheduled during this time.
• If students wish to use their accommodation for a private room or to work with a scribe, they must schedule this with the Testing Center at least 48 hours in advance of the test. All tests should be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance of the testing time.