Whether you’re new to the Office of Accessibility (OA) or new to UNC Asheville, welcome!

If you would like to request accommodations, please complete a Student Application and submit appropriate Documentation of Disability. If you have questions about applying for accommodations, please make an appointment online. The accommodation approval process takes time, so please plan ahead and submit your request as early as possible.

If you’ve already registered with our office, log in to Bulldog Access to send your Letters of Accommodation, request new accommodations, submit a testing request, view notes submitted by a student note taker, and more.

On This Page:

How to Apply Student FAQ Prospective Students Accommodations
Rights & Responsibilities Note Takers Degree Modifications Studying Abroad

How to Apply for Accommodations

To request accommodations, please complete a Student Application and submit appropriate Documentation of Disability. Please click the “New Accommodations Application” button to access the online application.

New Accommodations Application

The accommodation approval process takes time, so please plan ahead and submit your request as early as possible.

If you have any questions about applying for accommodations, please make an appointment online or you can contact the Office of Accessibility by emailing academicaccess@unca.edu or calling 828-251-6292.

Student FAQs

Applying for accommodations in college is entirely up to the student. Students do not need to have previously had accommodations to work with the Office of Accessibility.  Even if a student had an IEP in high school, they will still need to apply with the Office of Accessibility and submit appropriate documentation. Individualized Education Plans (also known as IEPs) do not transfer to college environments. For more information on this topic, please review the Transition of Students with Disabilities to Postsecondary Education.

Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis and are determined through a conversation with the student, as well as appropriate documentation. If a student believes they may need accommodations, it is the student’s responsibility to inform the Office of Accessibility by applying and submitting documentation. Informing anyone other than the Office of Accessibility about a suspected disability will not result in formal accommodations.

Students are responsible for providing documentation: In the post-secondary environment, it is the responsibility of the student to provide the appropriate documentation. The Office of Accessibility maintains a list of local providers and counselors who work with students, which we will gladly share upon request. These clinicians are not associated with UNC Asheville, and sharing their contact information does not constitute formal endorsement. While students may submit any documentation that they feel is relevant to their application, it may be helpful to review our guidelines for documentation.

Accommodations are provided in college under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), as amended, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, (Title II), which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. In K-12, there are additional legal structures that support students with disabilities. Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides funds to states to assist in making a free appropriate public education (FAPE) available to eligible children with disabilities. IDEA requirements apply to state education agencies, school districts, and other public agencies that serve IDEA-eligible children. Institutions of postsecondary education have no legal obligations under the IDEA. For more information on this topic, please review Transition of Students with Disabilities to Postsecondary Education

Yes, the accommodations that you received at a previous school will not automatically follow you to UNC Asheville. To put accommodations into place at UNC Asheville, please submit an online application and appropriate documentation.

If you are a student who is already registered with the Office of Accessibility, but would like to request additional accommodations, please navigate to the Bulldog Access portal and follow the below steps.

  • Log into Bulldog Access using your UNCA username and password
  • Under the “Home” tab on the left side of the screen, select “Additional Documentation.”
  • Select “Submit New Documentation,” and a new application will appear.
  • Fill out the new application as it applies to the additional accommodation that you are requesting.
  • Submit appropriate documentation.
  • Your new accommodation will not go into effect until approved by the Office of Accessibility. Your original accommodations will not be affected.

Our office will contact you about your request for accommodation via your UNC Asheville email address, even if you listed a personal email on your application. Please be sure to check your UNC Asheville email account regularly.

We are a small office, but if you haven’t heard from the Office of Accessibility within five business days of submitting your application and documentation, please contact us at academicaccess@unca.edu or 828.251.6292.

If you’ve submitted an application and documentation, you may be asked to schedule a Welcome Meeting with the Office of Accessibility. A Welcome Meeting is a chance for a staff member to meet with you, talk about the barriers that you may be facing, and go over how accommodations work. If you’ve submitted an application and documentation to the Office of Accessibility and haven’t heard from us, be sure that you are checking your UNC Asheville email account. All of our correspondence with you regarding your application will be via your UNC Asheville account.

If you’ve been approved for accommodations, your first step is to send out your Letters of Accommodation (LOAs).

Students may send out Letters of Accommodation through Bulldog Access.  Students should log into Bulldog Access by using their UNC Asheville username and password. Once logged in, a student should select each class for which they would like accommodations and hit the “next” button. The student should then select the specific accommodations that they would like for each course. Finally, hit submit. Letters should be received by faculty members within 48 hours of submission.

Letters of Accommodation may be sent out at any point in the semester. However, students should be aware that accommodations only go into effect once a letter has been received by, and discussed with, a faculty member.

After sending Letters of Accommodations, the second step in the process is to discuss the implementation of those accommodations with each faculty member. Additionally, accommodations are not retroactive, meaning accommodations will not cover past assignments that were completed before faculty notification of the need for accommodation.

Yes. For more information, please review the Residential Accommodations section of the FAQs.

Provisional accommodations typically last for one full semester, and may be provided if the student has submitted some, but not all, of the documentation necessary to fully consider the student’s request for accommodation. For example, if a student can share that they had a 504 or IEP in high school, this demonstrates that they were considered a student with a disability for whom specific accommodations were considered reasonable by this institution, even while this documentation does not typically provide sufficient information to approve accommodations at the postsecondary level. The purpose of provisional accommodations is to give a student time to gather more information about the barriers faced. Provisional accommodations may not be reasonable in all cases: as with all questions of access, these will be considered on an individual case-by-case basis. If you have questions about the question of provisional accommodations, contact the Office of Accessibility.

If a student does not agree with the outcome of their request for accommodations, they may file a grievance.

Residential accommodations are accommodations and modifications made to university housing for students with disabilities. If you are interested in seeking residential accommodations please fill out a general application and provide documentation. Residential accommodations only apply to students who are living on campus. Students who live off campus do not need to apply for residential accommodations.

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) must be approved by the Office of Accessibility and Housing before arriving on campus.  Please visit our Emotional Support Animal page to review the policy and procedure regarding ESAs.

Some students may feel that they require a single room to attend college. Single rooms are considered based on access only, and cannot be provided to ensure academic success. Students requesting a single room based on disability may be asked about how the disability results in substantial limitation of one or more major life activities and what barrier a shared living space creates. In addition, we will need to know how this barrier will be alleviated through a single room and how this has been documented elsewhere in the student’s life. If a student has never shared a room before, more information may be requested. Students seeking a single room due to disability should fill out an application and submit documentation.

Single rooms may also be requested through the general room selection process. Many, if not most, students who prefer single rooms can get them using the room selection process. Please contact the Housing Department at reslife@unca.edu or 828.251.6700 if you have questions about the general room selection process or single room requests not related to a disability.

If you have been approved for a residential accommodation, you will meet with an Office of Accessibility staff member to go over the next steps.

If you’ve been approved for an Emotional Support Animal,  you also need to meet with your Area Director after meeting with the Office of Accessibility.

If you do not know the identity of your Area Director or need assistance connecting with them, please contact Housing at reslife@unca.edu or 828.251.6700.

Step 1: Make sure you have sent your Letters of Accommodation.  (Not sure how to send your Letters? See our How to Send Letters of Accommodation Video).

Step 2: Discuss the implementation of those accommodations with each instructor. Your instructor may be able to provide the necessary testing accommodations in the classroom or another environment, like a conference room or an office. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor of the intent to use accommodations prior to each exam. Students should give three business days’ notice for general exams/quizzes and five business days’ notice for final exams. Giving the proper notice will ensure that the instructor can take the necessary steps to provide access.

Step 3:  If your instructor has indicated that they will proctor your exam, please notify them of your intention to use your testing accommodations. If you have notified your instructor of your intent to use testing accommodations, within the specified timeframe, there is nothing else you need to do.

If your instructor requests that you take your exam with the Office of Accessibility, please follow steps one and two outlined above. Then, submit a Testing Request to the Office of Accessibility. 

Please see the linked video to learn how to submit a testing request.

How to Submit a Testing Request, Video

To ensure that there is adequate staff, space, and time to proctor your exam, please submit your testing request within three business days of the date of the exam (for general exams/quizzes). Please provide five business days’ notice for final exams. 

Submitting a testing request does not mean that your testing request has been approved. You will be notified by an Office of Accessibility staff member as to your approval or the need to reschedule a test.

If you need to take an exam with the Office of Accessibility, please submit a Testing Request 3-5 business days before the date of the exam. Please see How to Submit a Testing Request, Video

If you need to schedule a test with our office, please do so within the stated 3-5 business day timeframe. If your instructor has not filled out your Testing Agreement by the time you schedule your test, that’s okay. Go ahead and submit a Testing Request. Our staff will reach out to your instructor to ensure we have the necessary information before you arrive on test day.

If you can’t select your course from the dropdown menu when you are submitting a Testing Request, this means that your instructor has agreed to proctor/give the exam in the classroom or in another space that they monitor. This means that you do not need to fill out a Testing Request, as you will not be testing in the Office of Accessibility. If you would like to test with the Office of Accessibility, but your instructor has indicated that they will proctor your exam, please contact the Office of Accessibility.

No. If your instructor has stated that they can proctor/give the exam in the classroom or other environment, you do not need to submit a testing request. However, please notify your instructor of your intention to use your testing accommodations 3-5 business days before the exam date.

Yes, if those accommodations apply to the online testing environment. For example, the accommodation of a reduced distraction environment may not be necessary. In an online format, you are in control of the space in which you take an exam. Extended time accommodations can still be put into place by your instructor. If you have concerns about testing accommodations in the online environment, please contact our office at academicaccess@unca.edu or 828.251.6292.

Yes, if you are eligible to request a note taker, you may ask another student to serve as your note taker. However, that student must be enrolled in the same course (not necessarily the same section). Students are not required to reveal their identity to receive note taking services and may request a note taker anonymously. 

Any student interested in serving as a note taker should contact the Office of Accessibility by emailing academicaccess@unca.edu.

When notes have been uploaded by your note taker, you will be notified by via your UNC Asheville email. To view your notes, log into Bulldog Access using your UNC Asheville username and password. Once you are logged into Bulldog Access, select “Note Taking Services” on the left side of the screen. Your notes should appear on that screen.

View the Student Note Taker page for information related to note taking responsibilities.

Prospective Students

Accommodations are provided in college under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), as amended, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, (Title II), which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. In K-12, there are additional legal structures that support students with disabilities. Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides funds to states to assist in making a free appropriate public education (FAPE) available to eligible children with disabilities. IDEA requirements apply to state education agencies, school districts, and other public agencies that serve IDEA-eligible children. Institutions of postsecondary education have no legal obligations under the IDEA. 

For more information on this topic, please review Transition of Students with Disabilities to Postsecondary Education

Available Accommodations

The Office of Accessibility works with students with a wide range of diagnoses, conditions, and impairments that result in difficulties accessing the university’s curriculum, services, facilities, and activities. To view the types of accommodations available, please click the “Accommodations” button below.

Accommodations

If you have any questions about the available accommodations, please contact the Office of Accessibility by emailing academicaccess@unca.edu or calling 828.251.6292.

Rights & Responsibilities

A Student’s Rights & Responsibilities

An otherwise qualified student with a documented disability at UNC Asheville has the following rights and responsibilities:

Rights

  • Reasonable accommodations according to their disability, based on the information provided through the online student application for services; information shared through initial interview; and/or supporting documentation.
  • Equitable access to educational opportunities provided by UNC Asheville.
  • Equitable and fair treatment.
  • Confidentiality in matters of their documentation and educational record.
  • Self-determination of who will receive student released disability related materials and information within and outside the university.
  • File a grievance with the OA and receive a prompt and equitable resolution in accordance with the Grievance/Hearing Procedure.
  • All other rights and privileges available to other students at UNC Asheville.

Responsibilities

  • Requesting in writing accommodations and auxiliary aids in a timely manner from the OA.
  • Demonstrating appropriate and responsible levels of self-help in obtaining and arranging for accommodations or auxiliary aids.
  • Obtaining and providing appropriate documentation to the OA. This includes participating in additional evaluations if documentation is insufficient to determine eligibility or if requested accommodations are not supported in the currently submitted documentation.
  • Collaborating with OA staff to determine reasonable accommodations.
  • Sending a Letter of Accommodations, then meeting with professors to review and discuss these accommodation requests and any additional information the student deems appropriate.
  • Actively participating in the interactive process to ensure reasonable accommodations by communicating in a timely fashion about accommodation requests, difficulties or concerns.
  • Self-advocating for access and self-monitoring for progress.
  • Keeping documentation, disclosure and contact information up-to-date with the OA and/or the Office of the Registrar.
  • Disclosure of a disability, impairment, condition, or limitation to an individual professor, program, department, or any entity other than the Office of Accessibility is not considered an official notification to the University nor a request for reasonable accommodations.

The University’s Rights & Responsibilities

These rights are executed primarily by the Office of Accessibility (OA) and faculty, but are also executed by other university employees and offices. If students have questions about requests or provisions of accommodations they should contact the OA for clarification.

Rights

  • The university can require students to meet with staff members.
  • The university may require appropriate supporting documentation of a disability.
  • The university can deny requested accommodations based on the timeliness and reasonableness of the request; the adequacy or inadequacy of the documentation on file at the time of the request; or when the requested accommodation is deemed to fundamentally alter the university course, program, service or activity.

Responsibilities

  • Working with students to determine necessary accommodations on a case-by-case basis.
  • Responding to students’ requests for services and recommending reasonable accommodations.
  • Ensuring that appropriate accommodations and aids or services are available to the student in a timely manner.
  • Bearing the cost of any accommodation that does not result in fundamental alteration in program requirements, does not pose undue financial burden on the university, and is not considered a personal aid/aide, device or service.
  • Assisting students in developing self-advocacy skills.
  • Acting as a mediator and advocating for students when appropriate.
  • Maintaining student confidentiality.
  • Referring students to appropriate campus or community resources and/or supports.

Student Note Takers

The Office of Accessibility (OA) employs student note takers to assist in providing access to students with note taking accommodations. Being a student note taker can bolster a resume, provide for community engagement, and allow a student to learn more about effective note taking strategies!

Interested in becoming a note taker? Please see our Student Note Taker page for more information.

Student Note Takers

Degree Requirement Modifications

Policy

Students are expected to complete all degree requirements for graduation in their major. In accordance with university policy, only under unavoidable and exceptional circumstances will the faculty permit substitution or exemption from the prescribed curricula. The ADA requires that universities offer reasonable accommodation(s) to qualified students; however, it does not require the adjustment of standards that would fundamentally alter degree requirements.

Procedure

To request a degree requirement modification as a reasonable accommodation for a disability, the following steps are necessary:

  1. Complete the Student Application to request accommodation, and provide current documentation of disability. Documentation should provide a clear connection to how disability substantially limits the student’s ability to complete the course in question. Students already connected with the Office of Accessibility should schedule an appointment to discuss their request. They may be asked to provide additional, or updated, documentation of disability supporting their request for degree requirement modification.
  2. The Office of Accessibility will work with the student to determine the necessary documentation. Note: Providing documentation does not guarantee a substitution.
  3. Students will work with the Office of Accessibility to determine the appropriateness of the substitution request. It is highly recommended that requests for course substitutions be submitted during the student’s first year at UNC Asheville. Factors considered in this determination may include (but are not limited to):
    • A student’s previous history with the course in question. A substitution or exemption in high school does not guarantee a substitution at UNC Asheville.
    • Psychological/learning test results.
    • Other mitigating factors as determined by a staff member of the Office of Accessibility.
  4. The request will then go to the Enrollment Services Committee for review. While the Office of Accessibility will present the student’s case to Enrollment Services, there is no guarantee that the committee will approve a substitution request.
  5. If the request is deemed inappropriate or if there is insufficient supporting evidence, the student must continue to meet the UNC Asheville requirement. With the help of the Office of Accessibility, a student may attempt to gather new or additional information to support the substitution.

The decision of Enrollment Services is final. Students who wish to submit another request for a substitution must work with the Office of Accessibility and provide new evidence before a second request will be considered.

Studying Abroad

Considerations Regarding Accommodation Requests when Studying Abroad

To determine what accommodations might be possible abroad, the interested student, the Office of Accessibility, the study abroad adviser, and the host institution will need to work together to assess the student’s needs and the possible accommodations. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the Study Abroad Office.

Students need to disclose their disability and their need for accommodations as far in advance as possible so that there is sufficient time to contact host institutions. Once a student has disclosed, the student needs to meet with the Office of Accessibility early in the planning process to determine what types of accommodations are reasonable and appropriate. It is important to note that federally mandated disability protections in the United States do not supersede the laws of the host country.

  • Students should consult with the Study Abroad Office about their interest in studying abroad.
  • Students should request accommodations through the Office of Accessibility.
  • Office of Accessibility and the Study Abroad Office will gather information and contact the host institution. Reasonable and appropriate accommodations will be provided after all parties have discussed the options available.
  • If additional accommodation needs arise while the student is at the host institution, the student will need to contact their study abroad advisor, the host institution, and UNC Asheville’s Office of Accessibility. A decision will be made to determine if the additional accommodation is reasonable and appropriate.
  • When students return from studying abroad, the Office of Accessibility requests that they provide feedback regarding their experience and make suggestions to be used for future study abroad experiences.

Please note: UNC Asheville is committed to equal access for persons with disabilities and will make a good-faith effort to provide students with an equitable experience while abroad. Civil rights protection(s) mandated by state or federal laws do not extend beyond U.S. Borders and do not supersede the laws of the host countries.