Accommodation Guidelines Overview

Presbyterian College strives to provide reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. While the college does not have a specific disability program, we assist students in accessing their education through appropriate accommodations.

Definition of Disability

According to the ADA, a disability is “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.” Major life activities include but are not limited to:

  • Caring for oneself
  • Performing manual tasks
  • Seeing, hearing, eating, sleeping
  • Walking, standing, sitting
  • Reaching, lifting, bending
  • Speaking, breathing
  • Learning, reading, concentrating
  • Thinking, writing, communicating
  • Interacting with others and working

Eligibility for Accommodations

Students with documented learning, physical, sensory, health, or psychiatric disabilities may request reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to:

  • Education
  • Housing
  • Meals
  • Co-curricular activities

What Are Reasonable Accommodations?

  • Do not fundamentally alter academic courses or institutional policies
  • Do not alter the required courses for B.A. or B.S. degrees
  • Do not place undue hardship on the institution
  • Are distinct from personal services (which PC does not provide)

Note: PC does not provide transportation to classes or medical offices for any student.

How to Request Accommodations

Students seeking accommodations should:

  1. Complete the Accommodations Initial Intake Form
  2. Meet with the Accessible Education Coordinator
  3. Provide current documentation of their disability

You may request accommodations at any time, though most students do so either:

  • During their first semester
  • Soon after receiving a new diagnosis

Important Resources

  • The Presbyterian College Catalog: Contains information about required coursework and majors
  • The Garnet Book: Student handbook covering campus rules and regulations

Legal Framework*

Presbyterian College complies with:

  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, amended in 2008
  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
  • The Fair Housing Act of 1988 (for residential accommodations)
  • The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974

*See detailed legal information at the end of this document.

Grievance Procedures

Students registered with the Accessible Education Office who are unable to resolve accommodation issues with a faculty member should contact Mrs. Janna Barnes at (864) 833-8322 or jcbarnes@presby.edu. If the issue persists, a written appeal may be submitted to the Vice President for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, who will work with the Provost and others as needed to address the concern.

For Further Assistance

Mrs. Janna Barnes
Accessible Education Coordinator
Harper Center 103
Phone: (864) 833-8322
Email: jcbarnes@presby.edu

Dr. Selena Blair
Vice President for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Harper Center 105
Phone: (864) 833-8206
Email: sblair@presby.edu

*Detailed Legal Information

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

  • Original Act: Enacted in 1990, effective July 26, 1991
  • ADA Amendments Act: Enacted in 2008
  • Purpose: Prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including education
  • Definition of disability: “A physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities” (56 FR 35694, 35717 and 56 FR 35544, 35548)

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

  • Quote: “No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the United States shall, solely by reason of handicap, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under, any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
  • Enforcement: Overseen by the Office of Civil Rights (OCR)
  • Applicability: Applies to all institutions receiving federal financial assistance

The Fair Housing Act of 1988

  • Relevance: Covers residential accommodations
  • Requirements: Prohibits discrimination in housing based on disability and requires reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974

  • Purpose: Protects the privacy of student education records
  • College Policy: Presbyterian College provides protection of confidential information contained within student records against improper or illegal disclosure