Accommodation Guidelines

While Presbyterian College does not have a specific program for students with disabilities, the college makes every effort to provide reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities and to assist those students in obtaining their education. Students requesting reasonable accommodations from Presbyterian College (PC) based on a disability are required to submit appropriate documentation to verify eligibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991 and amended in 2008 (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Fair Housing Act of 1988 (for residential accommodations) and the policies of PC’s Accessible Education Office.  All students, including those with documented disabilities, must take the required courses for a B.A. or B.S. degree.

The definition of “disability”, according to the ADA, is, with respect to an individual, “a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of the major life activities of such individual; a record of such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment” 56 FR 35694, 35717 (July 26, 1991); 56 FR 35544, 35548 (July 26, 1991).

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” 81 FR 53202, § 35.108 Definition of disability (C) (1) (August 11, 2016).

Students with documented learning, physical, sensory, health, or psychiatric disabilities may request reasonable accommodations to ensure equal access to education, housing, meal, and co-curricular activities at Presbyterian College. (Equal access is defined by the U.S. Department of Education as an equal opportunity of a qualified person with a disability to participate in or benefit from educational aid, benefits, or services.).

Reasonable accommodations are those that do not fundamentally alter the nature of an academic course or the institution’s policies, including the required courses for a B.A. or B.S. degree and do not place an undue hardship on the institution. Reasonable accommodations are distinguished from services of a personal nature that PC does not provide. In addition, PC does not provide transportation to any classes or medical offices for any student.

Students who wish to request reasonable accommodations are expected to self-disclose by completing the Accommodations Initial Intake Form, meeting with the Accessible Education Coordinator, and providing current documentation of their disability. Students may contact the Accessible Education Office about securing accommodations at any time, though most students do so in their first semester of enrollment or soon after a new diagnosis. Documentation should be directly sent to the Accessible Education Office (not the Admissions Office) in advance of arrival to campus. Documentation should be sent to accommodations@presby.edu OR to Presbyterian College, Accessible Education Office, 503 S. Broad Street, Clinton, SC 29325.

The Presbyterian College Catalog is available annually to each student. This catalog contains information about required coursework and majors, and it has answers to many questions that an incoming student will need to know when enrolling at the institution. The college also supplies each student with The Garnet Book, a student handbook on rules, regulations, etc. for campus life. Each student should study these publications to become familiar with the academic and student life requirements.

Federal Law

The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) enforces Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which states:

“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.”

Students who wish to request reasonable accommodations are expected to self-disclose by completing the Accommodations Initial Intake Form, meeting with the Accessible Education Coordinator, and providing current documentation of their disability. Students may contact the Accessible Education Office about securing accommodations at any time, though most students do so in their first semester of enrollment or soon after a new diagnosis. Documentation should be directly sent to the Accessible Education Office (not the Admissions Office) in advance of arrival to campus. Documentation should be sent to accommodations@presby.edu OR to Presbyterian College, Accessible Education Office, 503 S. Broad Street, Clinton, SC 29325.

The College complies with The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974. It is the policy of Presbyterian College to provide for the protection of confidential information contained within student records against improper or illegal disclosure.

Grievance Procedures

In the event that a student who is registered with the Accessible Education Office encounters a problem regarding approved academic accommodations that cannot be resolved with an individual faculty member, he or she should first contact Mrs. Janna Barnes, Accessible Education Coordinator, at (864) 833-8322 or jcbarnes@presby.edu. If not resolved, students should then submit a written appeal to the Vice President for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion who will work with the Provost and any other individuals deemed necessary to ensure appropriate measures are implemented.

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