Office of Accessibility, Compliance, and Academic Success
Welcome to the Access Center
St. Thomas University (STU) is committed to providing equal access to its educational programs, services, and activities in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA).
The University does not discriminate on the basis of disability and ensures that qualified students with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from all academic and campus programs.
The Access Center, located in O’Mailia Hall, is responsible for coordinating reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities to ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws.
In the post-secondary environment, students seeking accommodations are responsible for:
- Self-identifying as an individual with a disability
- Requesting accommodations in a timely manner
- Providing appropriate, current documentation that substantiates the disability and functional limitations
The University engages in an interactive process with each student to determine appropriate and reasonable accommodations. While disclosure of a disability is voluntary, failure to provide sufficient information may limit the University’s ability to evaluate requests and implement appropriate accommodations.
Submission Deadlines
Students requesting accommodations due to a disability, medical condition, or other physical or mental impairment are strongly encouraged to submit their application at least two (2) weeks prior to the start of the semester or term.
Requests submitted after this timeframe will be reviewed; however, the University cannot guarantee that accommodations will be in place at the start of the term. Accommodations are not applied retroactively.
Timely submission supports the University’s ability to engage in the interactive process and implement reasonable accommodations without undue delay.
Confidentiality and Use of Information
All disability-related information and documentation submitted to the Office of Accessibility, Compliance, and Academic Success is maintained in accordance with FERPA and applicable federal and state confidentiality laws.
Such information will be:
- Used solely for the purpose of determining eligibility and coordinating reasonable accommodations
- Shared only on a need-to-know basis with university personnel involved in the accommodation process
- Maintained in secure and confidential records separate from academic files
Eligibility and Determination of Accommodations
Eligibility for accommodations is determined through an individualized assessment based on:
- Documentation of a qualifying disability
- The presence of functional limitations that substantially limit one or more major life activities
- The academic and programmatic requirements of the University
STU provides reasonable accommodations that:
- Ensure equal access and opportunity
- Do not fundamentally alter the nature of a program or course
- Do not impose an undue burden on the institution
The University reserves the right to request additional documentation if necessary to support informed decision-making.
Non-Retaliation Statement
St. Thomas University prohibits retaliation against any individual who requests accommodations, discloses a disability, or participates in the accommodation process.