Forms and Resources for Faculty

Providing Reasonable Accommodations for Students with Disabilities - UCOP training (2026)

Module 3: Supporting Disabled Students in Teaching and Learning - Teaching and Learning Commons IA training (2026)

Clinical Accommodations and Simulation

Background:  The University of California and UC San Diego specifically are committed to making each of its programs, services and activities accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities. Our nondiscrimination and equal-access practices are governed by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the University of California Policies Applying to Campus Activities, Organizations and Students (PACAOS) Section 140.

The process for obtaining accommodations at UC San Diego requires a student to self-disclose their disability through the completion of online intake form provided by the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD). Part of this application includes the submission of official, current documentation from a qualified healthcare provider, doctor, or diagnostician. An OSD accessibility specialist then meets with the student to discuss their history, challenges and needs. It is following this interactive intake that the OSD determines reasonable academic accommodations, modifications, and adjustments. This information is shared with course instructors each quarter through the issuance (by email from no-reply-osd@blackhole.ucsd.edu) of an Authorization for Accommodation (AFA) letter. (Note that an online record of students with accommodations is also maintained for each course in the MyOSD portal.) Students are required to communicate with instructors about the specific accommodation arrangements for each course. Academic units have designated OSD liaisons to assist with local coordination, and faculty (as well as graduate IAs) may always reach out to the OSD for guidance and consultation when they are unsure of how to provide an accommodation.

Instructors are both expected and required by federal law to honor the accommodations that are specified on a student's AFA letter. There may be times that an instructor believes that an approved accommodation creates a fundamental alteration of a course and/or academic program. When that is the case, it is imperative that they follow the interactive process by submitting a request for review. A determination of whether the proposed accommodation would fundamentally alter the course or program, as well as the availability of alternative opportunities for students to demonstrate the essential academic standards or objectives of the course or program, is made on a case-by-case basis, following careful and reasoned deliberation of the specific request by the University’s designated authority. Faculty may not independently deny approved accommodations.

What constitutes a fundamental alteration?  A fundamental alteration occurs when an accommodation: (1) modifies academic requirements that are essential to the instruction being pursued or directly related to a licensing requirement; (2) lowers academic standards; or (3) substantially alters aspects of the course or program, including learning outcomes, assessments, activities, materials and policies.

Should it be determined that an accommodation request is not reasonable (i.e., constitutes a fundamental alteration), the University will continue to engage in the interactive process and consider alternative means of providing the student with access to the course, program, service, or activity to the maximum extent possible.

 Request a Fundamental Alteration Review

When a faculty has a concern that implementing a disability-related reasonable accommodation will fundamentally alter an essential course or program element, they must activate the Fundamental Alteration Review and Determination Process through completion and submission of this form within five (5) university business days from the date of receipt of the Authorization for Accommodation (AFA) letter.

This form seeks to collect information from faculty regarding the potential course or program elements that may be impacted. Once a decision has been made, this will be communicated to the Faculty by the Director of the OSD.

Important: Submitting this form does not change or suspend the student's approved accommodation. Faculty must continue to implement the accommodation unless otherwise directed by the OSD.

If you have questions as you complete this form, please reach out to osd@ucsd.edu. Other concerns should be directed to the Dean of Undergraduate Education at due@ucsd.edu.

 Fundamental Alterations Review Form

The OSD has laptops available for loan to departments to assist them in providing exam accommodations to students. 

• Please complete the Laptop Loan Form (PDF) in its entirety and submit your request by clicking the submit box at the bottom of the form
• The completed form in PDF will be attached to an email and sent to osdlaptoploans@ucsd.edu 
• You will receive an email confirmation once it has been received and reviewed by the OSD
• Please notify us as soon as possible if you need to cancel or change your request.  We will do our best to accommodate any changes

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) can assist the campus with captioning and interpreting accommodations for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing.

For additional information, please call the OSD at 858.534.4382 or email us at deaf-hohrequest@ucsd.edu.

The OSD supports faculty in promoting a culture of academic integrity.  Faculty are encouraged to have ALL students in each course sign the Excel With Integrity Pledge (PDF) before taking an exam. 

For additional information, please contact the Academic Integrity Office at 858.822.2163 aio@ucsd.edu or visit AIO's website.

Creating an inclusive and accessible learning environment is a campus-wide responsibility. The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides reasonable accommodations and connects students with campus resources to help remove disability-related barriers to learning.

 Students requesting accommodations should provide a current Authorization for Accommodation (AFA) letter from OSD and discuss accommodation arrangements with me in advance of exams, assignments, or other course activities. If you anticipate needing additional support in this course, please contact me. Your questions and requests are welcome and encouraged!

How to give students extra time on a quiz

Go to the quiz's details page. Click the Moderate This Quiz link.

1. The quiz needs to be published in order to see this option.
2. Depending on screen resolution, the link may appear at the bottom of the page.
3. Locate the student's name and then click on the pencil icon button (last column of the table).
4. Enter the additional time needed in the "Extra time on every attempt" text field, and then click the Save button.
5. Do not enter total time. E.g., if a student needs 30 additional minutes on a 60-minute exam, enter 30 in the text field. Do not enter 90.
6. The additional time will be reflected below the students name on the "Moderate Quiz" table.

Note: This will need to be done for each quiz. There is no option to set a rule for all quizzes/exams. 

If you have any additional questions about Canvas, call 858.822.3315 or email canvas@ucsd.edu.