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Accessibility and Accommodation Policy

Purpose

Corban University is committed to the principles and requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and to the ongoing improvement of accessibility across its campus and programs. Recognizing the unique topography and historic construction of its facilities, the University actively works to identify and remove barriers and to provide reasonable accommodations that promote equal access. Corban University’s campus includes facilities of varying ages and elevations, which present unique accessibility challenges. As part of implementing this law, the University will continue to provide Reasonable Accommodations for academically qualified students with disabilities so that they can participate fully in the University’s educational programs and activities.

Although Corban University is not required by law to change the “fundamental nature or essential curricular components of its programs in order to accommodate the needs of disabled students,” the University will provide Reasonable Accommodations. It is the specific responsibility of the university administration and all faculty serving in a teaching capacity to ensure the university’s compliance with this policy. While Corban strives to make all facilities and programs accessible, certain legacy facilities and natural terrain features may limit full physical accessibility. Nevertheless, the University remains committed to providing reasonable accommodations and alternative access wherever physical modification is not feasible.

Any student requesting academic accommodation based on a documented disability must register with the Student Support Department each semester. Once academic accommodations have been approved, a Reasonable Accommodations Letter will be issued by the Director of Student Support. Students are responsible for picking up this letter and delivering it to their professors as early in the semester as possible to ensure the timely implementation of accommodations.. The Student Support Department is located in Schimmel Hall, Room 203, and is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Student Support email address is studentsupport@corban.edu.

Definitions

Reasonable Accommodation – In college, a Reasonable Accommodation is a modification or adjustment to academic or campus life that enables a student with a disability to have equal access to educational opportunities and participate fully in campus activities, without fundamentally altering the nature of the program or course. These accommodations are intended to remove barriers that may prevent students with disabilities from demonstrating their abilities and reaching their full academic potential.

Examples of Reasonable Accommodations:

  • Academic Adjustments: Extended time on exams, quiet space to take a test, note-taking assistance, accessible reading formats
  • Assistive Technology: e-book use, text-to-speech software use
  • Service Animals: Allowing service animals on campus, including in classrooms and housing
  • Accessible Facilities: Ensuring buildings, classrooms, and common areas are physically accessible, including ramps, elevators, and accessible restrooms

Service Animals – Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.

Emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals are not considered service animals under the ADA, because these terms are used to describe animals that provide comfort just by being with a person. Because they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task, they do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. See Student Handbook for complete ESA policy.

An individual with a disability who uses a service animal, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, is not required to register the animal with university authorities prior to bringing the animal on campus. However, students are welcome to contact the Student Support Department so that the presence of the animal on campus is properly documented. Students often find it helpful to have the presence of the service animal noted in their Reasonable Accommodations Letter to faculty to help facilitate understanding. Only trained service animals, not emotional support animals, are typically allowed in campus buildings.

For more information about the distinction between service animals and emotional support animals, refer to the Northwest ADA Center.

Undue Hardship – Under the ADA, undue hardship in college refers to situations where providing a requested accommodation for a student with a disability would cause the institution significant difficulty or expense. It’s not a simple calculation but involves a case-by-case assessment that considers various factors related to the college’s resources and the specific accommodation’s impact.

Undue hardship is a legal concept that balances the rights of students with disabilities to access education with the operational and financial realities of the educational institution.

Review Cycle

This policy will be reviewed annually to ensure ongoing alignment with expectations, incorporating new accessibility initiatives and findings from institutional and external evaluations. Corban University’s Accessibility Team, led by the Chief Business Officer, will continue to prioritize and document accessibility improvements as part of the University’s mission fulfillment.

Date of Last Review: November 11, 2025