Academic Accommodations

When considering accommodation requests, Accessibility Services must weigh what is necessary for equal access due to a student's disability against success-based measures (academic), preferred living arrangement (housing), and/or requests that alter the essential function of a course/program.

If you are seeking to apply for accommodations, please see the process outlined below. It's important to read the information in its entirety to learn more about the process and requirements, including important deadlines. Accessibility Services is not able to expedite the review process or make exceptions to the deadlines. Please note- requested accommodations will not be immediately available upon submission and review. For more information or concerns, please reach out to our office at accessibilityservices@cmc.edu or (909) 607-0316.

New Student Registration Sign Into the AIM Portal

Students may seek accommodations at any time throughout the academic year. Generally, all requests are processed in the order received and may sometimes take 15 business days (excluding campus closures and holidays) to process. During busier periods, applications may take longer to review. We strongly encourage students to register for accommodations 3-4 weeks prior to the start of the semester to ensure accommodations are in place without any delays. If you are seeking accommodations for a temporary disability (e.g., concussion or surgery), your application will be reviewed earlier. Accommodations will not be available until a student receives their Eligibility Letter

Accommodations cannot be applied retroactively.

  1. Complete New Student Registration using the link above.
    • Any CMC student who is requesting accommodations for the first time, regardless of class year, must complete the New Student Registration application to initiate the accommodation process. You will need to sign-in with your CMC credentials. 
  2. Submit supporting documentation pertaining to your disability 
    • To assist us in determining reasonable accommodations, CMC requires that students provide appropriate documentation. Students with a visible disability (e.g., wheelchair, white cane, or cast) may not need to submit documentation. Documentation should contain a clear statement of the diagnosis, description of functional limitations, and recommendations for accommodations. Please review our Supporting Documentation Guidelines for more detailed information regarding what is needed. All documentation should be in English, typed, and legible on a letterhead. If documentation is in another language, the student will need to provide a certified translated copy. While the documentation submitted may be sufficient to establish that a student has a disability, the determination of the need for a requested accommodation will be determined by Accessibility Services. Additional documentation pertaining to the disability and/or need for accommodation may be requested if necessary. IEP’s and 504 plans may be submitted alongside other supporting documentation that provides information about the student’s disability. Please note, receiving accommodations in high school does not automatically warrant eligibility for accommodations in college and approved accommodations may differ.
  3. Schedule an Intake Meeting
    • Once you have completed Step 1 and 2, you will be invited to participate in an intake meeting to help determine eligibility and reasonable accommodations. The process entails sharing of information related to the impact and limitations of the disability which will help us better understand how we can support you. The interactive process may be a single meeting or it may require an ongoing discussion about the nature of the disability and the accommodations needed. Attending the interactive meeting does not guarantee the approval of the requested accommodations. Accessibility Services will follow up with you regarding the determination of the requested accommodations shortly after the intake meeting. 
  4.  Determination of Accommodations 
    • Reasonable accommodations are intended to remove identified barriers and provide equal access to CMC’s programs, services, and facilities. The accommodations requested must establish a clear connection between the impact of the student’s disability and the barrier encountered. The institution is not required to make adjustments that would lower the academic standard, fundamentally alter an essential program element or requirement or pose an undue administrative or financial burden.

CMC provides a variety of accommodations to ensure students with disabilities have access and equal opportunity to the learning environment. Accommodations are individually determined based on the student and the disability-related barriers through an interactive process. Reasonable accommodations do not lower the academic standards nor fundamentally alter an essential element of a course or program. The following are examples of commonly used accommodations:

Exam Accommodations:

  • Extended time
  • Distraction reduced environment
  • Breaks during exams
  • Use of assistive technology (text-to-speech or dictation software)

Classroom Accommodations:

  • Notetaking Assistance
  • Audio Recording Lectures
  • Preferential Seating
  • Classroom Relocations
  • Accessible Furniture
  • Priority Registration
  • Reduced Course Load
  1. Request Eligibility Notification Letter
    • To access approved accommodations, you must first request for your eligibility notification letter to be sent to the instructor of each individual course in which you require accommodations. Please see step by step here. Your accommodations will not be active until the notification letter has been requested. We strongly encourage students to request their notification letter at the start of every semester since accommodations cannot be applied retroactively.
  2. Review Accommodation Procedures 
    • Once you have requested the eligibility letter, additional steps will need to be taken depending on the approved accommodations.
  3. Schedule a time to speak with your professor
    • Students are encouraged to meet with each faculty member to discuss your approved accommodations and how they will be implemented in their class. It is best to schedule an individual meeting since faculty are usually pressed for time right after class. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the approved accommodations and be prepared to be able to describe how and when you intend to use each accommodation. Once you have met with the faculty member and discussed specific arrangements, you may send a follow-up email summarizing the agreement you reached together. This will allow for clear communication and ensure mutual understanding. Faculty diligently work to provide accommodations as indicated. However, there maybe certain situations in which a particular accommodation may not be possible. Please contact Accessibility Services as needed to support you in addressing any concerns if they arise.

Requesting Additional Accommodations 

Students are responsible for notifying Accessibility Services in a timely manner of any concerns or obstacles you encounter regarding the implementation of your accommodations, or if you wish to seek changes or additions to your approved accommodations.

Report an Accessibility Issue

If you are experiencing difficulties with accessibility on the Claremont McKenna College campus, please let us know.

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