Policy Name: Student Accommodations Policy (Revised policy 2055-1-01)
Policy Owner: Director of Accessibility Services
Effective Date: 8/17/2026
Last Review:
Next Review: 8/17/2031

Policy Statement

Northwest Technical College commits to creating equitable and inclusive learning environments and will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified students ensuring that we meet (at a minimum) the standards set forth in applicable state and federal laws, regulations, and guidelines.

The Accessibility Services Office, through the Director of Accessibility Services/ADA Coordinator for Students is responsible for the oversight and administration of this policy including associated audits, training, moderation of processes, and collaboration with appropriate departments for the development of resources.

Purpose

Northwest Technical College has a legal and educational obligation to provide equal access to the university’s resources, coursework, programs, and activities for all qualified individuals in compliance with federal disability law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), Section 504 and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Minnesota Human Rights Act and the Minnesota Respond, Innovate, Succeed, and Empower (RISE) Act. These laws provide a framework for qualified individuals with a documented disability or condition to request reasonable accommodations needed to participate in a university sponsored event/program.

Definitions

Reasonable Accommodation: adjustments or modifications that enable a qualified individual with a documented disability/condition to participate as fully as possible in an educational program or public event. A reasonable accommodation is any change to an educational program, a public environment, or the way things are customarily done that allows an individual with a disability/condition to experience equal access to opportunities available to other individuals in the academic or university environment. Reasonable accommodations may include changes to activities, programs, coursework, and events, so long as it does not fundamentally alter academic requirements that are essential to the academic program, practice, course, or standard of instruction, cause harm to any individual, or result in undue financial or administrative burden/hardship on the institution.

Academic Standards (Rigor): An institution is not required to lower academic standards quality or production standards to make an accommodation; nor is an employer obligated to provide personal use items such as glasses or hearing aids. This includes the comprehensive set of learning objectives and demonstrated student learning outcomes a college or university affixes to its courses and programs of study.

Personal Services: Are distinguished from reasonable accommodations and are not provided by Bemidji State University, but the student may choose to acquire and use such services, i.e., individual assistants or coaches.

Undue Burden/Hardship: An action requiring significant difficulty or expense when considering several factors, including the nature and cost of the accommodation in relation to the size, resources, nature, and structure of the institution.

Fundamental alteration: A change that is so significant that it alters the essential nature of the program, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, activities, or accommodations offered.

Procedures

The procedures, rights and responsibilities pursuant to this policy are described in the Student Accommodation Procedure.

Rationale

The Rationale for this policy is to provide substantiated policy toward providing students with disabilities the opportunity to, as easily as possible, engage in the interactive process for seeking accommodations due to a disability.

Supporting References

This policy is issued pursuant to the authority granted the Americans with Disability Act of 1990 (ADA); Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act; WCAG 2.0 Level AA; MN Statutes 16E.03; MN Statutes 363A.42; MN Statutes 363A.43; MN Statutes 135A.163 RISE Act; State of Minnesota Accessibility Standard; Minnesota Human Rights Act MN Statute 363A; the 21st Century Communications and Accessibility Act (CVAA) Pub. L. 111-260; and Minnesota State Policy 1B.4 Access and Accommodation for Individuals with Disabilities; The Architectural Barriers Act of 1968. Other authority may also apply.