Information for Students
If you’re a student with a disability and want to request academic, housing or dining accommodations at UND, you’re in the right place.
Requesting Accommodations for the First Time at UND
Students may apply for accommodations at any time. Applications are processed in the order they are received, so it’s important to check your UND email and respond to requests promptly.
1. Complete the Application
Apply with Student Disability Resources to begin the process of determining eligibility for accommodations. Your UND login credentials are required.
- Provide documentation showing how your disability impacts major life activities and your academic experience.
- If you’re unsure what to submit, don’t worry—you can still move forward.
2. Provide Documentation
Documentation supports your request for accommodations and helps us understand how your disability affects your academic or campus experience. For more information, please refer to our documentation guidelines page.
Not sure what to provide? That’s okay—you can schedule your initial meeting first.
3. Schedule Your Initial Meeting
After you submit your application and provide documentation, you’ll receive an email to schedule an initial meeting with an Access Coordinator (AC). This meeting is an interactive process between the student and the Access Coordinator. During the meeting, you’ll review the accommodation process, learn about resources and tools and identify possible accommodations.
Your Access Coordinator will:
- Ask about your disability, its history, and its impact on daily life
- Discuss any previous accommodations or support services
- Work with you to identify potential accommodations
- Determine if additional documentation is needed
- Connect you with other services or campus offices if helpful
To get the most out of your meeting:
- Be registered for the current term and have your class schedule available, as accommodations are determined based on your current classes.
- Collect any current documentation and provide it to us if you have it
- Think about how your disability affects—or could affect—your experience at UND
- Bring any questions or concerns you’d like to discuss
Being prepared helps make the meeting productive and ensures we can identify accommodations to provide access.
- If accommodations were supported, you will receive a copy of your Notification of Disability Accommodations email. Your instructors will also receive a copy.
- We encourage you to connect with your instructors to discuss the accommodations and how they may be implemented in each class.
Frequently Asked Questions
Student Disability Resources provides accommodations and services to ensure students with disabilities have equal access to educational opportunities at UND. We work with students, faculty, and staff to promote accessibility and inclusion on campus.
Any UND student with a disability that substantially limits one or more major life activities may be eligible for accommodations. Eligibility is determined through an individualized assessment.
A disability is a physical or mental impairment that significantly limits one or more major life activities, such as learning, walking, seeing, hearing, or concentration.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 protect students with disabilities in higher education, ensuring they have equal access to programs and services.
Students typically qualify if they have a documented disability that impacts their access to education. You’ll need to complete an intake process and provide documentation of your disability to Student Disability Resources.
Documentation should be provided by a qualified professional who has specific expertise in your condition and is able to clearly describe the nature of your disability and how it affects your daily functioning. The professional must have relevant experience or credentials in the area of your condition to ensure that the documentation accurately reflects your situation. Specific documentation requirements may vary depending on the nature of the disability.
No, you are not guaranteed the accommodations recommended by your provider. Accommodations are determined by Student Disability Resources through an interactive process with the student. We will consider the supporting documentation to assess the functional limitations caused by the disability. While your provider's recommendations are helpful, they are just recommendations, not guarantees.
Contact Student Disability Resources for guidance. In some cases, we may offer provisional accommodations while you seek documentation.
Our office collaborates with students to ensure equitable access to UND’s programs and services, which may include academics, housing, dining, and other areas of campus life.
We provide reasonable accommodations tailored to each individual’s needs and based on their specific situation.
Accommodations are not automatically granted; after submitting your information, we will meet with you to discuss your unique circumstances and determine an appropriate accommodation plan. This process considers multiple factors, including the nature of your courses and the impact of your disability or condition. Your accommodation plan at UND will be unique to your time here and may differ from the accommodations you have received previously.
Student Disability Resources does not charge for accommodations. However, students are responsible for aids or personal assistance, such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, home-use computers, or personal attendants for tasks like bathing, dressing, or life coaching.
There is no specific deadline, but it’s recommended to apply as soon as possible to ensure accommodations are in place when needed. Accommodations are not retroactive.
If an accommodation request is denied, you can work with your Access Coordinator to explore alternative accommodations or appeal the decision if necessary.
Reasonable accommodations are adjustments made to ensure equal access to the educational environment and course materials for students with disabilities. These accommodations are modifications or adjustments that help students participate fully without changing the fundamental nature of a course or program. They are intended to provide access, not to give an unfair advantage or lower course requirements.
Accommodations are determined collaboratively by the student and an Access Coordinator after reviewing the student’s documentation and discussing specific access needs.
Contact Student Disability Resources or UND’s Office of Equal Opportunity to file a formal complaint if you believe you have experienced discrimination.
No, accommodations are confidential and are not reflected on your transcript.
No, your accommodations cannot be determined before you enroll at UND. While we are happy to consult with you before enrollment, academic accommodations can only be determined once you are a student at the university. For housing accommodations, while the process begins before official enrollment, they can be discussed after the housing application opens. For more information, please check our website regarding housing accommodations.
Although temporary medical conditions are not typically covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Student Disability Resources may be able to provide support on a temporary basis depending upon the condition and situation. Students are encouraged to contact Student Disability Resources to discuss their situation. Additionally, Community Standards & Care Network can discuss courtesy services and other support options.
No. It is the student's responsibility to obtain testing and diagnostic information. Students are encouraged to explore local services in their area, and Student Disability Resources can assist by discussing available options in the Grand Forks community.
No. The application and documentation process is completed the first time a student seeks disability accommodations. Each semester, accommodations are reviewed to determine needs and reasonableness with the new course schedule.
Contact Student Disability Resources. Our team is here to help!