Student Accessibility

Gettysburg College provides equal opportunities to students with disabilities admitted through the regular admissions process. Recognizing students with disabilities have the legal right and responsibility to present requests for reasonable accommodations, the College promotes self-disclosure and self-advocacy. As a residential college, this applies to reasonable accommodations related to academic, dining and housing needs. The Center for Student Success assists students with disabilities with their requests for accommodations.

Early disclosure allows our office to work with students to develop appropriate accommodations prior to the start of the semester. The determination of reasonable educational, dining and/or housing accommodations is made after meeting with the student and reviewing submitted required documentation. A diagnosis does not automatically warrant approval of requested accommodations.

Gettysburg College does not provide psychoeducational testing/diagnostic services for students who suspect they have a disability.

Reasonable Accommodations

Accommodations at the College level do not eliminate all the challenges and stress felt by many college students. Accommodations that a student had in high school may not be considered reasonable at the postsecondary level.

 “At the postsecondary level, the recipient is required to provide students with appropriate academic adjustments and auxiliary aids and services that are necessary to afford, an individual with a disability, an equal opportunity to participate in a school's program. Recipients are not required to make adjustments or provide aids or services that would result in a fundamental alteration of a recipient's program or impose an undue burden.”(US Dept of Education)

Reasonable accommodations are determined through a review of required documentation. Some requested accommodations can be met through the daily opportunities/operations of the college that are available to all students. Each accommodation request is considered, however not all requested accommodations are approved.