HU is committed to providing equal education opportunity and full participation for persons with disabilities. It is HU’s policy that no qualified person be excluded from participating in any HU program or activity, be denied the benefits of any HU program or activity, or otherwise be subject to discrimination regarding any HU program or activity. Toward this end, and in conjunction with the ADA and Section 504, HU provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students with various types of disabilities. Review our policy at the Accessibility Services Sharepoint site. 



Steps to Assessing Accommodations


Step 1: Introduce yourself to Student Success by emailing ADA@HarrisburgU.edu

  • The student must identify themselves to Student Success to begin the process of requesting appropriate accommodations by emailing ADA@HarrisburgU.edu.  

  • It is the student’s responsibility to connect with Student Success and discuss what they feel is needed to accommodate a disability. Determination of accommodations is an interactive process between the student and Student Success. 


Step 2: Submit Your Documentation

The student must provide current documentation regarding the disability. Documentation should indicate that the impairment is a disability that substantially limits a major life activity. Specifics regarding documentation requirements and where to send it, can be found in the next section, titled “Documentation Criteria.” When the student submits the documentation, it is helpful if they also describe the accommodations that have worked to support them in the past. It is preferred that documentation is sent via to ADA@harrisburgu.edu, though it can also be provided in person or via U.S. Mail.   


Step 3: Meet with Accessibility Services & Let Your Needs Be Known: 

Once appropriate documentation has been submitted, Student Success will schedule an introduction meeting (either in person or virtually) with the student requesting services. Student Success considers the individual with a disability to be a valuable source of information regarding the impact of the student’s disability and the effectiveness of accommodations. At this initial meeting, staff will work with students to determine what accommodations are needed to support their success at the university based on the documentation provided. 


Step 4: Receive Your Access Letter(s): 

Following the initial meeting, Student Success will send you your access letter(s), outlining your approved accommodations to you HU email address. 

  • Academic Accommodations: It is the student’s responsibility to share their access letter(s) with the faculty teaching their courses each semester. Faculty are under no obligation to accommodate a student until the access letter(s) have been provided to them. Student Success recommends that students form the habit of providing their access letter(s) to their faculty via email prior to the start of each term and discussing their accommodations with their faculty verbally during the first week of classes.  
  • Other Accommodations: It is the student’s responsibility to share their access letter(s) with staff responsible for other relevant functions of the university (ex. Housing) that may need to accommodate their needs. Please note that some offices (ex. Housing) may require additional forms and documentation. It is the student's responsibility to contact those offices for next steps after receiving their access letters. 

If a student is experiencing accommodation related difficulties, they can seek out assistance at ADA@HarrisburgU.edu. 


Step 5: Renew Your Accommodations:  

Students must pay attention to the expiration date on their access letter(s) and request to renew their accommodations at ADA@harrisburgu.edu at least 60 days prior to the expiration date.