Harrisburg University provides reasonable and appropriate accommodations to qualified students with disabilities who register with Accessibility Services.


In conjunction with the ADA and Section 504, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students with various types of disabilities. Reasonable accommodations enable qualified students with disabilities to have equal opportunities by the making of adjustments or modifications to courses, programs, services, jobs, activities, or facilities. Therefore, accommodations will be determined in the spirit of removing, to the greatest extent possible, barriers to students’ abilities that are created by the interaction between their disabilities and HU’s environment, while maintaining essential standards for courses, programs, jobs, services, and facilities. HU is obligated to provide accommodations only to the known limitations of an otherwise qualified disabled student. 

Accommodations may include academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, services, or modifications for facilities. Accommodations do not guarantee academic success; the student is still responsible for learning subject knowledge, demonstrating mastery of content, and meeting the same demands required of all students. An accommodation is considered reasonable if it does not require substantial change in the curriculum or alteration of any essential elements or functions of a course, program, service, or activity. Accommodations do not require instructors to adjust evaluations of academic performance. Rather, academic accommodations enable students with disabilities to learn the material presented and instructors to fairly evaluate students’ comprehension of the material. It does not eliminate or mitigate course requirements. 


Student Success staff will work with otherwise qualified students with disabilities to provide their preferred accommodations; however, in the event that documentation does not support a student’s request, or the request is deemed unreasonable, inappropriate, or an undue burden, Student Success will seek appropriate alternatives in consultation with the student and/or the documenting professional(s) and/or other appropriate professionals as permitted by the student. 


Common Accommodations 

Reasonable accommodations are determined on an individual basis and are flexible based upon individual disability needs and the campus environment. The following is a partial list of common accommodations: 

  • Allow the use of adaptive technology (e.g., magnifier, screen readers, speech to text software) 
  • Allow the use of recording devices during class 
  • Provide alternative formats for text materials or virtual media 
  • Provide copies of presentations, lecture notes, etc. 
  • Provide priority seating in the classroom 
  • Provide an accessible location, classroom, or furniture 
  • Provide extended time on tests/exams 
  • Allow for the completion of tests/exams in a 1:1 proctored environment 
  • Allow for the use of headphones during tests/exams 
  • Provide sign language/oral interpreters/CART services 
  • Provide accommodations for on-campus housing arrangements