Accessibility Resources & Service

Fall 2021 ARS Updates

This information is updated frequently - please continue to check back for updates throughout the semester

Welcome to Fall 2021 at Carolina! Departments across campus are eagerly preparing for your return, and we at ARS are excited to welcome you all back after a long stretch of flex and transitions over the last 17 months. Things are going to look a little different at ARS, but we hope that with the planning and preparation we have put into place, it will feel more like a normal return to Carolina Life.

ARS Office Operations

In an effort to maintain the safety of students and staff at ARS, we will hold drop-in hours via Zoom beginning August 18, from 9 AM until 4 PM, Monday through Friday, running through the fall semester. Students who need to speak in person with a staff member should email ars@unc.edu with a brief explanation of their questions/concerns and 2-3 dates/times they are available to meet in person, and a staff member will contact the student to make an appointment. For quick questions regarding accommodations or other general information please utilize the Zoom drop-in, email or call us at 919-962-8300. All documentation sent to the office in request of an accommodation must either be emailed or faxed, or the provider can fill out the online Documentation of Disability Form to attach documents.

Testing Accommodations and Final Exams

Given the population of students we serve, including those who are immunocompromised, we are taking precautions, including physical distancing, in the ARS Testing Center. Consequently, capacity will be reduced, though we will remain open for our regular hours Monday through Thursday from 8 AM until 8 PM, and Friday from 8 AM until 5 PM. We ask that instructors take this information into consideration when planning exams and we ask for continued flexibility and understanding.

Instructors - We continue to see an exponential increase in the number of students connected with ARS (now over 2300 so far), and with this rise in numbers it can provide difficulties in spacing and capacity. Given the current impact of the latest COVID variant, student concerns, the need for some students to isolate and quarantine resulting in absences, and Testing Center layout, we will need to be mindful and consider flexibility when students experience scheduling issues. If a student presents a scheduling issue, please feel free to reach out to us for confirmation that it is indeed due to testing center capacity and we will work with you to find a solution. We appreciate the continued instructor partnership when proctoring for low distraction test setting and 25-50% extended time when you are able to do so. This will allow students with more complex or involved accommodations (such as private setting, scribe/reader, etc.) to schedule at the Testing Center. As always, if you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Students - We will do our best to make sure that the ARS Testing Center can provide a setting for your accommodated testing needs if your instructor cannot proctor your exam with the approved accommodations. We have created a new “setting” where you can send a notification of the exam accommodation directly to the professor the same way in which you might schedule an exam at the ARS Testing Center. For the location, you would need to choose “Instructor Scheduling Reminder – no ARS proctor” as your option. Please reach out to your instructors BEFORE scheduling exams. Check to make sure they can provide for your accommodated testing needs. If they are unable to proctor your exam with the more complex/involved accommodations (i.e. scribe, reader, more than 50% extended time, etc.), please go ahead and schedule your exams in the Hub to be taken at the ARS Testing Center. You will need to schedule your exams at least one week (5 business days, 7 calendar days) ahead of the requested scheduling date. If you miss this deadline, you will need to submit a Non-Standard Scheduling Request form.

As a change to reduce paper consumption, we will be printing all exams 2-sided (unless this is in contradiction to an accommodation). In addition to the enhanced cleaning procedures implemented by UNC Housekeeping each night, we will schedule intermittent cleaning procedures to make sure common areas in the Testing Center are cleaned on a regular basis throughout the day. As a general good practice, especially with the upcoming cold and flu season, you will be asked to wipe down your test setting before and after completing your exam. You will also be required to keep your mask on the entire time you are in the ARS Testing center, even in a separate test setting. Food and drink will generally not be allowed, and certain accommodations for such allowances will need to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Accommodation Implementation

If you are approved for accommodations such as Supplemental Notes, Alternative Text, Audio Notetaker, CART, etc., please visit https://ars.unc.edu/students/request-forms to make those requests using the appropriate form, paying close attention to the advance notice we require. We would appreciate receiving any such requests as soon as possible so that we can get to work on them. Waiting until the start of classes may result in a delay given the volume of requests we receive.

Access and Mobility

Students requiring mobility accommodations need to check their class schedules now to ensure your courses are in physically accessible buildings. The following buildings/classrooms are inaccessible: Caldwell (103, 105, 208), Davie (301), New East (301 and 305), Wilson Library (304), and Smith Hall (107). Additionally, if you require a stand-alone desk in your classroom, please CHECK HERE to see if one is available. If it is not, please email us at ars@unc.edu.

The ARS Hub - A Guide

The ARS Hub is used to manage:

Accommodations Notifications
Test and exam scheduling
Testing materials
Managing ARS resources
Communication between instructors and students

For INSTRUCTORS: See the ARS Hub INSTRUCTOR Orientation Document

For STUDENTS: See the ARS Hub STUDENT Orientation Document

Read More . . .

Resources

CarolinaTogether Resources and Information - Fall 2021

Technology to support your studies

Twitter @ARSatUNC

@ARSatUNC https://t.co/JmBjgwQ8n6

Are you a college student, graduate student, or recent graduate with a disability seeking an internship or job? Check ou

1 week ago
@ARSatUNC https://t.co/0fiC2MLeZ9

If you are a person of color with a disability, between the ages of 17-25 please join Southeast ada, September 21 from 6

1 week ago
@ARSatUNC https://t.co/FtJUKwKF2V

Opportunity for UNC juniors who are interested in public policy, public service, or international affairs! Check out thi

1 week ago
View on Twitter