Accommodation Information & Processes

Academic Accommodations

The Office of Accessibility Services is committed to providing classroom access. Depending on a student's qualifying disability, accommodations may include; but are not limited to, the following:

• Exam accommodations
• Notetaking assistance
• Accessible classrooms
• Alternative formats for printed material
• Sign language interpreter
• Preferential seating in the classroom
• Audio record lectures
• Guidance to accessing campus and off-campus referral resources

Housing Accommodations

The Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) partners with Residence Life for housing accommodation requests. OAS does not manage building locations or roommate preferences. We validate the need for housing accommodation(s) and send a recommendation to Residence Life. Residence Life will determine whether they can meet the recommendation based on availability.

Before a housing accommodation request can be submitted, students must complete Residence Life's housing application first. (Completing Residence Life’s housing application does not apply to current on-campus students). Please note housing accommodation requests made after Residence Life's posted deadline cannot be guaranteed. Once the housing application is complete, students must complete the Office of Accessibility Service's Accommodation Request Application.

Deadlines

Housing Accommodation Requests

Deadlines are established for each semester to allow application review and accommodation considerations prior to the start of the housing assignment process. Please see the deadlines below. Requests made after the posted deadline may not be granted due to limited housing availability. The Office of Accessibility Services does not manage housing assignments. For questions about housing assignments or roommates, please contact Residence Life.

Assistance Animals

Emotional Support Animals

Students requesting an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) for the residential area only must complete the Accommodation Request Application and upload all disability documentation and vet paperwork 60 days prior to move-in. Students requesting permission to have an emotional support animal (ESA) reside with them in an on-campus residence hall must first have a medical condition that rises to the level of a disability and be approved for disability services. ESA requests are reviewed as part of the University's disability accommodation process through the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS).

Please know that emotional support animals (ESA) are not permitted in the classrooms or business buildings on campus and are only approved to be in the student's residential room. The Office of Accessibility Services partners with Residence Life on ESA requests. For more information, please email  accessibility.services@belmont.edu.

Service Animal

A Service Animal is a “working” animal trained to assist with specific tasks for a person with a disability. A service animal is covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) law. Please review the information posted on ADA.gov for more information on service animals.

For more information on having a service animal on campus, please email accessibility.services@belmont.edu.

Note: There is no legal requirement for an animal to be "registered" or "certified," nor do these things provide benefits to the consumer with a disability.

Food Allergies and Dietary Conditions

Students with special dietary needs are expected to communicate their dietary restrictions and requirements to the Dining Team. Food prepared and served in the Simple Servings station is free of the top seven food allergens (wheat, eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, and soy) as well as gluten. More information at Nutrition | Belmont University Dining Services.

If Sodexo Dining determines accommodations are needed beyond what they can provide, students should complete the  Accommodation Request Application and provide documentation from the appropriate medical provider.

Note: Per Residence Life’s Housing Occupancy Agreement, the meal plan is required for students living on campus to ensure nutrition access.

Temporary Medical Assistance

Students with temporary impairments (e.g., concussion, broken leg, long-term recovery, etc.) may benefit from the following resources:

Request Temporary Assistance

To request temporary assistance, please complete the Accommodation Request Application and upload the medical documentation that provides the following information:

• Diagnosis or injury
• Medical restrictions
• Length of recovery time
• Accommodation recommendations

Documentation should be provided on the medical provider’s letterhead and signed by the licensed medical provider. Students who need temporary academic assistance will be required to meet with an OAS staff member.

Please contact the Office of Accessibility Services directly if you are unable to complete the Accommodation Request Application. The Office of Accessibility Services can be reached by phone at 615-460-6407 or by email at accessibility.services@belmont.edu. 

Temporary Accessible Parking

The Office of Accessibility Services works with the Office of Campus Security to provide students temporary access to accessible parking spaces. Please email accessibility.services@belmont.edu for more information. Additional parking information is available on the Campus Security webpage.

Accessibility Map

This map shows the accessible routes around campus and can be viewed here.

Study Abroad Accommodation Process

Students with disability accommodations while studying abroad are to contact the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) and their study abroad coordinator six weeks or earlier prior to departure. Students should research their potential host institution and consider the type of disability accommodations that may be needed. Please know that accommodations do not transfer to other countries since our laws do not extend beyond our borders.

In a few programs, students do not learn about acceptance to their host institution until just before they depart. If a student waits to self-disclose their disability until after acceptance, accommodations arrangements may be difficult to implement in a timely manner at the host institution. Early planning is recommended.

If a student with a disability is not currently registered with OAS, but wishes to receive accommodations for their Study Abroad experience, the student is to begin the registration process by submitting the Accommodation Request Application and uploading current documentation. For more information, please contact the office at accessibility.services@belmont.edu or (615) 460-6407.

Once documentation is reviewed, the student will meet with an OAS staff member to discuss accommodation needs and receive the Letter of Accommodation that conveys the student’s accommodations. One copy of the Letter of Accommodations should be provided to the study abroad coordinator to help communicate the accommodations with the host university.

Students requesting accessible textbooks and instructional materials should email accessibility.services@belmont.edu six weeks or earlier prior to departure.