Exploring Efficiencies in Managing Student Accommodations

This semester, CTL Faculty Fellows have been actively exploring ways to support faculty in managing student accommodations more efficiently and effectively. Under the leadership of Bernie Brooks, Faculty Fellow for Sciences/Health Sciences along with Fellows Jessamy Comer (Humanities/Social Sciences) and Mario Gomes (Engineering) have been examining shared challenges and promising practices across disciplines.

Through conversation and reflection, the group is identifying where faculty experience friction in accommodation processes and highlighting strategies already in use that help streamline communication, documentation, and course implementation. Their goal is to reduce administrative burden for instructors while ensuring students receive timely, consistent, and appropriate support. All recommendations will be in collaboration and partnership with the Disability Services Office (DSO). By reducing administrative burden the faculty can focus on their teaching and supporting the important and shared mission of creating a fair and equitable learning environment for all our students. 

In parallel, all CTL Faculty Fellows are gathering insights from colleagues across campus to better understand how accommodations are currently being managed and where efficiencies already exist. This collective effort also includes exploring opportunities to partner more closely with the Disability Services Office (DSO) to clarify workflows, align expectations, and improve shared processes. 

Faculty input is an essential part of this work. If you have ideas, recommendations, or experiences—whether challenges or successful approaches—please consider reaching out to your Faculty Fellow to share your insights. CTL looks forward to synthesizing these perspectives and reporting key findings and next steps later this spring.