Disability Services

Policy on Accessibility

The policy and intent of Regent University are to fully and completely comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008 to the extent that they apply to the university.

Regent University will not discriminate against an otherwise qualified student with a disability in the admissions process or any academic activity or program, including student-oriented services. Likewise, the university will not discriminate against a Regent employee or prospective employee with a disability.

Regent University will provide reasonable accommodation to the known physical and mental limitations of a qualified individual with a disability unless to do so would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the university or unless it would fundamentally alter a degree or course requirement (42 USC 12102 et seq.).

It is also the policy and intent of Regent University to comply with the Virginians with Disabilities Act (VA Code Sec. 51.5.5-41).

Web Accessibility Statement

Regent University is committed to providing an accessible online experience for all users, including those with disabilities. In support of this, we are continually working to enhance the user experience for everyone, and, as appropriate, strive to conform the website to generally-recognized guidelines for accessible web design, which are currently the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (“WCAG”) 2.1 at Levels A and AA.

We are committed to diversity and accessibility for all guests, so if, despite our ongoing efforts, you still have difficulties accessing any of our material on the website, please contact us through any of the telephone numbers or e-mail addresses below, and we will work with you to help resolve any issues.

Disability Accommodations Coordinator: 757.352.4485 | disabilities@regent.edu
IT Help Desk: 757.352.4076 | helpdesk@regent.edu
Office of Admissions: 800.373.5504 | admissions@regent.edu
Office of Advising: 800.722.3680 | advising@regent.edu
Regent University Marketing: 757.352.4843 | marketing@regent.edu

Qualified individuals must request accommodations for disabilities through the Disability Services Coordinator in Student Services or through. They may use “plain English.” For example, they do not need to mention a legal code or use the phrase “reasonable accommodation.”

A request for reasonable accommodation does not necessarily mean that Regent University will provide accommodation for the student. The request is the first step in an informal, interactive process between the individual and the university to determine whether the person’s condition meets the definition of disability or whether the individual is in any way “qualified.”

The university may request documentation of the individual’s functional limitations to support the request. While the individual does not have to be able to specify the precise accommodation needed, he or she does need to describe the problems posed by the claimed barrier. Suggestions will be helpful in determining the type of reasonable accommodation to provide.

If a particular accommodation would be an undue hardship on the university, the university will try to find alternative accommodation that would not pose such a hardship. If cost is the cause of the undue hardship, the university will consider whether funding for the accommodation might be available from an outside agency. The individual will also be allowed to pay for the accommodation or any portion of the accommodation, that might constitute an undue hardship on the university.

Regent University reserves the right to choose among reasonable accommodations as long as the chosen accommodation is effective. If an individual refuses a reasonable accommodation, the university will be deemed to have complied with its obligation under the ADA.

Regent University will make every effort to provide reasonable accommodation in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If a student believes that the university has not adequately responded to a request for reasonable accommodation, the matter may be addressed according to the procedures described in the Student Handbook under “Student Appeals and Grievances.” Faculty and staff with questions and concerns should contact Patricia Brown, the Section 504 employee disability coordinator and director of Human Resources, at patrdo3@regent.edu or 757.352.4031.

Regent University has carefully designed all public areas for accessibility and we are continually improving services for people with disabilities.

The computer lab in the Student Center has a workstation that is specially equipped for individuals with disabilities:

• ZoomText for visually impaired students
• Intellikeys keyboard for mobility-impaired
• Trackball mouse

The University Library also has provisions for accessibility:

• Workstation carrel for students with disabilities (reference desk & reading area)
• Special keyboard with large keys
• ZoomText software
• Alladin Ambassador reader (choice of voices for reading texts)
• Reference librarian available to help

Individuals should always ask for any special accommodation they need. For example, a computer can be programmed to adjust to the needs of a particular person when he or she logs on. Students may contact Disability Services via email at disabilities@regent.edu or phone at 757.352.4797 (A-M) or 757.352.4793 (N-Z) for additional help. Faculty and staff with questions and concerns should contact Patricia Brown, the Section 504 employee disability coordinator and director of Human Resources, at patrdo3@regent.edu or 757.352.4031.

Overview

Priority housing requests are sometimes necessary as a result of a disability. Due to the limited availability of such housing and the increasing number of requests each year, this procedure has been developed to ensure that housing recommendations are made by the Office of Counseling & Disability Services based on a fair and standardized review of each student’s need and medical documentation.

Medical Review Committee

The Medical Review Committee will consist of the Director of Counseling & Disability Services and other appointed staff/faculty of Regent University. The Medical Review Committee will complete a thorough review of all priority housing requests and the accompanying documentation and then make appropriate recommendations to Residence Life.

Documentation Requirements & Important Dates

Please make note of the following requirements for requesting priority housing due to a disability:

• The Housing Disability Accommodation Request Form (online) is completed and submitted to the Disability Accommodations Coordinator.
• The student MUST be registered with Disability Services.
• The Disability Verification Form must be completed in its entirety.
• Depending on the nature of the request, additional documentation may be requested from your physician or licensed provider (i.e. sleep disorder lab study report)

For Fall semester housing placement recommendations, all items must be completed and submitted to the Office of Counseling & Disability Services no later than June 15^th. All other times of year requests will be considered based on availability.

Service Animals

It is the university’s policy to permit service animals on campus to assist individuals who are disabled. This statement relates to individuals who visit the main campus to obtain information about Regent, to attend class, or to obtain various campus services (Regent Bookstore, Regent Ordinary, etc.). It also applies to individuals seeking employment, and to those who are employed at Regent University.

A Regent University employee whose disability requires the use of a service animal must inform the Human Resources Department of that need, and students must inform the Office of Student Services. They will need to describe the tasks the animal has been trained to perform. The student may be asked to provide relevant documentation regarding the need for a service animal and the level of training the animal has received. Service animals are animals that are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities, such as guiding people who are blind, alerting people who are deaf, pulling wheelchairs, alerting and protecting a person who is having a seizure, or performing other special tasks related to the person’s disability. An animal that simply provides comfort or reassurance, absent appropriate documentation of both a covered disability and service animal training, does not qualify as a service animal under the ADA. Students who wish to reside in student housing with a service animal must provide the above-noted documentation to the Office of Student Services. Service animals will be allowed on university premises, (including food service areas where state and/or local health codes prohibit animals other than service animals) except when:

1. The animal is out of control and the animal owner does not take effective action to control it, e.g. a dog that barks repeatedly; or
2. The animal poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others (allergies and fear of animals are generally not valid reasons for denying an employee the right to have a service animal on university premises).

Regent University will not provide care or food for a service animal or provide a special location for the animal to relieve itself. The owner shall be responsible for all such feeding and care of the service dog, and for waste removal. Service animals should be leashed while on university property. Service animals are working animals, not pets. Pets are not allowed on university premises.

Emotional Support Animal Policy

In accordance with the Fair Housing Act of 1988 Regent University welcomes emotional support animals (ESA) into the student housing buildings. Each student that requests reasonable accommodation for their ESA must have a signed letter from their primary care physician, counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist stating the need for the animal. The letter must be submitted to the Office of Counseling & Disability Services for approval. The Disability Accommodations Coordinator may request to meet with you to discuss your housing accommodations. Though the university will not charge you a pet deposit, pet rent, or any fee specific to the acceptance of an ESA, there are several expectations:

1. There is a documented need for an emotional support animal.
2. The emotional support animal is reasonably behaved and does not cause physical harm to other students and/or staff.
3. The animal is well maintained by its owner. The owner will be expected to care for the animal and keep the animal current on all vaccinations (to be updated yearly).
4. The owner will be responsible for the expenses of caring for the animal (food, veterinary care, supplies, etc.).
5. If the animal is walked throughout campus it must be on a leash at all times in accordance with Virginia Beach City policy.
6. If the owner leaves campus overnight for school breaks the animal must accompany its owner. It cannot be left in the care of the housing staff.
7. Although there are no fees or deposits pertaining to the acceptance of the animal, if the animal destroys school property the owner will be responsible for the cost of damages.