Accommodation Information & Processes

The Office of Accessibility Services at Bethel University supports students with disabilities by providing individualized reasonable accommodations based on documented needs. Here you will find everything you need to know about the accommodation request process.

Students requesting reasonable accommodations for a disability will need to complete our Accommodation Request Application and upload disability documentation. Please see information regarding the Accommodation Request Process below.

Students with disabilities must meet the same admission criteria as all students applying to Bethel University. To learn more about the admissions process, schedule a campus tour, or consult with an Admissions Counselor, please visit the university’s admissions page.

Accommodation Request Application

Students who are requesting reasonable accommodations for a disability must first be admitted to Bethel University. After admission, students must establish eligibility through the Office of Accessibility Services before accommodations can be approved and implemented. Accommodation decisions are made on an individual basis through an interactive review process that considers the student’s specific requests, current diagnostic documentation, history of prior accommodations, and the academic requirements of their courses and program.

A qualified individual with a disability is a student who has a physical or mental condition that impacts their health, learning, or daily functioning and substantially limits one or more major life activities, such as reading, writing, concentrating, learning, or working. The student must also meet the academic and program standards at Bethel University, with or without reasonable accommodations, and be able to complete the essential requirements of their coursework and program.

Bethel University provides reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities, including but not limited to:

Examples of Eligible Conditions:

• ADHD
• Anxiety Disorder, Panic Attacks, or Test Anxiety
• Diabetes
• Dyscalculia (Math Disability)
• Dysgraphia (Writing Disability)
• Dyslexia (Reading Disability)
• Epilepsy or Seizure Disorders
• Other documented physical, psychological, or learning-related conditions

Students seeking accommodations must submit an Accommodation Request Application along with current diagnostic documentation to the Office of Accessibility Services for review. Documentation must support the need for the requested accommodations.
A reasonable accommodation is defined as a modification or support that provides equal access without fundamentally changing the essential requirements or academic standards of a course or program. Students are expected to meet all core academic and program expectations, with or without accommodations.

Important Timeline Information:
The review process typically takes up to two weeks after all required documentation has been submitted. During high-volume periods, such as the beginning of a semester, processing times may be longer. Students are encouraged to submit their requests as early as possible to ensure accommodations are in place when classes begin. Requests must be submitted no later than six weeks after the start of classes. Processing times may vary depending on when the request is received and the completeness of the required documentation. Accommodations are not applied retroactively.

Process:
Step 1- Meet with the Accessibility Services Coordinator 
Step 2- Submit documentation, including a diagnosis from a doctor, therapist, or another licensed healthcare provider. 
Step 3- Complete other necessary forms, including the Self-Information Questionnaire and the Accessibility Accommodation Letter Request Form. 
Step 4- After all documentation has been received, Accessibility Services will review your request.
Step 5- If approved, we will send out an email to you and your professors with your accommodations for the semester. 
Step 6- You may want to communicate with your professors to ensure you have all of the accommodations in place for the semester. 

Another important tip- You will need to stop by the Accessibility Service Office before each semester to complete the Accessibility Accommodation Letter Request Form.

 Accessibility Accommodation Letter Form

Documentation Guidelines

The Office of Accessibility Services at Bethel University follows established documentation guidelines to evaluate a student’s request for reasonable accommodations. Students requesting accommodations must submit current diagnostic documentation along with their Accommodation Request Application to the Office of Accessibility Services for review. Documentation must be completed by a qualified, licensed clinical professional and include the following:
Documentation Requirements

• All documentation must be provided on official letterhead from the licensed professional describing the disability and must include the date of assessment and the evaluator’s signature.
• Each document must include the evaluator’s name, title, professional credentials, and license or certification information.
• Documentation must clearly verify the nature, severity, and functional impact of the disability using current professional standards and appropriate assessment tools.
• Documentation must include a description of how the disability currently affects the student’s academic or functional performance, as well as any history of prior accommodations.
• The documentation must directly support the student’s specific accommodation requests. For example, if academic accommodations are requested, the documentation must show that learning or another major life activity is substantially limited.
• Students requesting accommodations for multiple disabilities must provide appropriate documentation for each condition.
• If the submitted documentation is incomplete or insufficient, Bethel University reserves the right to request additional information. Any costs associated with obtaining additional documentation are the responsibility of the student.

Examples of Insufficient Documentation
Documentation may be considered insufficient if it includes one or more of the following:

• Outdated documentation that does not reflect the student’s current condition
• Documentation provided by a family member or relative
• Diagnosis provided by an unqualified professional
• Missing or unclear diagnosis
• Lack of appropriate aptitude or achievement testing for Learning Disabilities or ADHD (including test scores)
• Test results that do not show a substantial limitation
• Unsigned reports
• Reports not written on official letterhead
• Failure to describe functional limitations or explain how the disability impacts academic performance
• Diagnosis based on limited or incomplete assessment data

Important Notes
An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan from high school alone does not meet documentation requirements, but may be submitted as supporting information. A physician’s note alone or documentation of medication alone may not be sufficient to support accommodation requests. Additional documentation may be required to fully evaluate the student’s needs. Documentation must be completed by a qualified professional who is not a member of the student’s family.

Notice of Eligibility

Once approved, students at Bethel University will receive an Eligibility Letter via their university email. This letter will outline the accommodations that have been approved and provide instructions for any required next steps.

If additional information is needed to fully evaluate the accommodation request, the student will be notified by email with details about what documentation or clarification is required before a determination can be made.

Housing Accommodations

The Office of Accessibility Services at Bethel University works in collaboration with Residence Life to review housing accommodation requests. Accessibility Services evaluates and verifies the need for housing-related accommodations and provides recommendations to Residence Life. Residence Life is responsible for housing assignments and will determine whether the recommended accommodation can be provided based on availability. Accessibility Services does not assign specific housing locations or select roommates.

Before submitting a housing accommodation request, new students must first complete the Residence Life housing application. (This requirement does not apply to current students already living on campus.) After completing the housing application, students must submit the Self-Inform Questionnaire, Request to Live Off Campus form, and medical documentation through Accessibility Services.

Please note that housing accommodation requests submitted after the Residence Life deadline may not be guaranteed. Students are strongly encouraged to submit all required applications and documentation as early as possible to allow sufficient time for review and placement.

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. 

For Incoming Students, the deadlines to request Housing Accommodations are August 1 for students registered for the fall semester and December 10 for students registered for the spring semester.

Request to Live Off Campus Form

Assistance Animals

Emotional Support Animals (ESA)

Students at Bethel University requesting an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) for the residential area must complete the following requirements at least 30 days prior to move-in and must follow up with the Accessibility Services Coordinator before each semester:

• ESA Request for Student form
• ESA Acknowledgement for Roommate/Suitemates form
• ESA shot record
• Upload a current photo of the ESA
• Upload all required disability documentation and veterinary paperwork

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 Accessibility Services.

There is no official registry for Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) or Service Animals. While some websites may claim to offer registration services, these are not legally recognized.

Please note that Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are not permitted in classrooms or other campus buildings and are only approved to be in the student’s assigned residential room. Accessibility Services partners with Residence Life to review ESA requests.

For more information, please contact Accessibility Services at accessibilityservices@bethelu.edu

 Emotional Support Animal Request

Service Animal

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

For more information on having a service animal on campus at Bethel University, please email accessibilityservices@bethelu.edu

Temporary Medical Assistance

Students with temporary impairments (e.g., concussion, broken leg, long-term recovery, etc.) may request temporary medical assistance.

To request temporary assistance at Bethel University, please complete the Self Inform Questionnaire and upload medical documentation that includes the following information:

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

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

Please contact Accessibility Services directly if you are unable to complete the Accommodation Request Application. Accessibility Services can be reached by email at accessibilityservices@bethelu.edu