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Confidentiality

SUNY Upstate is committed to attracting and educating students reflective of the population we serve, including individuals with disabilities. In keeping our mission to promote diversity and provide equal access to its facilities, programs, services and learning opportunities, the University encourages students with disabilities to engage with Disability Support Services as soon as they begin their program.  Students should feel free to contact this office to engage in a confidential conversation about the process for requesting reasonable accommodations in the classroom, laboratory and clinical settings.

Disability information is considered private.  Faculty do not have the right to access students’ diagnostic information without appropriate permission.  Ordinarily, faculty members and other relevant staff need only know the accommodations that are necessary to provide an equal opportunity for students.

Students are encouraged to register with Disability Support Services as soon as they begin their program (accommodations cannot be provided retroactively). Complete information about our process as well as the appropriate forms can be found on our website under the Documentation & Forms tab

Faculty and/or staff to whom accommodation forms are presented should take care to keep the information private. The accommodation information conveyed on the forms should be communicated only to other faculty and/or staff who have an educational need to know (for instance, those who are involved in providing the accommodations, or those who are responsible for the educational environment).

If a faculty member or a student has any questions about specific accommodations, he/she may contact the Coordinator of Disability Support Services. All documentation and correspondence concerning a student's disability are kept in a separate file in the Student Success Center.

Adapted from the Student Disability Services Policy at Rush University College of Medicine, 2019 

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