Academic Success Center

Program for Academic Support and Services (PASS)

Dr. Peggy Koshland-Crane, Director, Academic Success Center
(650) 508-3670, mcrane@ndnu.edu

The Program for Academic Support and Services (PASS) is dedicated to improving the educational development of students with documented disabilities and to enhancing understanding and support within the campus community. As Notre Dame de Namur University strives to value, embrace and reflect human and intellectual diversity, the pass strives to accomplish this through the principles of equal access and opportunity.

Mission

Notre Dame de Namur University's PASS, as required under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, makes every reasonable effort to provide appropriate accommodations and assistance to students with disabilities. The objective is to ensure that our students receive equal access to all NDNU programs and services. To that end, we seek to balance the student's right to access with our obligation to protect the integrity of NDNU programs and services.

Definition of Disabilities

NDNU is required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act to provide effective auxiliary aids and services for qualified students with documented disabilities if such aids are needed to provide equitable access to NDNU's programs and services. Federal law defines a disability as "a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities." Major life activities are defined as the ability to perform functions such as walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, working, or taking care of oneself. It is important to note that an impairment in and of itself does not necessarily constitute a disability. The degree of impairment must be significant enough to “substantially limit” one or more major life activities. Therefore, documentation provided by a qualified professional must address the substantial limitation posed by the student’s impairment.

Besides impairments pertaining to vision, hearing, physical well-being, and perception, individuals with disabilities may also include those with emotional or mental illness; illness such as cancer, heart disease or AIDS; learning disabilities such as dyslexia and dysgraphia; and physical impairments such as repetitive strain injury (RSI) or carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). These and other types of disabilities do not necessarily impair the individual's performance but may require the individual to seek alternative methods of carrying out a given task.

Commitment

PASS is committed to:

Compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and Section 202 of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended
Informing students of services available for disabled students
PASS will provide written verification relative to the student's eligibility to receive reasonable accommodations
Evaluating the information provided by the appropriately credentialed professional to determine eligibility and reasonable accommodations
Keeping the information regarding the student's disability confidential until the student signs a release of information form
Maintaining the academic integrity of its programs

The PASS Coordinator

The PASS Coordinator is a qualified professional available to:

Assist students who have a disability by reviewing documentation supplied by appropriate licensed professionals
Consulting with students to design and develop the Student Academic Accommodation Request (SAAR)
Provide referrals to diagnostic services, campus resources, and community resources
Consults with faculty and staff who have questions and/or concerns regarding a student’s academic accommodations and other issues pertaining to a disability
Design, develop and implement academic success plans
Consult with Registrar in gathering information regarding students who need accessible classrooms
Coordinates academic support services

Contact