Lana Oconnell
Tufts University is committed to providing equal opportunities for all students, regardless of disability status. The university offers a range of accommodations to support students with physical, sensory, psychological, medical, and learning disabilities, including temporary conditions such as injuries or broken bones. Students with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations through the Student Accessibility and Academic Resources (StAAR) Center, which provides various supports, including classroom accommodations such as furniture and alternate format materials. Tufts also welcomes service and assistance animals on campus and offers lactation rooms for nursing individuals. The university is dedicated to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of students' medical information and ensures that all members of the community can access the support they need.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| University's commitment | Tufts University is committed to providing an academic and work environment that respects religious beliefs and supports individuals with disabilities. |
| Legal basis | The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act require Tufts to provide accommodations. |
| Scope | Accommodations are provided for students, employees, and visitors with disabilities, including pregnancy-related conditions and religious observances. |
| Request process | Students submit documentation and a Health Disability Provider Form. Requests can be made at any time, and Tufts will maintain confidentiality. |
| Temporary accommodations | Temporary accommodations are available for injuries or while determining permanent accommodations. |
| StAAR Center | The Student Accessibility and Academic Resources (StAAR) Center assists with classroom accommodations, assistive technology, and exam arrangements. |
| Lactation rooms | Designated lactation rooms are available for nursing individuals, and faculty and staff are entitled to breaks for expressing breast milk. |
| Animals | Service and assistance animals are welcomed on campuses but may be excluded for specific reasons. |
| Accessibility | Tufts aims to ensure accessibility for all on official websites and in services, programs, and activities. |
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What You'll Learn
Tufts' commitment to accommodations
Tufts University is committed to providing accommodations to its students and employees with disabilities. The university's commitment is based on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. These laws require Tufts to provide appropriate academic and employment accommodations to individuals with disabilities, unless doing so creates an undue hardship, compromises health and safety, or fundamentally alters the nature of the university's programs or mission. Tufts also welcomes service and assistance animals on all its campuses to accommodate individuals with disabilities.
The Student Accessibility and Academic Resources (StAAR) Center at Tufts is dedicated to supporting students with disabilities. The centre works with undergraduate, graduate, and visiting students enrolled in courses at the schools of Arts & Sciences, Engineering, SMFA, or Fletcher. The StAAR Center supports students with a range of physical, sensory, psychological, medical, and learning disabilities, including temporary conditions such as injuries. They offer various supports, including classroom accommodations such as furniture and alternate format materials. The centre also provides assistive technology accommodations, with equipment available for loan on a yearly or semesterly basis.
To request accommodations, students can submit documentation, such as a neuropsychological evaluation or the Health Disability Provider Form, which allows clinicians to provide specific recommendations for accommodations. Tufts protects the privacy and confidentiality of any medical information obtained during the accommodation process. Students can also request religious accommodations by making a written request to the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO). The university is committed to providing an academic and work environment that respects religious beliefs and will make good-faith efforts to accommodate individuals whose sincerely held beliefs conflict with university policies or requirements.
Tufts also provides accommodations for pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions. The university is committed to supporting nursing individuals returning to work, school, or visiting the campus. Designated lactation rooms are available for faculty, staff, students, and visitors, with reasonable breaks provided for expressing breast milk. Additionally, Tufts offers accommodations for food allergies and intolerances, with dining services available to provide assistance. The university is dedicated to ensuring equal opportunity for all students, regardless of disability or other protected characteristics.
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Pregnancy and nursing accommodations
Tufts University is committed to supporting and meeting the needs of individuals experiencing pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions. The university does not tolerate discrimination and harassment based on pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, including childbirth, termination of pregnancy, or lactation. Tufts University will reasonably accommodate employees and prospective employees for pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, unless there is an undue hardship for the university.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act require Tufts University to provide appropriate academic and employment accommodations to employees and students with disabilities, including those who are pregnant or have a pregnancy-related condition. Tufts University is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for students, staff, faculty, and community members regarding qualified disabilities, sincerely held religious beliefs, pregnancy and lactation, qualified service animals, and immunizations.
Tufts University offers designated lactation rooms for nursing individuals returning to work, school, or visiting the campus. Faculty and staff are entitled to reasonable breaks to express breast milk, as well as sufficient time to get to the lactation room. To request a lactation accommodation or ask questions about the Lactation Policy, individuals can contact the Accommodations Team via email.
Tufts University welcomes service and assistance animals on all campuses to accommodate individuals with disabilities. However, the university may exclude an animal if it causes disruption, threatens the health or safety of others, or fails to meet the criteria set forth in the Pets and Service Animals policy. Additionally, individuals with sincerely held religious or spiritual beliefs that conflict with vaccination requirements can contact the OEO to request an immunization exemption.
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Religious accommodations
Tufts University is committed to providing an academic and work environment that respects the religious beliefs of its students, employees, patients, visitors, and community members. The university makes good faith efforts to provide reasonable religious accommodations to those whose sincerely held religious beliefs conflict with a university policy, procedure, or other academic or employment requirements. Tufts defines "sincerely held religious beliefs" as including traditional, organized religions and newer, uncommon beliefs that are not part of a formal church or sect.
Tufts University provides prayer and meditation rooms as sacred spaces for individuals to pray or be in a more private, contemplative setting. These rooms are located throughout the university, and some require a Tufts ID card to access. The university also offers an exemption from required meal plans for students with religious dietary or fasting restrictions. All residence halls include kitchens so students can prepare their own food according to religious dietary restrictions, and resources are available to help students find nearby restaurants and grocery stores that cater to their religious dietary needs.
Faculty at Tufts are required to accommodate students' needs regarding observing religious holidays and are encouraged to include information about religious accommodations in their syllabi. Students can discuss their religious, secular, or spiritual views with faculty outside of class time, and faculty can include topics related to religious, secular, or spiritual identities in their courses when appropriate. Tufts also welcomes service and assistance animals on all campuses to accommodate individuals with disabilities, provided the animals do not cause disruption or threaten the health and safety of others.
To request a religious accommodation, students and employees can make a written request to the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) at [email protected]. Requests for time off due to religious observances must be submitted at least ten business days in advance. Tufts and the requester will then engage in an interactive dialogue to determine if the requested accommodation is reasonable and does not cause undue hardship or fundamentally alter the educational or workplace environment.
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Housing accommodations
To request housing accommodations, students must submit an Accommodation Request Form, where they can self-describe their disability and explain their desired accommodations. Clinical documentation, such as a neuropsychological evaluation, is also required to support the request. The StAAR Center provides support for students with a range of disabilities, including physical, sensory, psychological, medical, and learning disabilities, as well as temporary conditions such as injuries.
Students with approved housing accommodations will be contacted by a Residential Life team member to discuss available spaces that meet their needs. It is important to note that approved accommodations may be limited and are subject to a waitlist after certain deadlines. Therefore, students are advised to start their search for housing accommodations early, preferably before the academic year begins in September.
Tufts University offers both on-campus and off-campus housing options for students. On-campus housing is guaranteed for the first two years for incoming first-year students, who have constant opportunities to connect with classmates and easy access to campus facilities. Off-campus housing options are also available for juniors, seniors, and graduate students seeking more independence. The Office of Residential Life and Learning can provide guidance for students exploring off-campus housing options.
Additionally, Tufts University is committed to supporting students with pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions. The university accommodates nursing individuals by providing designated lactation rooms on campus.
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Exam accommodations
Tufts University offers a range of exam accommodations for students with approved academic accommodations. The Student Accessibility and Academic Resources (StAAR) Center is dedicated to implementing approved accommodations and providing resources for students.
To receive exam accommodations at Tufts, students must follow specific procedures. Firstly, students must submit an accommodation request, including any relevant documentation, such as a previous accommodation letter or a Health Disability Provider Form. The university encourages early submission, ideally at least one week before the exam. After submitting the request, students undergo an intake appointment to review their needs.
Once approved for academic accommodations, students receive a Semester Letter of Academic Accommodation, which they must communicate to their professors. This letter outlines the necessary adjustments for the student's exams. Students can also access assistive technology and equipment loans from the StAAR Center, including items like white-noise machines and disposable earplugs.
For final exams, the process differs slightly. Students should first consult their professor about taking the exam with their accommodations. If the professor cannot accommodate them, the StAAR Center will attempt to find an alternative space.
Tufts also provides accommodations for temporary conditions, such as injuries. For instance, students with writing difficulties due to an injury can request a scribe to assist them during exams. Additionally, Tufts supports students with religious or pregnancy-related accommodation needs. The university ensures confidentiality in handling medical information related to accommodation requests.
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Frequently asked questions
Students can submit a request form along with supporting documentation, including a Health Disability Provider Form completed by their clinician. After receiving the request, the university will schedule an intake appointment with the student to go over their request.
Tufts University provides a range of accommodations for students with disabilities, including classroom accommodations (e.g., furniture, alternate formats for materials), housing accommodations, and assistive technology. The university also welcomes service and assistance animals on campus.
Tufts University is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of students' medical information in accordance with ADA and HIPAA laws. Anything submitted to the Student Accessibility and Academic Resources (StAAR) Center, including requests and documentation, is kept completely confidential.
While there is no strict deadline for housing requests, the university recommends that rising sophomores submit their requests by February 14th, 2025. Requests made after this date may have limited accommodation options or be subject to a waitlist.
