Course Resources and Disability Accommodations

Hayssen Academic Resource Center

The mission of the Hayssen Academic Resource Center (the HARC) is to promote academic success for all students through quality academic coaching services, flexible study spaces, and supportive staff. Services are free to all students currently enrolled at Lakeland.

The Hayssen Academic Resource Center (the HARC) is located on the 2nd floor of the Esch Library on Lakeland University’s main campus. Features include:

• Academic coaching for subject-specific courses as well as writing and time management
• Private study and exam rooms
• Flex rooms for studying with large screen monitors and whiteboards
• Casual study environment for individual and group work
• Meeting space for student organizations
• Director’s office
• Engagement activities that bring our campus community together

Academic Coaching and Support Services

The HARC staff assists students in accomplishing their educational and life goals, recognize their own potential, and succeed in an increasingly diverse and rigorous university environment.

• Individual and group academic coaching sessions by appointment for most undergraduate courses and majors of study
• In-person or virtual academic coaching sessions
• Academic coaches trained in study skills and time management
• Specialty trained writing coaches to support students with academic writing across all disciplines, in all courses.
• Conversational practice for Spanish and Chinese courses
• Academic strategic planning sessions with the HARC director
• Test proctoring services for students with academic accommodations
• Temporary accommodations for students experiencing an unplanned injury or illness 
• Support services for students with ADHD and/or ADD 
• Provisions for students experiencing pregnancy or related conditions 
• Support services for international students 

In addition to main campus academic and writing coaches, students enrolled in Lakeland University Center or online courses have the option to use tutor.com for assistance. Contact the HARC director for information.

Whether you are trying to pass a course, develop a research paper, or maintain a high GPA, working with an academic coach can be extremely helpful. Academic coaches are experienced and qualified students who can help you understand course concepts, prepare for tests or quizzes, and complete course assignments.

Students often attribute their college success directly to working with academic and writing coaches from the beginning of their experience at Lakeland.

Disability Services

Lakeland University collaborates with students, faculty, and staff to ensure equal educational and programmatic access for eligible students with documented disabilities. We provide students the opportunity to reach their full potential by developing academic accommodations and support services along with promoting independence and self-advocacy for all students.

To be eligible for disability-related services, students must have a documented or visible impairment as defined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (1973), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, 1990) and the ADA Amendments Act (ADA-AA, 2008). The ADA regulations broadly define disability impairments to include a wide variety of disorders or conditions including ADD/ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Medical/Health Conditions, Sensory Impairments, Learning Disabilities, Mobility/Physical Disabilities, and Psychological Disabilities.

The student requesting the accommodation and the ADA Coordinator will engage in an interactive process that includes review and verification of medical, educational, or psychological records.

Documentation and Verification of Disability

Lakeland University relies on documentation and verification from appropriate, licensed professionals as part of the interactive review process in determining the need for academic accommodations. Diagnostic information will be accepted from the following providers:

DSM-V Diagnosis of ADD/ADHD or Specific Learning Disability must be made by a:

• Ph.D. level clinical or counseling psychologist
• Medical doctor
• State-licensed and certified school psychologist (for educational diagnosis)

Diagnoses of depression, anxiety and other psychological disorders must be made by a:

• Master’s or PhD level Clinical or Counseling Psychologist or Social Worker
• Medical Doctor

Diagnoses of physical or medical conditions that substantially interfere with a major life function must be made by a licensed medical doctor.

• The diagnosis must be current, (i.e., within the last three years) unless the Disabilities Office extends the period considered, or the documented disability is of a permanent and unchanging nature.
• A student may also submit a prior Individualized Education Plan/504 Plan, or accommodations from a prior college/university as verification of the disability, provided the documentation falls within the three-year guidelines. Lakeland University does not perform evaluations to determine eligibility for accommodations.
• The goal of the interactive process is to ensure equality of access and opportunity for students with disabilities. In reviewing the specific accommodation requested by the student, the ADA Coordinator may find that while a recommendation is clinically supported, it is not the most appropriate accommodation given the requirements of a particular student’s academic program. An accommodation may not alter or modify the fundamental outcome or learning objectives of any course.

The University does not waive program requirements or permit substitutions for required courses. For example, several degree programs at the University have world language or mathematics requirements; the University considers these degree requirements to be fundamental, and therefore they will not be waived.

Request for Temporary Accommodations

Students experiencing a temporary injury, hospitalization, unplanned surgical situation, severe illness, or mental health emergency may apply to receive temporary accommodations (e.g., extended assignment deadlines, virtual course access, proctored exam administration) for one to two weeks of class. Typically, these situations do not qualify students for ADA accommodations since they are not permanent disabilities; however, we recognize that temporary medical conditions can impact a student’s learning experience and may warrant a plan of short-term reasonable accommodations. 

To request a temporary accommodation, students must take the following steps:  

  1. Submit a written request (email is acceptable) to the university’s ADA Coordinator that:  

      a. describes in detail the situation for which the student is seeking temporary accommodations;  

      b. states the length of time, including the specific dates, for which the student expects to need the accommodation; 

      c. identifies the courses and instructors that are impacted by the student’s potential absence.  

  2. Include verifying documentation of your injury or illness with your request for temporary accommodations. 

  3. Respond to any outreach from the ADA Coordinator to discuss the request. 

The request and documentation will be reviewed by the ADA Coordinator, in collaboration with the professors whose classes will be impacted by the request. The ADA Coordinator will then contact the student with a decision and information about how to access their temporary accommodations.  

Once approved for temporary accommodations, the student will not be required to provide faculty with ongoing medical documentation. The student will notify the ADA Coordinator as soon as the temporary accommodations are no longer needed. 

Students with seasonal or very short-term illness or other brief medical conditions (less than a week) should work directly with their instructors to discuss what, if any, informal arrangements are possible. 

Note: No requests for temporary accommodations will be approved outside of this process.  

Please submit request and accompanying materials for all accommodation requests to: