MISSION: Northland Pioneer College provides educational excellence that is affordable and accessible for the enrichment of communities across northeastern Arizona.
Office of Accessibility and Inclusion
Information About
Accessibility & Inclusion

Information for Students

Welcome students! Explore this page for more information and resources.

Northland Pioneer College is committed to providing equitable access and opportunities to all persons, and to heighten awareness and understanding of other perspectives and experiences. We are here to help you succeed!

Group of College Students

      Students Rights and Responsibilities

Every student registered with the Office of Accessibility and Inclusion (OAI) has the responsibility to meet the same academic and student conduct standards as other students and ask for assistance and accommodations in an appropriate manner.

Every student registered with OAI has the right to >

  • Be free from discrimination on the grounds of having a disability and free from retaliatory discrimination.
  • Be assured that information about a disability is held confidential. It will not be shared with anyone unless permitted by the student in writing, except as required by law.
  • Choose to whom the disclosure of disability is made except as required by law.
  • Equal opportunity and access to educational programs, services, activities, and facilities available at all NPC campuses and centers.
  • Reasonable and appropriate accommodations, and/or auxiliary aids as determined on a case-by-case basis, where the student’s disability limits access, participation, or ability to benefit.
  • Meet privately with faculty to discuss needed accommodations and address any other concerns.
  • Be treated equally with other students regarding grades and class participation.
  • Appeal decisions regarding accommodations and auxiliary aids.
  • Be informed of their grievance rights and procedures, including the appeal of decisions concerning academic accommodations.
  • Initiate the grievance, complaint or concern process: Americans with Disabilities Act complaints concerning discrimination on the basis of disability.
  • Complete and submit your complaint through the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division at https://www.ada.gov/complaint/

Every student registered with OAI has the responsibility to >

  • Self-identify as an individual with a disability to OAI when requesting Contact for Services requesting for accommodations each semester.
  • Request accommodations each semester by completing Step 3 “The Request” of the OAI process located on the OAI webpage https://www.npc.edu/oai-accommodation-request.  Please Note this should be completed prior to the start of each semester.
  • Discuss accommodations with instructor(s) and self-advocate for the reasonable provision and implementation of the accommodations.
  • Notify OAI immediately if there are concerns, questions or issues with the accommodations.
  • Notify faculty/instructors of any testing accommodations they wish to use in a timely manner.
  • Schedule to use testing accommodations with OAI in advance, to include date, time, technology, reader, etc. and any other requests as soon as they receive the syllabi.
  • Make arrangements with OAI staff for assistance with equipment. Notify a staff member immediately if there are problems with the test, accommodative environment, equipment, furniture, etc.
  • Communicate: Self-advocate. Work with OAI on developing advocacy skills and communicating specific needs and accommodations with faculty.

      Confidentiality

Protected Information >

Student records are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Access by NPC personnel to disability-related information housed in the Office of Accessibility and Inclusion (OAI) is on a need-to-know basis and only for the purpose of assuring appropriate accommodations. Instructors are regularly apprised of the confidential nature of disability-related information shared with them. Accommodation letters prepared by OAI for instructors do not provide specific diagnoses. Instead, the letters explain that the student has provided appropriate documentation of a disability and lists the approved academic accommodations for that student.

On a legitimate, educational need-to-know basis, OAI staff may discuss the impact or impairments caused by the disability and the corresponding accommodations approved with appropriate individuals on campus. Circumstances may include housing arrangements, academic accommodations, instructional strategies and resources or other circumstances specific to the individual.

Northland Pioneer College and the Office of Accessibility and Inclusion are prohibited by law from releasing any disability-related records or personally identifying information to any entity outside NPC including documentation provided to OAI by the student unless the student provides written permission or there is a court order.

Northland Pioneer College and the Office of Accessibility and Inclusion have an obligation to maintain the confidentiality of disability-related information.

Entities outside of NPC including parents of students, must be listed on a specific release of information signed and, in the student’s, file giving staff permission to discuss student-specific information with parents.

The student may request or approve the release of such information to persons or agencies outside NPC by signing our Confidentiality Agreement.

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. FERPA rights are afforded to the students at the time of admission. Visit the FERPA website for more information.

      Accomodations

Northland Pioneer College is dedicated to helping students with disabilities. We can support you with academic, and other support accommodations to remove some of the obstacles that might otherwise inhibit your experience and success at NPC.

Academic accommodations are determined during our interactive process and are granted on an individual analysis of the student's circumstances. The accommodations described below are not guaranteed, and this does not represent an inclusive list. It is the student's responsibility to inform their instructors of their accommodations to ensure their appropriate implementation."

Extended Time

  • Students may be granted additional time for all exams and in-class quizzes. Extended time is typically approved in increments of either one and one half or double the allotted time and ensures that a student’s performance is reflective of his/her mastery of material rather than the speed at which a student performs.
  • Certain skills-based tests are meant to mimic the real-life experience. Therefore, it may not be reasonable to have extended time during skills-based tests (eg., labs, practicals, clinicals).

Distraction-Limited Environment

  • If granted, a “distraction-limited environment” testing space can be provided at the NPC Libraries or in an alternate classroom. This accommodation does not guarantee a “distraction free” testing space, but rather a quieter space where students have fewer distractions, thus better able to maintain focus.

Readers for Exams

  • Some students with disabilities may need tests read to them. OAI works with the student to provide this support either by use of computer software, built-in accessibility tools or a person to read to them. Please note that if the student’s need is to have a person read their test it must be scheduled at least 5 business days before the test date.

Preferential Seating

  • While reasons for accessible seating vary widely, OAI can assist with this in addition to any modifications to classroom furniture, which may be necessary due to a disability.

Classroom Breaks or Moving About in Class

  • For some students with disabilities, sitting for long periods of time can exacerbate symptoms of the disability. Similarly, some students may need to leave class for brief periods to attend to medications or other medical needs. This accommodation allows the student to move around or leave class in the least disruptive manner possible.

Use of Spell Check

  • Correct spelling at the college level is expected of all students. However, students with a specific learning disability, which impacts spelling, may be eligible to receive a reasonable accommodation for in-class assignments and in-class exams. Typical accommodations have included spell-check devices or not penalizing a student for spelling errors.

Digitally Record Class Lectures

  • Recording class materials is allowed when the student provides notification of the accommodation to the instructor. The student may discuss with the instructor the best placement of the recording device. To protect the privacy of others, instructors have the right to request that students turn off any recording if the discussion involves the sharing of personal information.

    Authorized class recordings by students are for study purposes only and may not be uploaded to the internet, or otherwise shared, transmitted, or published without the prior written consent of the person teaching the class and others who were recorded.

Advance Access to Course Materials

  • Students with disabilities may request that an instructor make course materials (ex., overheads, Power Point slides, checklists, study guides, etc.) available for review. Instructors are not required to create new materials. Instead, instructors might post the materials on Moodle for all students, email, make copies of the materials and distribute these copies to students or allow a student to review the PowerPoint slides during office hours. Students should work with their instructor(s) to determine an appropriate time frame for viewing materials.
  • *Communicate w/OAI for further assistance regarding the implementation of any  student accommodations 928-536-6246 or oai@npc.edu

E-text

  • Students may request digital versions of their textbooks that work with text-to-speech, magnification, screen reader technologies, and more.

American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters

  • The role of the Sign Language Interpreter within the postsecondary setting is to facilitate communication between (D)deaf/Hard of Hearing and hearing individuals throughout the educational environment, both academic and extracurricular.

      Assistive Technology

I need Assistive Technology >

Students have the option of meeting with OAI to determine if there is a need for Assistive Technology support.

Assistive Technology is checked out by the student from OAI each semester they wish to use it, if the equipment is not returned to OAI or if the student does not contact OAI to renew the Checkout student accounts can be locked preventing further enrollment until the AT is returned.

Available Assistive Technology

  • OAI has many assistive technology options available including:
  • Audio amplifiers and FM systems
  • Screen readers technology (ReadWrite)
  • Text to speech technology (ReadWrite)
  • Colored Paper
  • Color overlays
  • Smart Pens (demonstration only)
  • C-pens
  • Full page magnifiers

If you are interested in learning more about the AT available to students please contact OAI 928-536-6246 or oai@npc.edu.

      Accommodative Testing Procedures

About Testing Accommodations >

Due to the availability of space, time, and formatting operations, students acknowledge that they must plan in advance when using their testing accommodations.

Students are responsible for knowing when tests are due and working with their instructors to ensure that their accommodations are applied to each test and/or quiz.

Using Testing Accommodations

  • It is important to communicate with each of your instructors when using testing accommodations so that all involved are on the same page as to extended time and testing location.

Testing with OAI

  • Testing with the Office of Accessibility and Inclusion, when in need of a human reader or if the test needs to be formatted in any way the student must contact OAI 928-536-6246 a minimum of 5 business days prior to the scheduled test to ensure staffing availability.

Test Integrity

  • Cell phones are prohibited when testing.
  • If unauthorized resources or behaviors are witnessed, NPC reserves the right to conclude testing and contact the instructor.
  • Students registered with OAI are bound by the NPC Student Code of Conduct policies. Academic dishonesty and disruptive behavior are violations and will not be tolerated.

      Federal Guidelines

Learn about the Federal Guidelines >

DISCLAIMER: The college is not obligated to provide or continue to provide non-OAI approved accommodations. Documentation accepted by and accommodations provided by NPC/the Office of Accessibility and Inclusion may or may not be accepted by testing agencies or other higher education institutions. Accommodations provided in the academic environment may or may not be provided at internships, clinical sites, or in the workplace. Please consult with your program advisor and/or Department Chair and Human Resources at your place of work.

      Grievance Procedures

If a student has an accommodation-related concern, they are encouraged to call us at 928-536-6246 or email us at oai@npc.edu so that we can discuss the issue and provide assistance. If a student believes they have been discriminated against on the basis of disability, there are several options for reporting that grievance, noted below.

Additional Grievance Guidance >

NPC Concern Process

  • Americans with Disabilities Act Complaints concerning discrimination based on disability can be reported by visiting the following webpage https://www.npc.edu/title-ix and completing the online form which is sent to NPC’s Title IX Coordinator. 

Office for Civil Rights Concern Process

Department of Justice Concern Process