Off-Campus Program Accommodations

The Guarini Institute, program partners, faculty, and Student Accessibility Services (SAS) are committed to promoting equitable access to domestic and international off-campus programs for undergraduate students registered with SAS. However, some academic, housing, dining, and other accommodations that are reasonable in the Dartmouth campus context (and listed in an SAS student's accommodation agreement) may not be appropriate or available in off-campus programs and/or may vary based on the location of the program and applicable local laws.

Daily life in an off-campus program may include different styles of lodging, access to meals, cooking facilities, teaching modes, daily travel (commuting and otherwise), and classroom conditions compared to the Dartmouth context. For example, a program may include a homestay living arrangement to promote language fluency, multiple days in the field in addition to traditional academic settings, or limited ability to manage climate control/allergen exposure in residential settings. These different conditions would need to be reviewed, and accommodations approved for the Dartmouth campus context may need to be updated or modified to reflect the on-site differences of off-campus programs. 

Students therefore need to meet with their SAS advisors, often in conjunction with off-campus program faculty and/or staff, at least one quarter prior to program start, to review the specific off-campus program requirements and determine reasonable accommodations in that setting. We also encourage students to engage with their SAS advisors and program faculty/staff during the exploratory, pre-application phase to proactively consider these issues.

Incoming disabled exchange students to Dartmouth are also typically eligible for accommodations while they are at Dartmouth, though these accommodations may be slightly different from what they are accustomed to at their home institution. Please see the "Incoming (non-Dartmouth) Exchange Students" section below for more information.

Plan ahead, especially if you have medication or other health considerations that may impact your housing needs or be complicated by differing laws/regulations or access to local medical care. It typically also takes time to complete the process of applying for and establishing accommodations in another setting.

We encourage you to share any approved accommodations on the Guarini Institute's confidential health form and to contact SAS to discuss accommodations in your off-campus program. Although you have the right to provide notification of your disability and request accommodations at any time during your program, it is better to have accommodations in place and not need them than to try to put them in place after there is a concern. Moreover, it often takes additional time to determine how your accommodations may or may not be met in an off-campus location.

It is your responsibility to notify your SAS advisor about your upcoming program, highlighting its location, start and end dates, and any accommodation concerns you may have. SAS can help coordinate your needs with Guarini Institute staff, who can provide valuable input on accommodation-related questions.

Visit Guarini's Additional Resources page for more information.

SAS students seeking accommodations will need to follow the policies and procedures set forth by the host institution's accessibility services representative/office. After you declare your disability on the confidential health form, Guarini Institute staff will identify and share with you the appropriate contact information. You will then need to do outreach to the representative/office to learn about their accommodation process and what documentation is required for accommodations.

If the host institution's accessibility representative/office requires verification of your Dartmouth accommodations, please contact your SAS Advisor to request this information. For any disability- or accommodation-related concern in your program, you should immediately follow up with your host institution's accessibility representative/office. If you are experiencing concerns with the host representative/office, please also contact the Guarini Institute.

Following the recommended deadlines below (which align with Guarini Institute deadlines), Dartmouth students registered with SAS should contact their SAS Advisor in advance to request an early accommodation email for their courses. This accommodation email will be directed to Guarini Institute staff, as they will work with students, faculty, and local program disability liaisons (and, SAS, if necessary) to assist with the process of procuring and implementing your accommodations.

If, in the course of your program, you are experiencing disability- or accommodation-related concerns, please contact SAS immediately.

It is advised that students begin outreach associated with any accommodation requests as soon as they have been admitted to a program. However, at a minimum, these requests should be received no later than the following dates associated with each term:

• Fall term programs: June 1
• Winter term programs: October 1
• Spring term programs: January 1
• Summer term programs: April 1

Please apply for services and submit documentation in support of your accommodation requests. Especially if you enroll at Dartmouth for fewer than three quarters, it's likely that the only documentation you'll need to submit is verification of the accommodations that you receive at your home institution.

Once registered with SAS, you will need to request accommodation emails at the beginning of each quarter (no later than the end of week 2 is recommended) for every course in which you may utilize accommodations. SAS will work with you and your faculty, if needed, to assist with accommodation implementation. Please contact the SAS office or your SAS advisor immediately if you have any disability- or accommodation-related concerns.