Accessible Learning Services - Student Resources

Academic Accommodations

An accommodation reduces or removes barriers to ensure fair and equitable access to classroom, testing, co-op/fieldwork, and extra-curricular environments, for example. Having an accommodation does not provide you with an unfair advantage over other students. As a student with accommodations, you are still expected to demonstrate that you have met the learning outcomes set for the course.

See below for examples of types of accommodations, how they work at Acadia University, and your responsibilities as a student. All accommodations are provided based on the recommendations in your documentation.


Alternative testing room

  • Testing spaces are available in Rhodes Hall.
  • Other rooms on campus may be booked for test/exam purposes due to the number of students writing and room availability.
  • A private room is not guaranteed. Private rooms are prioritized for students who need a reader and/or scribe.

Extra time in tests/exams

  • Extra time is given relative to the original length of the test (e.g. 1.5x, 2x).
  • You will only receive extra time in your quiz/test/exam if you write with Accessible Learning Services.

Recorded lectures

  • Students with this accommodation are responsible to record lectures (unless informed by professor otherwise).
  • You must ask for permission from professor before starting to record.
  • Any lecture recordings are expected to be deleted at the end of the course.
  • Audio recording is permitted solely for the academic purposes of individual students.
  • You are not permitted to post or in any way make public recordings of parts thereof without the explicit permission of the professor.

Cue sheets

A cue sheet is a document containing information that serves as “triggers” to help you to recollect previously learned information.

Cue sheets are not:

  • Answer sheets or “cheat sheets”
  • Substitutes for studying
  • Open textbooks
  • An exemption to learning the course material

Guidelines on Cue sheets

  • The cue sheet is one 8 ½ x 11 paper (front and back) in length and must be approved by your professor, in advance (at least a week’s notice, unless a different minimum time of notice is arranged with professor), before it can be used on a test in Rhodes.
  • The cue sheet is also specific to each test and must be given to the proctor along with your completed test, to be returned with the test.
  • Cue sheets are created by you in advance of your test to reference during the test. It is intended as a memory aid to assist in the recall of previously learned information but does not directly provide answers.
  • A cue sheet can include the following:
    • Acronyms names, dates
    • Word lists
    • Short phrases
    • Pictures, diagrams, tables, charts, formulas
  • If there is anything that the professor does not approve of, you would make the needed changes and have them review the updated sheet.
  • If there is any information on the cue sheet that is considered an essential learning outcome for the course, it should NOT be on the sheet.

Formula sheets

Formula sheets should contain formulae that are expressed using symbols, figures, or both.

The sheet must be approved by your professor in advance before it can be used on a test in Rhodes. You need to give your professor at least a week's notice, unless you make alternate arrangements for a different amount of time with them.

Formula sheets are specific to each test and must be given to your proctor along with your completed test, to be returned with the test.

Guidelines on Formula sheets

  • Double sided, 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of paper (handwritten or typed)
  • May be organized in a variety of ways (e.g. chronologically, by modules, themes or chapters)
  • Includes only the formulae covered within the test material
  • Does NOT include cues or notes on how/when to apply the formulae
  • Does NOT include cues or notes of other material besides specific formulae

Reader

  • A proctor will read test questions out loud to you.
  • A reader is not responsible for providing clarification. If you require clarifications or have questions, the proctor will contact the professor directly.

Scribe

  • A proctor will write or type the test answers word for word as you speak.
  • A scribe is not responsible for providing spelling or grammar assistance.

Note-taking

  • The note-taking service facilitates the sharing of notes between students who are able to take in-class notes and those who are unable to take notes in class.
  • It is a paid service, where the note-taker will receive $150 from the student at the end of the semester. Please email our office to check your eligibility to apply for a grant for this service.

Requesting a note-taker

  1. Meet with one of our office staff to discuss note-taking as an accommodation and possible grant/funding for this service
  2. Once approved, our office will contact the professor of your course to seek interested students as note-taker
  3. A note-taker will be selected by our office and student information will be shared to the note-taker for direct communication
  4. You will receive notes from the note-taker within 24 hours of each lecture

Note-taker responsibilities

  • Keep student information confidential
  • Make sure notes are legible if they are hand-written
  • Make sure notes are the same standard through the semester
  • Send class notes within 24 hours of each lecture to students

Emotional Support Animals

Visit our Emotional Support Animals page for more information.

Temporary Accommodations

  • Temporary accommodations are provided to students who do not have (updated) documentation, but have demonstrated a need for accommodations to remove barriers for learning
  • You must provide documentation, such as psycho-educational assessments or medical documentation

Please contact accessible.learning@acadiau.ca if you would like to register for or learn about our services.