Student Resources for Accessibility and Accommodations

Inclusivity is both a practice and a value at St. Catherine University. We embrace this culture in the spirit of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. 

Meet with an Access Consultant

Schedule an exam

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Current Student and Staff Resources

Student Accessibility and Accommodations can provide accommodations or resources to eligible students for all aspects of the student experience. This includes academic, clinical/fieldwork, campus, housing and dining.

 

Campus Dining or Physical Accessibility Needs

Please contact or schedule a meeting (virtual or in person) with one of our Access Consultants. You may use the "Meet with an Access Consultant" scheduling links on this website.

 

Housing Accommodations

St. Catherine University provides reasonable accommodations when necessary to afford a person with a disability the equal opportunity to use and enjoy University housing. Below are the 2 forms that need to be completed and returned to the SA&A office to begin the request for a housing accommodation. After both of these forms are received and reviewed, our office will contact you. If approved, your accommodation eligibility will be sent to Housing and Residence Life. The next steps are then based on St. Kate's Housing selection process, timeline and availability. We cannot guarantee preferred spaces. For priority, submit your housing accommodation request before the current Housing Priority Deadline. 

Housing Accommodation Request Forms:

  1. Residence Hall Student Statement: This is for the student to fill out.
  2. Residence Hall Verification Form: This is for your licensed healthcare/medical provider to fill out and sign. When a student’s disability and/or requested accommodation is not readily apparent, verification from a reliable third-party is needed.

Please note these forms are not applicable to Emotional Support Animal (ESA) requests - see below. 

 

Emotional Support Animal (ESA)

St. Catherine University provides reasonable accommodations when necessary to afford a person with a disability the equal opportunity to use and enjoy University housing. An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is an accommodation, not a pet. 

An ESA is an animal that provides emotional support alleviating one or more symptoms or effects of a person’s disability. A disability (physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activity) and a disability-related need for an animal in University housing determines eligibility for this accommodation. 

Below are the 2 forms that need to be completed and returned to the SA&A office to begin the request for an ESA. After both of these forms are received and reviewed, our office will contact you. Students who are determined as eligible for an ESA accommodation are guided on how to request an animal.  

An animal does not need to be pre-registered as an ESA. An animal is required to be at least 10 months of age if it is a dog, at least 6 months of age if it is a cat, and at least 1 year of age for other species by the move-in date. For dogs and cats, vet records will be collected that confirm the animal's age, that they are spayed/neutered, and up to date on recommended vaccinations including Rabies. General animal information and necessary vet records are reviewed by an ESA committee. Allow up to 30 business days for processing and approval of an animal request after all required information has been submitted. An animal request could require further conversation or be denied if it poses a safety concern (i.e. reptiles can carry salmonella), due to size (i.e. a Great Dane may not have enough space in a dorm room), if it is unreasonable or inappropriate, or not in compliance with University requirements and local law. In this case, we would discuss the concerns with the student and encourage them to request a different animal if necessary.  

ESA Accommodation Request Forms:

  1. ESA Student Statement: This is a Google Form for the student to fill out. This can only be accessed by an enrolled student logged in to their St. Kate's Google Account.
  2. ESA Verification Form: This is for your licensed healthcare/medical provider to fill out and sign. When a student’s disability and/or requested accommodation is not readily apparent, verification from a reliable third-party is needed.

 

Service Animal 

A service animal may be requested as a reasonable accommodation on St. Catherine University's private campus. Service animals are defined as dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. 

The ADA makes a distinction between psychiatric service animals and emotional support animals. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. 

For more information, visit: 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): Service Animals 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) FAQs 

 

St. Kate's students may request a Service Animal accommodation by submitting this form:

Service Animal Accommodation: Student Statement and Acknowledgement 

(Make sure you are logged in to your St. Kate's Google account to access the form.) 

Student’s Rights

  • Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990): Individuals with disabilities have the right to reasonable accommodation with the goal of equal access.
  • Privacy, Grievance and Conduct Policy information: The disability information and documentation you provide to SA&A is confidential and stored confidentially within the SA&A office. You do not need to disclose your disability or related information to other students or staff at the university.
  • Any disability or accommodation related questions or concerns should be communicated to the SA&A office as soon as possible. We are here to provide support to you and your faculty, and connect you with other helpful resources as well. If a student needs to speak with someone outside of SA&A, either the Dean of Student Affairs or the Dean of Equity and Belonging may be contacted directly.     
  • For university-wide concerns, students may use the centralized reporting center. The purpose of this reporting center is to provide students with an efficient avenue to report concerns/incidents regarding: Title IX, acts of bias, discrimination, bullying, conduct violations, concern for others or oneself, and academic grievances. Students may access the center here.
  • All students, including students with disabilities, are subject to the St. Catherine University Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct is in University Policies and applies to all University environments

Policies and Procedures

SA&A Accommodation Policies and Procedures:

Access Recordings of Mastering the Higher Education Success Formula: Time Management, Study Skills, and Mindfulness for Academic Excellence

Introduction

Emily Medcalf collaborated with the Student Accessibility and Accommodations Office Summer of 2023 for her Doctor of Occupational Therapy Doctoral Capstone project. Occupational Therapy (OT) is a profession that focuses on enhancing participation in everyday living. Emily developed a pilot program for students at St. Kate’s incorporating elements of OT. As this pilot program was initially only intended for a small group of students, Emily wanted to provide a modified version of her program to reach more students who may benefit from the education and application of skills related to time management, study skills, and mindfulness. The series of videos will be most effective if watched in order and one every consecutive week for the purpose of goal setting. However, you may watch individual sessions as you please. We hope these sessions can provide support, and the hope is to provide similar programs to students in the near future.

Session 1 Video - Time Management & Study Skills

Session 2 Video - Mindfulness to Support Your Role as a Student

Session 3 Video - Long-Term Goal Setting

Assistive Technology Examples

(Not a comprehensive list)

  • Screen Reader option for exams  
  • Alternative Textbooks Formats
  • Media Captioning
  • Live/Real-Time Captioning
  • Microphone use in classrooms
  • Notetaking Software: Currently Genio (formerly Glean/Sonocent)

Other resources for your success

Other Campus Resources

Additional Information

  • 2019 AHEAD Review
  • Physical accessibility is an important component. As a campus with many historical buildings, our Facilities team is consistently addressing concerns and making changes whenever possible to support a more accessible environment. To view campus updates, visit the facilities webpage. Please contact the SA&A office with related questions, concerns or suggestions.