Frequently Asked Questions - Faculty

Remote Participation: I received an email from a DSP Disability Specialist stating that a student in my class is approved for remote participation, but I don’t see this accommodation listed on any students’ accommodation letters. What should I do?

Each semester, DSP approves a very small number of students for the accommodation of remote participation. In Fall 2025, 22 of the over 5,500 students that DSP serves were approved for the accommodation of remote participation.

Because this accommodation has a higher likelihood than most other accommodations of creating a fundamental alteration concern, and because instructors often require guidance and/or assistance in implementing this accommodation, every time that a student requests to utilize the accommodation, the student’s assigned...

How does DSP decide that remote participation is an appropriate accommodation?

When a student requests the accommodation of remote participation, the Disability Specialist reviews the student’s medical information and self-report of their disability impacts to determine whether or not it is appropriate for the student to attend one or more of their classes remotely.

If the student’s medical documentation and experience do not indicate that the student cannot attend a course in person due to the impact of their disability, the Disability Specialist may request additional medical documentation and may also contact (with the student’s...

What is UC Berkeley’s fundamental alteration process?

UC Berkeley’s fundamental alteration process is the way that our campus has implemented the fundamental alteration guidance that was shared by the UC Office of the President (UCOP) in July 2023.

In short, if an instructor believes that...

Does DSP ever deny a student’s request for a specific accommodation?

Yes. The outcome of a student and their Disability Specialist’s engagement in the interactive process may be a denial of the accommodation that the student requested.

Reasons for denying a student’s request for a specific accommodation include:

The Disability Specialist has not identified a disability-related need for the requested accommodation.

The Disability Specialist has identified a more appropriate way to address the disability-related barrier that the student’s request is...

Where can I learn more about technologies that would allow students to participate remotely in my in-person class?

I would like to have options available for any students who may not be able to attend a class meeting in person, whether due to disability impacts or due to experiencing non-disability-related circumstances such as personal emergencies or communicable illnesses. Where can I learn more about technologies that would allow students to participate remotely in my in-person class?

UC Berkeley’s Research, Teaching, & Learning (RTL) has a number of resources to support instructors in utilizing technology in their classrooms. These resources include the following:

Classroom Technology Support

...

Audio Recording: A student’s accommodation letter states that they are approved to use an audio recording device during my class, but I do not permit students to record my lectures. What should I do?

According to UC policy and disability law, students with disabilities must be permitted to audio-record when doing so is approved as a disability accommodation.

UC Policy PACAOS 140, "Guidelines Applying to Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability" page 8 specifically states:

Any prohibition against the use of tape recorders or braillers in classrooms, or dog guides and service dogs in campus...

Where can I read the University’s guidelines for nondiscrimination on the basis of students’ disabilities?

UC Policy PACAOS 140 "Guidelines Applying to Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability" describes the University’s responsibility to ensure that students do not experience discrimination on the basis of their disabilities and provides definitions and and policy and procedural guidance on a number of topics related to academic, employment, and campus access.

Make-up Exams: Can I refuse a disability-related request for a make-up exam and instead drop the exam and add the points to a future exam (sometimes known as clobber policies)?

Faculty may offer this as an option to students. However, if the student has a disability-related need for a make-up exam (the student's assigned Disability Specialist can verify if needed), then the student has a right to take a make-up exam.

You can choose to administer the same exam to the student as the exam the class has already taken. Some instructors ask students to sign an academic integrity agreement verifying that the student has not accessed the already-administered exam or discussed it with others...

I would like the GSI for my course to review student Letters of Accommodation and to let me know which students have approved accommodations. Can the GSI have access to AIM?

The instructor of record for a course can authorize proxy access for GSIs in AIM.

When logged into the AIM Faculty Portal, you will find on the furthest right-hand corner of the page an “Add Instructor” link. Clicking this button will allow you to request to add a GSI to those with instructor access to your course.

After you submit a request to have a GSI added as a proxy for your course, the person you selected will receive an email that will require them to CalNet authenticate in order for your request to be processed. You can...

What should I do to access student information in AIM?

An illustrated guide for accessing student information in AIM is available that includes directions for creating a list of students with accommodations in your course and for downloading Letters of Accommodation.