South Florida Bible College and Theological Seminary is committed to equal opportunity for all students and employees. It is the goal of this institution to ensure that all students and employees with disabilities have access to educational opportunities, so that they can participate, both freely and actively, in all facets of College and Seminary life. In compliance with the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Public Law 93-112) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-336), SFBC&TS prohibits the unlawful discrimination of students and employees because of their disabilities. SFBC&TS will provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations to enable disabled students and employees of the institution to participate in the campus life. It is the goal of SFBC&TS to provide individuals with disabilities protection and equal opportunity at all times. All students and employees with disabilities are encouraged to provide input about SFBC&TS accommodations for disabled persons in order to ensure continued SWD success at this institution.

SWD Classifications
SFBC&TS considers Student with Disabilities (SWD) to be defined as a person who exhibits one of the following characteristics:

1. Physical ailment: (e.g., difficulties walking and hearing)
2. Psychological ailment: (e.g., disorders)
3. Learning disabilities: (e.g. motor skills and communication)

SFBC&TS is committed to providing reasonable accommodations upon request to qualified individuals with disabilities. A reasonable accommodation includes modifications to an environment, policy or procedure that enables qualified individuals with disabilities to participate in programs, activities, and benefits offered by SFBC&TS, and necessary academic support when required. These accommodations should not cause undue hardship to the institution or its faculty. At this time, SFBC&TS does not provide specialized tutors or individual assistants for students with disabilities.

A qualified individual with a disability is someone who, with or without accommodations, meets the essential program requirements for participating in programs, services, and activities set forth by this institution. Essential Program Requirements refer to the legitimate academic and/or professional standards or skills needed to safely participate in activities.

Student Responsibilities

Students who wish to be provided SWD services must provide documentation of conditions that warrant academic accommodations. Students are responsible for submitting all necessary documentation from their appropriate diagnosing professionals to the Registrar’s Office prior to their entrance to a given semester or year. Students must make sure that all documentation for their disabilities have been signed and dated by the appropriate diagnosing professional and they have completed the appropriate form(s). If a student is diagnosed mid-semester with another aliment, it is their responsibility to submit the appropriate paperwork to the Registrar’s Office for consideration in the following semester.

Here is a list of the appropriate tests:

1. Aptitude Test: (e.g., Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery)
2. Achievement Test: (e.g., Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery)
3. Informational Processing Test: (e.g., Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery)

If students do not have these tests, they may submit additional testing with the approval of the Registrar’s Office for consideration. The student must then allow of the processing and review of the documentation submitted. If approved, the SWD will be assigned an Academic Counselor who they will report to on a regular basis. Note: To be guaranteed appropriate academic adjustments, SWD must be registered with the Registrar’s Office. The students must register before the start of the academic semester/year in order to obtain the needed services and academic adjustments for that term. This will ensure that there is adequate time for proper evaluation and student management. Once registered, students will be provided with “Letters of Accommodation” to be given to their instructors at the being of each term. Students with disabilities are obligated to use these accommodations responsibly.

Faculty Responsibilities

When a faculty member is provided with a “Letter of Accommodation”, they are responsible for providing the listed accommodations to the student. However, faculty is not required to compromise the academic quality of the course by passing students who fail to demonstrate the necessary knowledge and competency to complete the coursework.  After providing the accommodations, faculty should grade SWD as any other student; that is, faculty should not be unduly lenient to SWD. Faculty should discuss SWD information only on a “need to know” basis. Permission to disclose information must be approved by the student in question and be discussed with the Registrar’s Office for final approval.

If at any time a faculty member receives a “Letter of Accommodation” and (1) does not have the ability to provide the accommodations to the SWD or (2) does not agree with the recommendations given to the SWD, they must submit in writing to the Registrar’s Office their concerns/opinions about this particular case. The Registrar, in consultation with the involved faculty member and any other persons deemed necessary in the review process, will make the ultimate determination about the accommodations for the student in question.