Educational Access Services (EAS) provides support for students with both permanent and temporary disabilities. This can include physical disabilities, chronic illness/health conditions, mental health conditions, learning disabilities, and temporary disabilities.
EAS operates under the American with Disability Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act to provide reasonable accommodations to students with functional limitations in the academic setting.
On this page you will find information on what to expect for your student as they navigate the accommodations process, ideas for ways you can support your student manage the impact of their disability in the college setting, and more about community resources for adults with disabilities.
FERPA - Family Education Rights and Privacy
The privacy of all students attending a post-secondary institution (such as Colorado Mesa University or CMU Tech) are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Post-secondary rules differ from secondary rules in that the privacy rights belong to the student only. This means that CMU and CMU Tech faculty and staff may be limited in the amount of information that they may share with parents or guardians without the student present.
Educational Access Services (EAS) is unable to work with family members or other support personnel regarding the specific accommodations for a student unless the student completes a Release of Information e-form provided to the student when registered with EAS.
Frequently Asked Questions:
No. Previously received accommodations, such as those granted in K-12, do not automatically transfer to college. Under ADA and Section 504, accommodations and auxiliary aids & services are established through an interactive process initiated by the student.
Support partners (family, high school case managers or counselors) are not able to start the process for student but can assist the student in securing supporting documentation which the student can upload with their application for accommodations.
Submitting an IEP or 504 to CMU, alone, does not guarantee accommodations. Students meet and register with EAS before accommodations are available in college courses.
After submitting an Accommodation Application, the student will receive an email within 2 business days to prompting them to complete next steps, including scheduling the access meeting to establish accommodations. Access meetings are usually scheduled within one to two weeks based on availability. The first 6 weeks of the Fall term are especially busy, and access meetings can be scheduled 3 weeks out.
It is best for an incoming freshman and transfer students to schedule the access meeting during the summer so accommodations can be in place at the start of the semester. Access meetings can be held in-person or virtually.
EAS defers to the student’s preference for additional participants. EAS will honor the student's choice and authority and will include participants the student wants to bring to the access meeting.
No. We operate to support accessibility needs in a timely and efficient manner. Students can work with anyone in EAS and aren't restricted to just one individual.
No. Due to FERPA, CMU faculty and staff will not share personal details with family members or support individuals without the student present or a release of information on file. EAS is not able to use the same release of information available through the student's MAVzone. EAS release of information can be extended once the student is registered with EAS.
EAS strives to empower students to develop the skills necessary to becoming a functioning member of society, this includes advocating for their needs regarding a disability, condition, or diagnosis. EAS staff can provide general information about our services and procedures without disclosing specific student information.
Not necessarily. Student accommodations are evaluated on a case by case need and not all accommodations provided in high school are reasonable/appropriate in the higher education setting. Universities operate under the ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which ensures student access to the education environment including all programs and facilities when possible. Access does not equate to success in a program.
An IEP or 504 Plan cannot be directly transferred to a higher education institution like CMU. The student must self-disclose a disability, diagnosis, or condition to the institution's disability office (EAS) to initiate the process for accommodation approval.
Universities can not provide modifications or accommodations that would fundamentally alter the learning essentials of a course. Examples of modifications that are not allowed: reduced course work, notes on assessments, retakes on assessments, not grading spelling, etc. While accommodations that allow changes to the learning are not permissible, there are accommodations that can still support a student and maintain the standards and expectations of the course.
CMU does not provide transportation options to or around campus for students. Those students with temporary or permanent mobility impairments may use a variety of mobility devices designed primarily for people with disabilities to get around. CMU and EAS do not furnish mobility devices or provide mobility assistance; however, the student is encouraged reach out to EAS to discuss other flexibility options and access points.
MAV rides operates a shuttle between the CMU main campus and CMU Tech Bishop campus for students free of charge. There is also a local bus route to support student transportation across town.
There are several ways a student can get individualized support depending on their needs.
- Tutoring is available to all students for free through the Tutorial Learning Center and Writing Center.
- Advising for class registration can be found through IRIS or the major advisor (student can check DegreeWorks app on MAVzone for advisor information or under My Account in MAVzone). IRIS is also able to meet with students regarding financial planning or concerns. Check out the IRIS webpage here.
- Mental and Behavioral health support such as a therapist, counselor, or psychiatrist is available through the Student Wellness Center. There are also peers available here for mental health support.
- TRIO is a grant funded program that students can apply to for further mentoring and advising support. Learn more about their offerings on the TRIO webpage.
- All instructors are required to provide office hours to meet with a student - these meetings may be virtual or by appointment only. Students can get individual support from an instructor if the student takes the initiative to go the instructor's office hours.
- EAS is able to provide limited executive functioning support for students through a peer mentor - the student should ask about this in our access meeting or EAS will bring it up if we feel it might be a good fit for the student.
Please note - all of these support programs are separate entities and student information is not shared between these departments. Each department may refer a student to another, but sharing of information is not typical.
All on-campus housing accommodation requests are handled by the Residence Life team. Students should contact Residence Life as soon as possible regarding accommodation needs by emailing [email protected]. Residence Life will work with the student regarding housing accommodations, so family should work with their student to send these emails from the student's MAV email.
Emotional Support Animals (ESA) in residence halls require prior approval from Residence Life. The application for this process can be obtained by emailing [email protected]
First - address complaints or concerns directly with your student. Then together, bring concerns to the applicable department as they are the ones to have the most information and can take the quickest action.
- Housing accommodations - Residence Life
- Academic accommodations - EAS
- Financial questions - IRIS and Financial Aid
- Health and Safety concerns - Student Services
- Social/Emotional concerns - Student Wellness Center
If you feel the need to escalate your concerns, a grievance form can be completed and submitted to EAS. Further escalation should be directed to the office of Academic Affairs.