Dear colleagues,
We have both ethical and legal obligations to provide accommodations and other supportive measures to our students. We call your attention to important campus policies and guidelines concerning academic accommodations for religious observance, illness, disability, hardship, and other matters.
Academic Accommodations Hub
The Academic Accommodations Hub is the student and instructor portal for support resources and academic policies, including key information regarding academic accommodations as well as links to mental health resources, resources for survivors of sexual violence and sexual harassment, and more. This hub is located on the website of the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost and may also be accessed through bCourses (click “Academic Policies” in the bCourses navigation bar). We strongly encourage all instructors to provide a link to the Academic Accommodations Hub, assignment due dates, and dates for midterms and finals in their course syllabi. The Office for Faculty Equity & Welfare also has suggestions for referring to accommodations and campus resources in a supportive way on your course syllabus.
Additional Resources:
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Quick Guide to Academic Supportive Measures for instructors (EVCP)
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Teaching Guides (Center for Teaching & Learning)
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Guidance on Schedule Conflicts with Academic Requirements (Academic Senate)
Disability Accommodations
We remind faculty that University and campus policies (including APM-015: Faculty Code of Conduct) establish specific requirements regarding classroom instruction, examinations, and disability accommodations. Instructors who need assistance with Disabled Students’ Program (DSP) accommodations can access a 10-Point Guide to DSP Accommodations. The guide provides information about common questions that instructors may have about implementing DSP accommodations. Use the DSP services request form to contact DSP staff and reach out to the DSP Faculty Liaisons with any questions.
The UC Office of the President (UCOP) has published guidance related to academic accommodations for students with disabilities. We recommend reviewing the guidance prior to the start of instruction. Instructors can also access a recommended training opportunity that is a 10–15 minute read and contains a six-step instructor checklist for preparing for an accessible semester. Instructors are encouraged to complete the deeper dive DSP online training “Disability, Accommodation, and Access in the UC Classroom” (visit the DSP Resources for Faculty webpage and click on the “DSP New Online Training” link).
Technology and Accessibility
Fostering an equitable learning experience for all Berkeley students and instructors by supporting accessible academic technology tools is a high priority. We strongly recommend instructors use Research, Teaching and Learning’s supported learning tools which offer the benefits of accessibility, privacy, and security. By using RTL-supported tools, instructors can focus on teaching and learning, knowing they are providing a safe and accessible environment for all students. While alternative tools are available, they may not meet these critical standards. Instructors considering unsupported tools should consult with IT or the privacy office first to ensure compliance and must assume responsibility for reviewing and vetting tools for accessibility, privacy, and security. The campus is unable to provide any assistance for unsupported tools.
Required Training on Digital Accessibility for Websites
In 2022, the campus entered into a Consent Decree with the Department of Justice concerning the need to ensure that web content is accessible to persons with disabilities. As part of the agreement, the Digital Accessibility Program has created a short mandatory training on this topic that must be completed every year through 2026. The training will be assigned to employees in the UC Learning Center this spring and each spring following. You may access the How to Comply with the Web Accessibility Procedures training now. Please email improving-accessibility@berkeley.edu if you have any questions or would like to meet with a digital accessibility specialist on Zoom.
Accommodations for Religious Creed
In accordance with UC Berkeley’s policy on religious creed, instructors should consult the Calendar of Religious and Cultural Holidays prior to scheduling midterms and assignment due dates. The Religious Holidays Calendar—as well as the Academic Calendar and Student Enrollment Calendar—can be added to your bCal (go to the Academic Calendar webpage and see the “Add a Calendar to bCal” tab for instructions).
Accommodations for Student Athletes
We ask for your partnership and help to assist students as they navigate their academic and intercollegiate athletic commitments. Please refer to the Senate guidelines for scheduling conflicts with academic commitments, which are applicable for all students.
If you have a student athlete in your course who has schedule conflicts due to university-sanctioned events (including practices and travel), then you will receive a letter outlining their travel dates. The student athlete should contact you before the end of the second week of instruction (for Fall 2024, by Wednesday, September 11) with a letter that describes all foreseeable conflicts in which the student may be participating, as well as a proposal to resolve these conflicts. If you believe the student athletes' conflicts make it impossible for them to successfully complete your course, please inform the student as soon as possible.
Important Semester Dates
See the fall 2024 Academic Calendar maintained by the Office of the Registrar for the latest calendar information (students in degree programs that do not align with the standard academic calendar should consult with their department). Below are some important dates in the semester:
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Fall Semester Begins: Wednesday, August 21
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Instruction Begins: Wednesday, August 28
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Academic and Administrative Holiday: Monday, September 2
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Midpoint grading rosters open for instructors: Monday, September 30
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Deadline for instructors to enter midterm deficient grades: Monday, October 21
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Academic and Administrative Holiday: Friday, November 11
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Non-Instructional Day: Wednesday, November 27
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Academic and Administrative Holiday: Thursday, November 28 & Friday, November 29
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Accommodation deadline for instructors to submit Spring 2025 text adoptions to DSP: December 5
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Formal Classes End: Friday, December 6
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Reading/Review/Recitation Week: Monday, December 9 – Friday, December 13
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Final examinations: Monday, December 16 – Friday, December 20
Thank you for your continued dedication, creativity, and flexibility as we begin the new academic year.
Sincerely,
Benjamin E. Hermalin
Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost
Oliver M. O’Reilly
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
Lisa García Bedolla
Vice Provost for Graduate Studies and Dean of the Graduate Division
Maximilian Auffhammer
Chair, Berkeley Division of the Academic Senate
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