Student FAQs

The office is open Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. PST – 5:00 p.m. PST.  Hours of operations may vary due to school closures and holiday observances.  Individuals are welcome to visit the office for general questions regarding services, however, it is recommended students make appointments for information and/or intake sessions.  Individuals can call the office (707) 826-4678, or email student504@humboldt.edu with questions, concerns, or to make appointments.  The CDRC office is located in the Lower Library, Suite 5.  Additional CDRC contact information.

An individual meets the ADA definition of a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities and/or limits a major bodily function.  Major life activities include such things as walking, seeing, hearing, speaking or learning.  In addition to those who may have observable disabilities, the definition includes those with a range of non-observable disabilities.

Humboldt offers academic and residential (including housing and Emotional Support Animal) accommodations. Humboldt also works with students to provide equitable classroom and campus building accessibility as well as transportation services.

The Campus Disability Resource Center understands that for some individuals a service animal and/or Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is necessary to ensure equal access to university housing, programs, and activities.  Students who are requesting to bring an animal to campus should proactively review the Animals on Campus Policy. The Emotional Support Animal (ESA) page contains the California State University policy on Service and ESA’s for Students on Campus, specific information regarding ESA’s, the process for being approved to have an ESA on campus, and the ESA registration form.

Students with disabilities in both a K-12 and higher education setting are provided with accommodations to help remove barriers in an academic environment and to help ensure the student can participate equally.  Higher education institutions are required to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified students with disabilities. A qualified student is one who has met the entrance requirements to be formally admitted to the university.  A reasonable accommodation is a modification or adjustment to a course, program, service, job, activity, or facility that enables a student with a disability to have an equal opportunity to enjoy the benefits, opportunities, and privileges that are available to all students (with or without disabilities) while simultaneously not reducing or eliminating curriculum standards.  Accommodations cannot fundamentally alter or eliminate essential course requirements.

Humboldt enters into an interactive process with students who are requesting accommodations.  The interactive process involves the student requesting and participating in an intake meeting with a CDRC Accessibility Advisor, as well as submitting documentation from a doctor, practitioner, or other qualified professional for review.  Once approved for accommodations by the Campus Disability Resource Center, the office will provide instructors with a copy of the students agreed upon accommodation(s) in a document called an “Accommodation Memo.”  Students are strongly encouraged to discuss their specific approved accommodation(s) with their academic advisor as well as their instructors at the beginning of each term.  Students are also encouraged to communicate with their assigned Accessibility Advisor throughout the term as needed to proactively identify issues/concerns and ensure access to approved accommodations.  

Students can submit an IEP or a 504 Plan as documentation if it contains sufficient information acceptable to Humboldt to establish that the student has a qualifying condition or disability.  However, postsecondary education does not create or otherwise adhere to IEP or 504 plans.  See Students: Requesting Accommodations for documentation requirements as well as other accessibility registration information.

The Campus Disability Resource Center does not provide diagnostic counseling nor diagnostic testing internally.  The ADA/504 Coordinator and/or Accessibility Advisor can often assist a student with referral information for assessment services needed to obtain verified documentation.  Some services can be found at Student Health and Wellbeing Services; however, these services will vary depending on student and assessment needs.

Individuals who experience life altering events may require immediate implementation of accommodations.  Students may request and receive “interim” (time limited and situation specific) accommodations.  These situations are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and require an appointment with the ADA/504 Coordinator and/or Accessibility Advisor.  Documentation may be requested for the university to make a determination.

The Campus Disability Resource Center cannot normally discuss any information about students' progress at Humboldt with a third party, including parents, guardians, partners, and children.  The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Humboldt policy regarding the release and disclosure of student information, prohibits the CDRC from disclosing confidential information to anyone but the student.  A signed release of information is necessary to disclose confidential information.  If it is an option for them, students are encouraged to keep individuals of importance engaged throughout their years at Humboldt.

The most efficient way to resolve a potential concern related to accommodations or accessibility is to proactively communicate those concerns directly to the ADA/504 Coordinator, and/or the responsible Humboldt official such as an instructor, staff, or administrator.  There are two procedures to address disability-related complaints for students, depending on the nature of the complaint.

1. The Student Grievance Form is used for students who are seeking a review of decisions related to a denial of a requested accommodation, failure to provide an approved accommodation, or access related concerns at Humboldt.
2. Student Grievance Procedures contains additional information about Student Disability Accommodation and Accessibility Appeal Procedures.

If a grievance is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction through the appeals procedures referenced above, and/or if a student is alleging harassment or other forms of discrimination based on a disability, they may report information to the Cal Poly Humboldt Title IX and Discrimination, Harassment & Retaliation Prevention Office using the Sexual Misconduct/Discrimination Referral & Report Form.  More information can be found in the CSU Nondiscrimination Policy.  External reports can be made to the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, as well as the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. 

The Campus Disability Resource Center strives to create an inclusive and accessible environment for individuals with disabilities.  Reports of general accessibility concerns should be made via the Campus Accessibility Concern Form.  Reporting Campus Accessibility Concerns contains information about campus accessibility and resources.