Flex Plan
What is a Flex Plan accommodation?
The intent of the Flex Plan accommodation is to assist with sporadic, unpredictable, and severe instances of disability-related flare-ups. It is designed to build in a slight amount of flexibility (e.g., 1-2 additional absences, 1-3 day extensions) to address brief disability impacts. The student鈥檚 course accommodation letter (CAL) will designate what type of flexibility is required (i.e. attendance/deadlines, deadlines). SAS determines Flex Plan accommodations on a case-by-case basis using an interactive process that evaluates the barriers to equal access caused by a student鈥檚 disability. Students seeking flexibility with practicums, internships, field placements, etc. should consult SAS at least one semester in advance.
What a Flex Plan accommodation is not:
- This accommodation is not intended to comprehensively address situations where a student is unable to attend class or meet deadlines on a regular, ongoing basis.
- It should not significantly alter attendance requirements for a course or be used to facilitate remote participation or asynchronous course completion.
- The Flex Plan accommodation does not offer pre-determined automatic extensions for all assignments, nor does it allow for extensions beyond the end of the semester.
- Excuse students from meeting specified course learning outcomes.
- This accommodation generally does not offer flexibility for group work or other collaborative assignments, such as discussion boards, because a student鈥檚 individual accommodations should not affect the group's overall progress or the specific learning outcomes of the assignment.
How do students use a Flex Plan accommodation?
- Student requests relevant accommodations in Access KSU. Instructor receives CAL via email.
- Student initiates Flex Plan proposal in Access KSU. SAS reviews the proposal for clarity and appropriate use, then prompts instructor to review the proposal using the Access KSU instructor portal.
- Instructor reviews the proposal and provides feedback. If needed, SAS will facilitate a conversation with the instructor, the student, and relevant academic administrators to identify flexibility.
- All parties receive a copy of the final flex plan agreement.
How do students initiate a Flex Plan?
What should instructors know about a Flex Plan accommodation?
- Instructors should review the Flex Plan proposal and provide feedback to SAS if the student鈥檚 request is not reasonable based on the course learning outcomes. SAS can help to facilitate a conversation between the instructor and student if there is disagreement in the amount of flexibility.
- Where possible, instructors should consider alternative methods for assessing learning outcomes. Examples include permitting the student to present directly to the instructor in place of presenting to the entire class or offering an alternate assignment or activity for class participation that would meet the same learning outcomes.
- Students with the Flex Plan accommodation for attendance flexibility do not need to provide medical documentation for disability-related absences. Absences not related to the student鈥檚 disability impact are not included in this accommodation.
- Instructors are not required to re-teach material missed due to a disability-related absence. It is the student鈥檚 responsibility to follow up with the instructor about any missed content.
- If any amount of flexibility would alter the instructor鈥檚 ability to assess course learning outcomes, the instructor should contact SAS to discuss possible options. Relevant academic administrators, such as department chairs, will be included in these discussions as necessary.
Contact your Access Advisor with questions or concerns.