Faculty and TAs can create a welcoming environment that will encourage students with disabilities to meet with them and communicate openly. DRC highly recommends that faculty include a statement regarding disability access into all notification and information spaces for their class early in the term. For courses, this would include the course website, syllabus, and class announcements. For graduate program access, this could be included in their program handbook, acceptance communications, and/or welcome/orientation materials.
Note: Students have the legal right to affiliate with DRC and begin receiving accommodations at any time during their time at UCSC.
Example Course Syllabus Statement for DRC Accommodations:
Sample 1
“UC Santa Cruz is committed to creating an academic environment that supports its diverse student body. If you are a student with a disability who requires accommodations to achieve equal access in this course, please affiliate with the DRC. I encourage all students to benefit from learning more about DRC services to contact DRC by phone at 831-459-2089 or by email at drc@ucsc.edu. For students already affiliated, make sure that you have requested Academic Access Letters, where you intend to use accommodations. You can also request to meet privately with me during my office hours or by appointment, as soon as possible. I would like us to discuss how we can implement your accommodations in this course to ensure your access and full engagement in this course.”
Sample 2
“UC Santa Cruz is committed to creating a learning environment that meets the needs of its diverse student body including students with disabilities. If you anticipate or experience any barriers to learning in this course, please feel welcome to discuss your concerns with me. If you have a disability, or think you may have a disability, you can work with the Disability Resource Center (DRC) to request disability accommodations. The Disability Resource Center is the campus office responsible for authorizing disability-related academic accommodations, in cooperation with the students themselves and their instructors. You can find more information about DRC, including contact information and the application process here: https://drc.ucsc.edu. If you have already been approved for accommodations through DRC, be sure to send your accommodation letters and please meet with me so we can develop an implementation plan together.”
Graduate Student Program Statement for DRC Accommodations:
“UC Santa Cruz is committed to creating an academic environment that supports its diverse student body. If you are a student with a disability who requires accommodations to achieve equal access in this program, please notify {name of program advisor or other designated individual(s)}, as soon as practical, at {email &/or number}. I also encourage all students to consider how they may benefit from learning more about DRC services to contact DRC by phone at 831-459-2089 or by email at drc@ucsc.edu.”