Accommodations
Ohio State is committed to ensuring that all individuals can learn and work as safely as possible.
Student accommodations
Student Life Disability Services does not send out short-term academic flexibility letters for those testing positive for COVID-19. If you are ill and need to miss class, including if you are staying home and away from others while experiencing symptoms of a viral infection or fever, please let your instructor know immediately.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has revised its guidance for people with COVID-19 to align with other common respiratory viral illnesses, such as the flu. People with respiratory viruses can go back to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms are improving and there has been no fever.
In cases where illness interacts with an underlying medical condition, you should consult with Student Life Disability Services to request reasonable accommodations. You can connect with them at slds@osu.edu; 614-292-3307; or slds.osu.edu.
Guidance for Instructors
Following the change in guidance for people with COVID-19, the university has updated its syllabus statement. Students who are ill and need to miss class, are encouraged to let their instructors know immediately.
Instructors should always have a plan if they, their students or their graduate teaching associates need to miss class due to any illness. Instructors should be flexible with students when they are ill and need to miss class. This can include providing flexibility with deadlines, alternate assignments or exam accommodations.
Likewise, if instructors are unable to be in class due to illness, as a temporary measure they can teach online (returning to the approved mode of instruction as soon as possible), assign students asynchronous work or identify a substitute. Instructors are strongly encouraged to note these contingency plans in their course syllabus.
Students experiencing prolonged illnesses that impact their academic performance should be encouraged to seek medical attention, though instructors should consider resulting impacts to students (co-pays, time investment, etc.) before requesting documentation from a health care provider. Also, as a reminder, medical documentation should not be requested from a student whose Disability Services accommodations would cover relevant absences.
Faculty and staff accommodations
The Office of Human Resources works with employees to ensure those with qualifying disabilities have seamless access to employment. Through the Workplace Accommodation Request, individuals are asked to:
- Outline how their disability requires an adjustment or modification to their job.
- Provide documentation from their medical provider defining how their disability impacts their job duties.
- Suggest modifications that may help them perform their job duties while managing their medical condition.
Workplace Accommodations are specifically for individuals requesting a modification for the employee's own disability. The university also supports maximum flexibility to help our faculty, staff and student employees balance the demands of work and home life. Read the full statement about flexibility at work on the Office of Human Resources website.
Visitor accommodations
The university is committed to ensuring that all individuals can participate in university life as safely as possible. Visitors who would like to request an accommodation should contact the Americans With Disabilities Act Coordinator's Office at ADA-OSU@osu.edu or 614-292-6207.