Remote Attendance

OVERVIEW

San Francisco State University offers in-person instruction as the primary course delivery mode. Under specific circumstances, remote attendance may be a reasonable disability accommodation. Most of SFSU’s academic programs have essential in-person components. Remote attendance can be approved as a reasonable accommodation if a student’s disability makes them unable to attend in-person. Students eligible for remote attendance are approved on a semester-by-semester basis. Approval is contingent upon the outcome of an interactive process with the student, the DPRC, and the student’s course instructors and/or academic department when necessary. As with all accommodations, the DPRC will first determine if the requested accommodation is supported by appropriate documentation. Remote Attendance is a high impact accommodation, and the approval process can take several weeks.  

This accommodation is not intended to be used for multiple semesters in a row, nor to convert an in-person program into an online/remote experience. Students approved to attend classes remotely should not expect the same classroom experience as if they were attending in person. There are elements of classroom interactions and dynamics which contribute to student learning but cannot be replicated in a remote environment. Even when the accommodation is approved, not all courses in a student’s schedule may be able to be adapted for remote attendance.  

 

DEFINITION OF REMOTE ASSISTANCE

Remote attendance generally means participating in classes synchronously through an online forum, like Zoom. This means that if approved for this accommodation, students should be logged in to class simultaneously with the in-person session to be counted present. Accessing recordings after the fact may not constitute remote attendance and students may be counted absent per any course attendance policy. However, students and instructors have latitude in how they wish to implement remote attendance. Once feasibility is confirmed, instructors and students may meet with DPRC to discuss implementation options. 

 

REQUEST PROCESS AND PROCEDURE 

If you are interested in requesting full-semester remote attendance, please carefully review the following: 

  • If you are not registered with the Disability Programs and Resource Center (DPRC), you must first register to request remote attendance as a disability-related accommodation. Registration information can be found by following this hyperlink: https://access.sfsu.edu/register 

 

  • Remote attendance, if approved, is on a per-semester basis. Previously eligible students are not automatically eligible for future semesters. Requests will require supporting documentation from your healthcare provider every semester. 

 

  • Requesting remote attendance as soon as possible ahead of the semester start is critical so there is sufficient time to review your request. Requests received later than two months prior to the semester will be more difficult to review prior to the start of classes, and options may be limited, or the accommodation may be determined to be unreasonable.

     

  • Supporting documentation from a qualified care provider must include the following: 

    • A description of how your disability creates a significant barrier to your full and meaningful participation in an on-campus experience. The description should include an explanation of how your disability will affect you such that remote attendance is a necessary accommodation for you. This impact must go beyond the typical stress or nervousness that most people are likely to feel in readjusting to an in-person experience. 

     

    • Any alternatives that the DPRC should consider to facilitate your participation in in-person classes if remote attendance is determined to be unreasonable based on requirements of your specific courses or academic program in a given semester.  

     

    • An estimated end date when you can return to in-person classes. 

 

  • You may be required to meet with an academic advisor and/or your program to select as many classes as possible that are already offered remotely. You must take as many of these classes as possible if they meet graduation requirements. 

 

HOW TO REQUEST: 

  1. Register with Disability Programs and Resource Center (DPRC) and schedule an appointment. 
  2. Meet with a Disability Specialist to begin the interactive process related to your request. 
  3. Gather documentation to support your request (the documentation must be from a qualified provider familiar with your disability and must address all the items listed above). 
  4. If approved, you and the instructor will receive written confirmation from the Disability Specialist. You may also be asked to provide additional information or documentation before a determination is made. 
  5. The DPRC Disability Specialist will discuss your request with the instructor to determine feasibility and implementation steps. 
  6. You will be expected to follow-up with your instructors and the DPRC as needed to help us ensure the accommodation is implemented effectively.