Currently Registered Students

If you are registered with Disability Services (DS) and have approved accommodations, the Student Support team will work with you and your instructors to help ensure your accommodations are in place throughout the semester.

Before the Semester Begins

At the start of each term, SPS will contact you to confirm that you would like your instructors notified about your approved accommodations. Once you provide confirmation, SPS will send an accommodation notification to your faculty members outlining your approved accommodations.

During the Semester

Midway through the semester, SPS will check in with all registered DS students to see how accommodations are working and whether any additional support is needed.

Requesting Specific Accommodations

Some accommodations require an additional request each term or before a specific course activity:

• Exam Accommodations: If you plan to use testing accommodations, you will need to complete the Exam Accommodation Request Form.
• Peer Note-Taking Services: If you would like note-taking support, you will need to complete the Peer Note-Taking Request Form.

Ongoing Support

SPS keeps a record of your approved accommodations from semester to semester. As accommodation needs arise—such as exam arrangements, deadline extensions, or other approved supports—your SPS DS Liaison will work with you and your instructors to coordinate and implement those accommodations.

If you have questions or concerns at any point during the semester, please reach out to sps-accommodations [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu

Students with disabilities may be eligible for accommodations related to the administration of exams and quizzes. Testing accommodations are provided for students whose disabilities impact their ability to complete exams and quizzes under standard conditions in the classroom.

If you have an upcoming exam and you’d like to utilize your accommodations, please submit an exam accommodation request form. Once received, a SPS Liaison will contact your instructor to coordinate the exam accommodations. 

Note: Please try to submit the request form at least 2 weeks prior to an exam. 

Note-taking services may be provided for students unable to take notes and simultaneously participate in class due to their disability. Students must register with Disability Services so staff can determine their eligibility for this accommodation. 

If you are registered with Disability Services, receive note taking services as a part of your accommodations, and you’d like to receive notes for your classes in a given semester, please complete this peer note taking request form. 

Here’s an overview of how note taking services work at SPS:

• Confirming Your Classes
  • A SPS Liaison will email you at the start of the semester with the peer note taking request form to determine which courses you’d like notes for.
  • You may choose to receive notes for some or all of your courses.
• Finding a Notetaker
  • Your professor will make an announcement to the class (without identifying you) to recruit a volunteer notetaker.
  • Students who volunteer to take notes receive a stipend for their support.
• Reviewing Sample Notes
  • When a student volunteers, they’ll send a sample of their notes to the SPS Liaison for Note Taking Services.
  • You’ll have the opportunity to review the sample to make sure it meets your needs.
• Getting Your Notes
  • Once a notetaker is confirmed, they will upload their notes each week to a Box folder.
  • The Liaison will share the Box folder link with you so you can access weekly class notes.
• If a Notetaker Is Not Found Right Away
  • If a notetaker hasn’t been identified by Week 3, DS may increase the stipend and your professor will share another announcement.
  • If no one volunteers after these steps, we will work with you directly on next options to support your access in the course.