Here at Duquesne, Equity & Opportunity Begin at Home
Coming to college with a disability can be challenging—Audriana Michrina knows. While getting around campus in a wheelchair can be cumbersome, she's compassionately relieved by helpful classmates and friends, accommodating teachers and support from the University's Disability Services team.
Our diverse student body includes people of all abilities and disabilities, and we're here to help you succeed. It's our responsibility to help you achieve your goals, and our joy to watch you thrive. From the moment you reach out to our team, we'll remain at your side to ensure you receive the support you need to reach your goals. We'll provide appropriate and reasonable accommodations to help you through your academic courses and reach your greatest potential.
Commitment to Equality, Inclusion and Compassion
Motivated by its Catholic identity, Duquesne University values equality of opportunity, human dignity, and racial, cultural and ethnic diversity, both as an educational institution and as an employer. Accordingly, the University prohibits and does not engage in discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability or status as a veteran. Further, Duquesne University will continue to take affirmative steps to support and advance these values consistent with the University's mission statement.
This policy applies to all educational programs and activities of the University, including, but not limited to, employment practices, admission, educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other University-sponsored programs. This is a commitment by the University in accordance with its religious values and applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations including Title IX of the Education Amendment Acts of 1972. Nothing herein, however, should be interpreted as a waiver by the University of its own Constitutional and legal rights based upon its religious affiliation.
We're Here for You
If you need accommodation or services due to a disability, we're happy to do our part to help you get what you need. Each student's challenges and needs are unique. It's important that we have all necessary information in order to help you. Read about required documentation and important guidelines below:
Emotional support and service animals provide a unique and helpful service for students. Emotional support animals provide comfort to students, while service animals are trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.
Learn about our policies and accommodations regarding emotional support animals and service animals.
If your disability challenges your ability to learn a second language, we're here for you. Working with the McAnulty College of Liberal Arts, we will collaboratively determine the most helpful accommodations to help you succeed. Learn more.
Should you experience medical hardship like extreme illness, serious injury or extended hospitalization, we'll help you remain enrolled while navigating the best options for your academic success. In the case that a medical withdrawal is what you need, here's what you need to know.
Academic Accommodations
Whether your disability is physical, psychological or a learning disability, we'll provide appropriate and reasonable accommodations to help you through your academic courses and reach your greatest potential.
We will also assist students in petitioning the Student Standing Committee for any warranted substitutions as per submitted documentation.
The process to provide accommodations begins with an intake interview with the Office of Disability Services team, where
we'll work with you to understand your challenges and what you need to help you have
the best academic experience. From there, we'll go over opportunities, resources and
required documentation.
Facilities
- We are happy to assist each student in procuring reasonable accommodations in the Living/Learning Centers and classroom facilities.
- Accessible classroom relocations can be made through the Office of Disability Services on an as-needed basis for students who use wheelchairs or are mobility impaired.
Special Parking Areas/Permits
- Students who possess a handicapped license plate can purchase a standard parking permit and park in designated handicap parking areas.
- For additional information about parking, call the University's Parking Office at (412) 396-5813.
It is always a student's right, and personal choice, to determine if they chose to disclose their disability to the Office of Disability Services. Disclosing your disability can be done at any point in the semester, and does not require that accommodations be used.
Accommodations cannot be given retroactively if a student makes the choice not to disclose their disability. If a student does disclose their disability but does not request that letters of accommodations be sent to their professor, accommodations will not be granted, even in the case that the students feels work submitted or exam scores received do not accurately reflect their abilities.
Achieving a More Inclusive Classroom
Dr. Tiffany Hatcher
Providing Proactive, Considerate Accommodations
Dr. Tiffany Hatcher, clinical assistant professor in the School of Pharmacy, strives to ensure that students with disabilities feel comfortable speaking up and seeking accommodations, and are alleviated of any additional inconveniences or stresses. "It's a conscious decision to take personal responsibility to make sure your content is accessible to everyone."
Dr. Stephanie Gray
New Strategies to Help Students Thrive
Dr. Stephanie Gray, assistant professor of public history in the McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts, jumps on the opportunity to learn about students’ challenges and ways she can help them succeed. "I want Duquesne classrooms to be a safe environment. As an instructor, you have to be interested in and invested in your students; an empathetic teacher who wants students to learn and achieve academic success, and who also cares about the physical and mental wellbeing of each individual student.”
Contact Us
Visit us in rooms 305 and 309 in the Union. We're here and ready to help you.