Communication Options for Students with Accommodations
Faculty have two primary options for communicating final exam accommodation information to students: direct email and a Canvas announcement. We encourage you to use both approaches to ensure students receive the information or choose the method that works best for your course.
- Direct Email: This allows you to send communication to students who have accommodations in your course. It directs those with accommodations to take appropriate action while informing others that no action is needed on their part.
- Canvas Announcement: This allows you to communicate with all students in your course simultaneously through your Canvas course site. While this message will be visible to all students, it directs those with accommodations to take appropriate action while informing others that no action is needed on their part.
Recommended Communication Timeline
Because students can request and receive accommodations throughout the semester, and because course rosters may change during the add/drop period, it is recommended that you communicate this information at least twice:
- Initial communication: Send after the first 4 weeks of class (after add/drop deadline)
- Reminder communication: Send approximately 2 weeks before the final exam
This two-step approach ensures that your initial communication reaches students on your finalized roster, and that students who receive accommodations later in the semester are informed of the departmental final exam procedures. You may use the same communication method both times, or mix methods (for example, email initially and Canvas announcement as a reminder).
If you use Canvas announcements, you can post the same announcement twice at these intervals, or you can leave the initial announcement posted and add a brief reminder announcement closer to the exam date directing students to review the earlier post.
Email Communication to Students
This email template can be sent to all students in your class to inform those with accommodations of the final exam changes.
Student Communication Email
Subject: Final Exam Accommodations - [Insert Course and Number]
Hello,
If you receive testing accommodations through Disability Resources and Services (DRS), please read the following information carefully regarding final exam arrangements for this course.
If you do NOT receive testing-related accommodations, this message is not applicable to you and you may disregard it.
Students with Specific Testing Accommodations
If you receive one or more of the following accommodations:
- Extended time on examinations (25%), Testing environment in which distractions are minimized
- Extended time on examinations (50%), Testing environment in which distractions are minimized
- Testing environment in which distractions are minimized
- Ability to use noise cancelling headphones/ear plugs in examinations
- Food/Drink Allowed
- Use of scrap paper in examinations
You will complete your Final Exam in a separately identified room arranged by the department. You should not schedule your final exam through the University Testing Center or the Student Portal. Additional details regarding the location will be shared separately.
Any requests submitted through the Student Portal for the final exam by students with these accommodations will be cancelled. If you have already submitted a request, please log into the Student Portal as soon as possible and cancel it. If you need assistance with cancelling, please contact your Accessibility Coordinator.
Students with Other Testing Accommodations
If you receive any other testing accommodation (with or without the accommodations listed above), you are required to use the University Testing Center and must follow standard Alternative Testing procedures. This includes scheduling your final exam through the Student Portal.
Example: A student who receives Extended time on examinations (50%), Testing environment in which distractions are minimized AND Ability to take breaks during exams would fall into this category and must schedule their final exam through the Student Portal.
If you have questions about which category applies to you, or how to schedule your exams with the Testing Center, please contact your Accessibility Coordinator directly.
Canvas Announcement
Canvas announcements provide a convenient way to communicate with all students in your course simultaneously. This approach is particularly useful if you prefer to keep all course communications in one centralized location. Students will receive the announcement through Canvas and via their university email if they have Canvas notifications enabled.
For Canvas support, please visit: How to Use Announcements in Canvas
Canvas Announcement Text
Title: Important Information About Final Exam Accommodations
Hello everyone,
If you receive testing accommodations through Disability Resources and Services (DRS), please read the following information carefully regarding final exam arrangements for this course.
Students with Specific Testing Accommodations
If you receive one or more of the following accommodations:
- Extended time on examinations (25%), Testing environment in which distractions are minimized
- Extended time on examinations (50%), Testing environment in which distractions are minimized
- Testing environment in which distractions are minimized
- Ability to use noise cancelling headphones/ear plugs in examinations
- Food/Drink Allowed
- Use of scrap paper in examinations
You will complete your Final Exam in a separately identified room arranged by the department. You should not schedule your final exam through the University Testing Center or the Student Portal. Additional details regarding the location will be shared separately.
Any requests submitted through the Student Portal for the final exam by students with these accommodations will be cancelled. If you have already submitted a request, please log into the Student Portal as soon as possible and cancel it. If you need assistance with cancelling, please contact your Accessibility Coordinator.
Students with Other Testing Accommodations
If you receive any other testing accommodation (with or without the accommodations listed above), you are required to use the University Testing Center and must follow standard Alternative Testing procedures. This includes scheduling your final exam through the Student Portal.
Example: A student who receives Extended time on examinations (50%), Testing environment in which distractions are minimized AND Ability to take breaks during exams would fall into this category and must schedule their final exam through the Student Portal.
Questions?
If you have questions about which category applies to you, or how to schedule your exams with the Testing Center, please contact your Accessibility Coordinator directly at drsrecep@pitt.edu or 412-648-7890.
For students without testing accommodations: No action is needed. Final exam details will be shared with the class as a whole as we approach the end of the semester.
In-Class Announcement
In addition to any email or Canvas communication, you have the option to formally announce this information to the general class. We recommend referencing the email, Canvas post, or both if used, when making the announcement:
"Before we wrap up today, I have an important announcement for students who receive testing accommodations. If you're registered with Disability Resources and Services and have testing accommodations on file, please [check your email or "check Canvas" if using Canvas announcements] – I've sent you important information about final exam arrangements.
Depending on your specific accommodations, you may be taking the final in a department-arranged room rather than the University Testing Center. The [email/announcement] explains which students this applies to and what steps you need to take.
If you think you should have received this information but didn't, or if you have any questions about your accommodations for the final exam, please reach out to your Accessibility Coordinator at DRS. You can contact them at drsrecep@pitt.edu or call 412-648-7890.
For everyone else, we'll discuss final exam logistics for the class as a whole as we get closer to the exam date."