Students living with identified disabilities (including physical, sensory, learning, or mental health), may find it necessary to request some adaptation to reduce barriers in learning or living situations at Columbia Bible College. The Student Development Department includes Access Equity Services, designed to assist you as an effective self-advocate in the pursuit of equity and reasonable access and accommodation. Access Equity also assists the wider Columbia community to develop appropriate responses toward issues of ability, disability and access to our campus.

• Access Equity Services must be initiated by self-identification; without it, the College will not implement any accommodation plan. Students who believe their specific circumstances require accommodation will be required to supply appropriate documentation in a timely manner, and to participate fully in the access development process.
• Students are not required to use Access Equity support while at Columbia. Students who live with limitations imposed by disability, but who do not choose College-supported assistance, will be assumed by the College not to be in need of accommodations for equitable access.
• Appropriate (reasonable) accommodation in structures or procedures with Academic, Community Life (Residence or Commuter), Registration, Food Service or other departments will be recommended by AE Services as necessary. Students should be aware that accommodation solutions are developed on an individual basis, and will be designed in keeping with the best interests of the individual student, the College community, and CBC’s academic standards.
• It is important to be aware of the differences between terms “equity” and “equal” as applied at Columbia Bible College. Where the concept “equal” concerns the state of being identical in number, size, amount, position, status, or treatment, the concept of “equity” pursuers justice, fairness and a reasonable equivalency of treatment or position across differing situations. Columbia’s Access Equity Services are designed to promote equitable, not equal, circumstances.

You will need to provide Academic Support with appropriate documentation of your support need as discussed with an Academic Support Coordinator. Eligible documentation must have been completed by an appropriate registered professional within the last 5 years. Examples include a psychoeducational assessment, Individual Education Plan (IEP), or doctor’s note.

The Academic Support Coordinator will present your documentation and support needs to the Academic Success Committee. The Academic Success Committee will determine appropriate accommodations to help you be academically successful. Upon approval or your Academic Accommodation Request by the Academic Success Committee, the Academic Support Coordinator will inform you of the accommodations available to you.

With your approval, the Academic Support Coordinator will inform your instructors of your academic accommodations and coordinate your support needs in and out of the classroom. (Note: this does not include the details of your disability, which are held confidential by Academic Support Personnel).