Reasonable Accommodations and Access vs. Success for Housing
Under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, disability accommodations are considered when they are necessary to ensure equal access to the same opportunities as provided to all St. Olaf students.
Accommodations are not considered “Reasonable” if they are merely to improve chances of success. The College certainly wants all of its students to succeed. However, under higher education disability law, success is the responsibility of the student, not the institution. Equal access is what the college is under legal obligation to provide. Disability accommodations will only be considered when without them, there is a barrier to equal access.
Accommodations are considered reasonable when they allow inclusion for the student in the same opportunities their non-disabled peers have. Accommodations are not reasonable if they let students with disabilities out of the responsibilities or expectations the College holds for everyone else.
What does Access vs. Success mean when it comes to campus housing?
Here are some examples of requests where an accommodation would generally not be approved. In the following scenarios the requested accommodation would be helpful or desirable, and may even improve chances of success — especially when the student’s disability makes these situations more difficult. But when, generally speaking, no student has access to the opportunity requested, the request is generally regarded as a fundamental alteration to the college housing program, and legally not considered “Reasonable”.
I need a single dorm room as a space to be alone or to retreat to and decompress.
In general, St. Olaf College residence hall rooms are double rooms, with very few exceptions. Oles are encouraged to seek out and discover places in their campus community to decompress, unwind, or process their emotions in places other than the room where they sleep. Here are several ideas:
- Discover the many nooks in academic buildings (Holland, Steensland, Hall of Music, and the lowest levels of Rolvaag are some favorites)
- Empty classrooms and seminar rooms! Any student can “claim” an empty classroom for their study session or alone time. Make a sign for the door, or use a whiteboard marker on the glass of the door to say “In use”
- The Academic Success Center’s study lounge is a quiet and peaceful place to study with natural light and a variety of chairs
- Reservable rooms in the library (5th floor and behind The Disco) are great spaces, too.
I need a single dorm room because I need to have control over my space.
It is up to you to recognize what is in your locus of control in a shared living experience. It is unreasonable to expect to be able to control the entire room. However, it is reasonable to expect to be able to control your own belongings and to set some boundaries with your roommate accordingly. Sharing space and setting broundaries with roommates is an extremely valuable skill in an intensive residential community, such as St. Olaf College. However, it is a new skill for many students who either have been only children, or have never had to share a room with a sibling. It does get easier with practice!
- Work with Residence Life live-in staff for guidance on conversation starters and boundary setting/communicating.
- Work with your roommate on things you are willing to be flexible about, and boundaries that you need honored.
- Find out what boundaries they wish you to honor as well.
I need a single dorm room because I had a really bad roommate before and I’m scared that that will happen again.
Just about any college alum can recall a less-than-perfect roommate situation, or maybe even a terrible one. It can happen, and it doesn’t make that past bad experience go away. However, it is possible to move on in a positive way. Taking what you can learn from a bad roommate situation and applying those lessons to a new situation is how to utilize a growth mentality to come through adversity.
- Work with the St. Olaf Counseling Center to talk through your past experiences and determine strategies and receive support for moving into a new roommate relationship
- Make an appointment with Residence Life staff to discuss your fears or concerns; attend one of the Roommate Socials held for returning students for the purpose of meeting new roommate possibilities; partake in the Roommate Linking form to read profiles of other students seeking a new roommate to find a good match
I need a single dorm room because I have items I fear might be stolen.
All students should consider locking valuables, including medications. We recommend buying a lockbox or small safe to keep tucked away and out of sight. Also, be sure to lock your dorm room door when you leave. Make an agreement with your roommate to do the same.
To proceed to the Request Form to request an accommodation pertaining to Housing, Parking, or Dining, please visit:
Campus Life Accommodation Request form for Housing, Parking, Dining
For more information on Disability and Access services, please visit our main page.
St. Olaf College reserves the right to amend the Procedure for Requesting Reasonable Accommodations for Housing to ensure it best reflects ADA and relevant laws’ guidance.