In order to ensure compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990), the mission of the Disability Services Office (DSO) is to provide access to Centenary University’s facilities and programs.
The Disability Services Office works closely with eligible students to arrange for reasonable academic and housing accommodations, which will afford each student the opportunity to participate fully in Centenary University’s services, programs, and activities. Staff members assist students with arranging access to classrooms, developing learning strategies, and advisement with disabilities issues.
Access is provided through a range of reasonable accommodations and support services to identified students that experience disabilities. The office also strives to serve as a liaison and resource to the members of the Centenary University community regarding disability issues.
Based on nationally regarded best practices, the Disability Services Office seeks to foster independence and to develop the self-advocacy of students with disabilities.
Students requesting accommodations must use the Application for Accommodations form (academic) or the Application for Housing Accommodations and Services form (housing). In all cases, the application should be accompanied by documentation which outlines the disability for which accommodations are requested. If you would like to receive a paper copy of the applications by mail, please call (908) 852-1400, ext. 2152.
Documentation should be:
Because the provision of all reasonable accommodations and special services is based upon assessment of the current impact of the student’s disabilities on academic performance, it is in the student’s best interest to provide recent and appropriate documentation. For specific questions regarding documentation, contact the Disability Services Office for documentation guidelines.
Please submit all documentation and applications electronically to [email protected] for a timely review.
The Disability Services Office also offers two intensive support programs specifically designed to support students with learning differences who would benefit from academic coaching:
The goals of the Project ABLE and STEP Ahead programs are to provide a bridge between the structured and sometimes modified secondary-school setting to the predominantly self-directed university environment. Emphasis is placed on acquiring the skills needed to become an effective, contributing member of the university community. These services do not include emotional or behavioral intervention plans for in class or out of class settings. Centenary students must be otherwise qualified to attend the University and abide by the conduct policies of the institution.
Students applying for full-time admission can choose to apply for Project ABLE and STEP Ahead at any time during the application process. A decision of admission is determined independently of application to Project ABLE and/or STEP Ahead.
Please submit inquiries and requests for the Application for Intensive Support to [email protected] or access the application and information at the bottom of this page.
Once all documents have been received, the Disability Services Office will review the information submitted. Applicants may be contacted to clarify information on documents. The student may also be asked to visit campus for an interview. Upon completion of the review, a decision will be emailed to the student on their University email address with a request to meet with a representative from the Disability Services Office to further discuss accommodations and the policies and procedures for utilizing these accommodations.
Students with standing appointments will continue to meet with their Student Success Specialist. If you do not have your meetings set up, you are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.
If you have not picked up accommodation letters for this semester, you can still receive them by reaching out to [email protected].
If you would like to use your testing accommodations, please schedule an appointment to take your exam in our office by visiting Setmore. Detailed instructions on how to navigate the Setmore website can be found on the bottom of the page in the document title Setmore Exam Scheduling Steps. Professors are able to grant extended time accommodations through Moodle if the exam is online. Please contact your Professor if you plan to use your testing accommodations for an online exam. Email [email protected] with any questions or to assist you in initiating the conversation with your faculty member.
For more information about our staff, please visit Accessibility & Accommodation Services.
The Disability Services Office is housed under the Academic Success Center. The Academic Success Center offers tutoring, academic coaching, workshops, and other academic resources.
For more in depth information on our policies and procedures, you can view the DSO Handbook here.