“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.” -Aristotle
Mount Mercy University is committed to equality of educational opportunity for all students. The Academic Center for Excellence, located in the University Center UC130 (McAuley), houses and facilitates academic accommodations, referrals for residential or other campus accommodations and services for students with disabilities so that they may have equal access. Mount Mercy is a member of the National Association on Higher Education and Disability.
Disability services recognizes that disability reflects diverse characteristics and experiences and is an aspect of diversity integral to society. To that end, we collaborate with students, instructors, staff, and community members to create diverse learning environments that are usable, equitable, inclusive and sustainable.
Core functions include:
- Establishing and communicating criteria for disability services
- Reviewing documentation to verify eligibility for services
- Facilitating academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities
- Supporting disability-related services and opportunities for students with disabilities
Students seeking academic accommodations first register with the Academic Center disability service office and meet with the Director who reviews documentation and determines eligibility for services. Together they discuss academic needs, go over the appropriate forms and the process for working with instructors and the Center. Students who request accommodations but have not registered with the Center need to be referred to the office to complete the registration process before accommodations are arranged. The following forms are used in the process of documenting a disability:
Forms and Documents:
How to Document a Disability
Attendance and Accommodations
Documentation Policy
Authorization to Release Information
Medication Impact Form
If students suspect they might have a disability but have not been evaluated previously, please encourage them to contact the Academic Center for Excellence for referrals. Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis.
“Working as a Student Colleague at the ACE center gave me valuable practice for my future career as a teacher and helped me become a better writer in my own classes. I enjoyed working with a variety of students and getting to know more members of the Mount Mercy community.”
-Kathryn Eggerman, ’08
