FAQs for Educational Adjustments

Special Consideration applies according to a case-by-case basis when a student requires further extensions or adjustments due to a short-term or unexpected event. This could also include ELS students who have experienced circumstances that are beyond the scope of what is outlined in their Equitable Learning Plan (ELP). This could include:

• An unexpected illness or event.
• A serious exacerbation of their condition.

Under these circumstances, a student may be unable to attend an exam or complete an assessment within the originally provided timeframe.

Equitable Learning Services (ELS) provides educational adjustments for students who have ongoing learning/health conditions (or other circumstances e.g. carer responsibilities) that are known to impact their studies over an extended period of time or for the duration of their degree. Students will register with the ELS to receive ongoing support and are provided an ELP that outlines educational adjustments that need to be implemented across their courses.

Newly registered students are responsible for providing Course Convenors with a copy of their Equitable Learning Plan (ELP) within a week of receiving it. Teaching staff with students that require educational adjustments will receive a notification at the start of the teaching period and be able to view a student’s ELP once it has been developed via The Student Management System. This notification will include instructions on how to log into the staff portal and acknowledge receiving the ELP.

There may be a time lag for the provision of ELPs for newly registered students due to the large number of appointments at the commencement of each year.

Please direct any student enquiries, requests for further clarification or questions regarding ELPs via email to [email protected].

For urgent concerns, please contact: www.student.unsw.edu.au/emergency.

For concerns that are less urgent and where you know that the student is registered with the ELS, please contact our service via: [email protected].

All faculty are encouraged to download the UNSW SafeZone app. SafeZone provides immediate access to emergency assistance, a direct line to the UNSW Security Operations Centre and prompt notifications regarding safety issues in your vicinity.

Further information for supporting students’ wellbeing can be found at: www.student.unsw.edu.au/wellbeing or www.student.unsw.edu.au/findsupport.

Any adjustments provided to students through their ELPs are specifically designed to ensure that the impact of their condition does not unfairly compromise their learning, access to course materials, and/or ability to demonstrate knowledge. All adjustments provided for students are in line with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and provides registered students with equal opportunities for learning rather than an advantage over other students.

• Reach out to any registered students at the start of the course and emphasise your availability to discuss any issues, questions or concerns.
• Check in with registered students or with ELS if your course has components such as field trips or Work Integrated Learning (WIL). Some students may require additional support to better prepare for and maximise their learning experience.

ELS is a confidential service. The implementation of a student’s educational adjustments does not require disclosure of their condition. A student is not required to disclose details of their condition to academic staff or other areas of the university outside of ELS to receive support.

Staff should refrain from asking students about their condition. If a student voluntarily discloses their condition to you, please be aware that it is unlawful for you to share this information without explicit written permission from the student.

Special Consideration and ELPs are the required avenue for adjustment provisions. If you have a student requesting adjustments outside of these processes, it may indicate that they need additional support.

Please refer them to ELS (if they are not already registered) or an alternative student support service:

Student Support at UNSW

Where the existing ELP does not adequately address the practicum/placement environment or assessable requirements, an ELS advisor will collaborate with the WIL team and the student to negotiate appropriate adjustments specific to the practicum/placement.

Please advise the student to make an appointment with ELS to review this.

Yes. Quizzes are included as ‘faculty-run exams’ within a student’s ELP.