01: Rights and Responsibilities

Faculty Rights

Faculty members have the right to:

  • Maintain the fundamental nature, learning objectives, and content of their course.
  • Require students to demonstrate knowledge of essential course material.
  • Consult with the Student Access and Resource (SAR) Center if an accommodation appears unreasonable or may constitute a fundamental alteration of the course.
  • Consult with the SAR Center regarding any questions or concerns related to student accommodations.
  • Request and receive an official Faculty Notification Letter (FNL) from the SAR Center before implementing accommodations.
  • Inform students that academic accommodations cannot be provided until:
    • The SAR Center intake process is complete,
    • Accommodations have been approved, and
    • The official FNL has been issued.

Faculty Responsibilities

Faculty members are responsible for:

  • Including a syllabus statement explaining students request accommodations through the SAR Center.
  • Implementing accommodations as listed in the official FNL.
  • Contacting the SAR Center if there are questions or concerns about:
    • Approved accommodations,
    • How to implement an accommodation, or
    • How to effectively work with a student receiving accommodations.
  • Maintaining awareness of campus resources available to both students and faculty.
  • Maintaining confidentiality regarding:
    • A student’s disability,
    • A student’s accommodation status, and
    • A student’s registration with the SAR Center.

To protect confidentiality:

  • Conversations about accommodations should be held one-on-one, in private such as during office hours or at a scheduled time.
  • Faculty should not single out students with accommodations in course.

Examples of inappropriate practices include:

  • Asking students with accommodations to come to the front of the room.
  • Asking students with accommodations to stay after course in front of peers.

Applicability of Faculty Rights and Responsibilities

These rights and responsibilities apply to any individual involved in instruction, including:

  • Tenured faculty
  • Full-time faculty
  • Adjunct faculty
  • Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs)
  • Course Coordinators
  • Faculty of Record

Faculty Access in AIM

The Accessible Information Management (AIM) system is connected to the UTA network. Faculty information is automatically populated based on the MyMav Schedule of Courses.

Key points:

  • AIM only imports faculty that is listed as the Faculty of Record in the Schedule of Courses.
  • This automated process cannot be modified by the SAR Center.
  • Many courses include Course Coordinators or GTAs who require access to AIM to manage testing or accommodations.

To address this:

  • The Faculty of Record may add additional faculty directly in AIM.
  • Only individuals with a legitimate instructional role should be granted access, as this information is confidential.

Adding an additional Faculty to a Course in AIM:

  • Steps:
    • Log in to the AIM Faculty Portal.
    • Select Add Instructor (left hand column).
    • Choose the appropriate course from the dropdown menu.
    • Select one of the following options:
      • Add Additional Instructor to the Course, or
      • Replace All Instructors with the New Instructor.
    • Enter the individual’s first and last name.
    • Enter the individual’s UTA email address.

Important notes:

  • Allow up to 48 hours for faculty access to be activated.
  • If your UTA employee email is not used, you are still bound by FERPA guidelines.

Faculty Notification Letters (FNLs)

  • FNLs are sent to the Faculty of Record listed at the time the letter is issued.
  • Faculty are responsible for adding GTAs, Course Coordinators, or Section Faculty to AIM so they can access accommodation information once they receive their employee email.
  • This responsibility applies mutually between Course Coordinators and Section Faculty.
  • If incorrect faculty are listed or access issues arise, update the course information in AIM as soon as possible.
  • Contact the SAR Center immediately if you encounter difficulties adding a faculty member.

Questions and Support

General questions:

Questions about a specific student:

  • Contact the student’s Accessibility Specialist.
  • If the specialist is unknown, contact the SAR Center for assistance.

SAR Center Dedicated Faculty Office Hours

Faculty may join virtual drop-in hours for quick questions (approximately 15 minutes) related to:

  • Understanding accommodations,
  • Implementing accommodations,
  • Referring students to the SAR Center.

Drop-in Schedule:

  • Days/times may change each semester. Please look at the SAR Center website for the current semester’s days/times.

For more in-depth consultations, schedule an appointment by calling the SAR Center at (817) 272-3364.