Accommodations

The DRC offers a wide range of academic accommodations that are individualized and based upon your documented disability.  Once documentation has been approved, you will meet with a DRC staff member to determine your accommodations.  This remains a collaborative process throughout your time at UNCW.  

It is important to understand accommodations are not retroactive and only begin once you notify faculty by providing the designated accommodation letter. You are advised to meet with faculty to discuss implementation of accommodations.  

1. Enroll with the DRC and submit documentation that follows our documentation guidelines.
2. Following review of your submitted information, DRC staff will follow-up with you to your UNCW email address for next steps in the process.

If you are seeking a housing accommodation due to a disability-related need, you are required to register with the DRC.

1. Enroll  with the DRC and submit both a Disability Verification Form and Housing Request Form.
   • Forms can be found under documentation guidelines.
2. Following review of your submitted information, DRC staff will follow-up with you to your UNCW email address for next steps in the process.

Requests for housing accommodations need to be submitted to the DRC each academic year or summer session. Appropriate  documentation  must be on file for consideration of each request.

• Accommodations for disability-related reasons take priority over other considerations (e.g., preference for specific residential area or roommate request).  
• Generally, requests for specific roommates are not provided as an accommodation. Follow Housing and Residence Life's roommate selection process.  

Any requests submitted after housing assignments have been made are subject to availability.

Deadlines:

• First-Year Applicants:
  • Submit your housing application by Housing & Residence Life's (HRL) application deadline.  
  • You must also submit the pre-enrollment registration form and appropriate disability documentation to begin enrollment with the DRC. 
    • We recommend you complete these steps by the application deadline listed on HRL's First-Year Applicant website.
• Second-Year Applicants:
  • Submit your housing application by Housing & Residence Life's (HRL) application deadline.  
  • You must also submit the pre-enrollment registration form and appropriate disability documentation to begin enrollment with the DRC. 
    • We recommend you complete these steps by the application deadline listed on HRL's Second-Year Applicants website.
• Transfer Applicants:
  • Submit your housing application by Housing & Residence Life's (HRL) application deadline.  
  • You must also submit the pre-enrollment registration form and appropriate disability documentation to begin enrollment with the DRC. 
    • We recommend you complete these steps by the application deadline listed on HRL's Transfer Applicants website.
• Upperclass Applicants:
  • Submit your housing application by Housing & Residence Life's (HRL) application deadline.  
  • You must also submit the pre-enrollment registration form and appropriate disability documentation to begin enrollment with the DRC. 
    • We recommend you complete these steps by the application deadline listed on HRL's Upperclassmen Applicants website.

Students who would like to request an Emotional Support Animal to reside in campus housing as a reasonable accommodation must:

1. Enroll with the DRC and submit both a Disability and ESA Verification Form.
   • Forms can be found under documentation guidelines.
2. Following review of your submitted information, DRC staff will follow-up with you to your UNCW email address for next steps in the process.

The University generally does not approve exotic animals, reptiles, amphibians, or other animals that carry zoonotic diseases.

CAUTION: UNCW is concerned about the growing number of questionable website services that create ESA letters for a fee to the purchaser. These websites are generally unreliable sources and do not produce documentation that adequately supports an ESA request. Some websites sell letters, certificates, registrations, and licensing documents for assistance animals to anyone who answers certain questions or participates in a short interview and pays a fee. Generally, such documentation is not, by itself, sufficient to reliably establish that an individual has a non-observable disability or disability-related need for an assistance animal. In addition, documentation from health care professionals who review emotional profiles and create template ESA letters for public housing and air carriers, or who have had no contact with the student except for limited encounters that were specifically intended to produce an ESA letter are not considered reliable.

If you have a disability-related need (e.g., severe food allergies) that impacts your ability to participate in University dining and you are seeking a dining accommodation, you must:

1. Enroll with the DRC and submit a Disability Verification Form.
   • Forms can be found under documentation guidelines.
2. Following review of your submitted information, DRC staff will follow-up with you to your UNCW email address for next steps in the process.

All other needs (e.g., vegan, kosher, gluten-sensitivity, etc.) are addressed by the Dietary Needs Committee to ensure you get the most out of your Meal Plan. For any dietary and/or nutritional concerns, not related to a disability, please engage the Dietary Needs Committee by first emailing Dietary Needs or by calling 910.962.7621.