As a higher education student, you may be granted a special status based on individual characteristics and/or circumstances. Inclusive university of applied sciences Howest aims to open its education to as wide a population as possible and to provide every student with maximum opportunities to flourish. Every person is unique, Howest recognises and values differences and pursues a diversity policy aimed at evolving from an integrated to an inclusive policy, complemented by a target group policy. 3 inclusive examination accommodations These are accommodations that apply to all students regardless of whether or not they apply for a special status. We want to organise classical examination accommodations universally as much as possible. It concerns the following three examination accommodations: Extra time for taking written exams (20-30%) This accommodation applies to both paper and laptop exams unless the time factor is part of the evaluation. The extra time is already provided for in the examination block. The agreements on where this accommodation does not apply are included in the accommodation agreements drawn up in consultation with your study department. Oral explanation of the exam by the lecturer Study departments may choose to go over exam questions orally before the start, explain them and/or provide time to ask additional questions. No point deduction for spelling mistakes and incorrect sentence structure during exams Except for 'language modules' and language components assessed within other modules. The agreements on where this accommodation does not apply are included in the accommodation agreements drawn up in consultation with your study department. This accommodation does not apply to submitting assignments, reports and bachelor's theses. Which statutes are possible? Student with disability student with motor disability student with hearing impairment student with chronic illness student with psychiatric disability student with ADHD student with tic disorder student with DCD student with stuttering problems student with developmental dysphasia student with learning disability (dyslexia, dysorthography, dyscalculia) student with autism spectrum disorder Student in specific social or individual circumstances Informal care: You offer extra support to a person in need of care from the immediate surroundings (first-degree relative, cohabiting partner ...) Pregnancy and/or parenthood Other competitive sports: If you do not meet the requirements to obtain top-level sports status, you can apply for accommodations via 'student in specific social or individual circumstances', provided they meet the necessary criteria. This is only possible based on an individual file in which the student's motivation is supported by documents from the sports federation or club. Granting is done by Saar Olivier. Different cultural background or foreign mother tongue Transgender Other Working student You work at least 80 hours per month or are employed half-time. Please note that students studying in distance education cannot apply as their form of education has already been adjusted. Student with approved top-level sports activities You experience difficulties in studies due to combination with top-level sports. Granting is done by saar.olivier [at] howest.be (Saar Olivier). Student-artist You practice an art form at semi-professional/professional level and/or participate in exceptional domestic and/or international performances, tours, exhibitions ... Student with mandate You take up a political mandate or you are a student representative in the university college, the association UGent, the VLOR or VVS and you take up the mandate of effective member. Student-entrepreneur You are self-employed, you have a company number, you are affiliated to a social insurance fund, ... You can also apply for student-entrepreneur status if you have plans for a business. Note: this status is different from the student-entrepreneur tax status but is linked to it. Granting is done by the Howest's entrepreneurship coaches Student with increased care You received support as a student in mandatory education from a specific care need, without a specific diagnosis. You can additionally link accommodations to this status through the application process. What accommodactions are possible? If for some reason you need adapted teaching and/or examination formats, you can apply to the study coach for a special status and a combination of associated accommodations. In addition to the inclusive accommodations, it is also possible to request customised accommodations. This is always done in dialogue with you, possibly your environment and the study coach. Tailored accommodations are granted by considering the following criteria: Necessity: without these accommodations, the student cannot fully participate in educational and examination activities Feasibility: accommodations should not impose a demonstrably disproportionate burden on the organisation Defensibility: the accommodations are justifiable towards those involved. They are acceptable to the lecturer, achievable to the student and defensible towards fellow students and the institution. Competence monitoring: the accommodations should not affect the intended final competences. They only modify the process of acquiring these competences. Some examples of educational accommodations arrangements for group work possibility of/solutions for absence in educational activities and/or permant evaluation possibility of moving deadlines Some examples of examination accommodations taking exams with compensatory software taking exams on laptop instead of paper going through the answers orally after the exam taking exams in a separate examination room moving exams to the catch-up day The application How do I apply for a special status and accommodations? You can apply for a special status and associated accommodations by making an appointment with the study coach connected to your study department, to the exclusion of the status of 'student ondernemer'. Make an appointment with your study coach You can also register on the adjustment tool. If you wish to use the accommodations, it is your responsibility to apply for these. Without an official application and accompanying attestation, the study department cannot provide certain study and/or examination accommodations. Term and deadline You need to apply for your accommodations in Howest every year. It is best to do this as soon as possible at the start of the new academic year. The deadlines for requesting accommodations are: for exams after the autumn break: 13/10 for exams after the Christmas break: 8/12 for exams before and after the spring break: 15/03 for exams in June: 10/05 for the resits: 14/06 If there is a new/changed situation, you can also submit/amend your application later during the academic year. In that case, contact the study coach linked to your programme. Documentation Documentation for status ‘Student with disability’ Documentation needs to be delivered in Dutch, English or French. If your documentation is written in another language, you'll need to provide us with a translation. Do you have (medical) reports that document your disability? Deliver as much documentation as possible to the study coach. The study coach will judge if this documentation is sufficient to obtain the disability student status. You can't provide sufficient (medical) reports that document your disability? Then you need to a completed VLOR attestation bundle signed by an qualified expert, as indicated in the form itself. Documentation other statuses Informal care: doctor's certificate Pregnancy and/or parenthood: certificate pregnancy and/or family composition Other competitive sports: documents from sports federation or club demonstrating level Other cultural background or foreign mother tongue: copy of identity card and/or attestation language level Dutch Transgender: doctor’s certificate Working student: copy of employment contract indicating duration of contract and employment fraction or pay slip Student with approved top-level sports activities: documents from sports federation or club demonstrating level Student-artist: portfolio or artistic CV and documents supporting your achievements and activities Mandate: attest with description of mandate Student-entrepreneur: proof of establishment of the company (with company number) Status and procedure You can always track the status of the application via the adjustments tool. On full approval: If the study coach has approved your application, you can download and, if necessary, print your accommodation certificate. The attestation lists the agreements with the study department you need to take into account. On refusal of accommodations: In accordance with the Codex Higher Education of 20 December 2013, students with disabilities are entitled to 'reasonable adjustments' (Art. II.221). Refusal of accommodations will be justified. This will always be done based on the above criteria. If you do not agree, you can lodge an appeal via the internal appeal procedure, as described in the Education and Examination Regulations. Additional study support for students with a special status The study coaches also offer support through individual study coaching. Coaching is flexible and tailored to the student, taking into account the study programme context. The study coach can act as a bridge figure between the study department and the student. Some key starting points of our support are: Student autonomy and self-direction are key The student is an expert by experience Striving for a growth trajectory tailored to the student throughout the study career Extra attention to pivotal moments during the study programme such as transition from secondary to higher education, bachelor's thesis and internship Through our digital offer, group sessions or individual coaching, topics such as learning how to study, planning, fear of failure, etc. are examined. Study guidance is also provided by the study department through monitorate or study track guidance. We try to proactively detect students' needs, but also count on the student's initiative to contact us in case of possible barriers. Inclusive university of applied sciences Which statutes are possible? What accommodactions are possible? The application Additional study support for students with a special status Useful links www.siho.be