Disability Policy  

Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU) complies with the provisions outlined in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 by offering reasonable accommodations to qualified students with documented disabilities. In keeping with Southwestern Adventist University policy, any student with a disability who requires academic accommodation will need to call the Department of Disability Services at 817-202-6255 or email Dr. Marcel Sargeant, vice president of institutional research and effectiveness, at sargeant@swau.edu to arrange a confidential appointment with the director of Disability Services during the first week of classes.   

Accommodations for disabilities are available only as recommended by the director of Disability Services after reviewing supporting documentation. Accommodations will not be provided if they fundamentally alter or impact the nature of the program or inappropriately impede access for others. The University’s goal is to provide an academic experience and learning opportunity, not to guarantee the success of the student’s education or career.  

Our mission  

It is the mission of the Department of Disability Services to help students with disabilities develop academically, socially, and spiritually through support.    

The goals of the Department of Disability Services

The  Department of Disability Services seeks to empower students with disabilities to access all aspects of university life at Southwestern Adventist University by:  

1. Implementing appropriate accommodation in accordance with Section 504/ADA policy.  

2. Assisting students as they learn to self-advocate and aiding them with academic excellence, time management, and self-knowledge.  

3. Coordinating academic and other support services by collaborating with the students, faculty, and University staff.  

4. Educating University faculty and staff about disability issues and concerns.  

5. Fostering student development academically, socially, and spiritually through the support of the Department of Disability Services.