Frequently Asked Questions
Q: May I ask a student in my class if he or she is enrolled in the LEP?
A: No. Because of privacy laws, faculty and staff members may not ask about disabilities or LEP enrollment status.
Q: Do LEP academic counselors and/or LEP tutors proofread papers for students?
A: No. Students must be present and actively involved in the process of refining their written
work. Counselors and tutors do explain grammar and punctuation errors, but always with
the goal of helping students develop confidence and solid writing skills.
Q: What should I do if I think the LEP could be helpful to a student in my class?
A: Ask the student if he or she has struggled in the past with coursework. If the
student has a learning disability, he or she will likely disclose that to you during the conversation. You’re then free to discuss the learning disability and the LEP with the student. If the student does not disclose a disability, you can still talk to the student about support services offered through the LEP and at DU.
Q: Do I need to report grades and attendance to my student’s LEP academic counselor?
A: No. However, if you are concerned about the student, you’re welcome to contact the student’s LEP academic counselor to discuss your concerns.
Q: What should I do if I want to contact my student’s academic counselor?
A: First, talk to your student. Let him or her know you’re concerned and that you’d like to talk to his or her academic counselor. Ask the student for the counselor’s name, and
then go to the Contact Us link for the phone number and e-mail address.
Q: Should I give LEP students a different version of an exam or quiz, to compensate for their learning disability?
A: No. LEP students take the same exams and quizzes as others in the class.
Q: Should I grade a LEP student differently from those in class, to compensate for how much the student struggled with the material?
A: No. LEP students are graded on the same standards as non-LEP students.
Q: Should I give a LEP student less work than others in class?
A: No. LEP students complete the same amount of work as non-LEP students.
Q: Should I offer extended time for completion of homework assignments?
A: LEP students are offered comprehensive support and therefore should be required to turn work in on time. If you would not make that offer to other students in your course, don’t make a special offer to LEP students.
Q: Should I accept a student’s learning disability as a valid reason for late work?
A: Learning disability/challenge status usually doesn’t dictate whether a student can turn work in on time. Occasionally, a student may benefit from extra time if the disability is pronounced. In that case, the Disability Services Program should contact you with information about the student so that you can work with the student on reasonable timelines for completing work. On average, however, you should not feel obligated to accept late work based on a student’s disability.
Q: Should I contact a LEP staff member with questions about a student’s accommodations?
A: You should contact the Disability Services Program (DSP) for all questions about
accommodations. The LEP provides strictly services; the DSP coordinates accommodations. Visit the DSP website for further information: (new DSP address to be added here through a link)
Q: May I contact LEP for further information about learning disabilities and strategies for effective teaching?
A: Yes, we welcome interaction with faculty and staff. We will schedule meetings with
faculty or arrange individual meetings at any time.
