Emergency, Safety, & Security
Frequently Asked Questions

Information about scheduling an appointment with Counseling Services can be found on the Counseling Services webpage.  

Baldwin Wallace University uses Rave Alert to send advisories and emergency notifications by email and text message. All students automatically receive email alerts through their BW email account.

For current updates, definitions of advisories and alerts, and information about campus closures, visit the BW University Advisory page.  

The Office of Accessible Education provides reasonable assistance to students with temporary impairments such as injuries or acute illnesses which may require temporary classroom support. According to the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008, temporary impairments are not considered a disability as they do not rise to this level as outlined by the ADA due to the duration (generally six months or less) of symptoms or functional limitations. 

Documentation is required, and reasonable assistance is determined based on the nature of the impact of the temporary condition on an individual basis. Note: Transportation services are not provided.

Students with temporary impairments interested in seeking accommodations must complete the required steps to apply for accommodations and have their physician complete and fax the Temporary Impairment Verification Form to (440) 826-3832.

What Students Need to Know – 5 Step Concussion Recovery & Treatment Process

1. Ensure the Office of Accessible Education (OAE) is notified of the injury.
Who submits the notification depends on where the injury was diagnosed:

• Athletics-related: The Athletic Training Department will notify the OAE
• Diagnosed by the BW Health Center: The Health Center will notify the OAE.
• Off-campus Diagnoses: You are responsible for submitting medical documentation specifying the concussion diagnosis to the OAE

2. A Concussion Notice will be sent to your faculty and advisor.

• Your professors and advisor will recieve notice indicating that you have sustained a concussion with suggestions on how best to accomodate you. 
• Please note that it is your responsibility to obtain notes/materials and maintain contact with your professors to discuss a timeline for completing assignments/tests.

3. A temporary Letter of Accommodation (LOA) will be sent to your faculty indicating that you are eligible to receive specific academic accommodations. The temporary LOA will expire three (3) weeks from the date of injury.

• If you intend to use testing accommodations through the OAE Accommodated Testing Room, you must meet with the Accessible Education Director to learn the process and schedule exams. Send an email directly to disability@bw.edu to schedule an appointment.

4. You are referred to the Speech Clinic for evaluation.

• You must make an appointment with the Speech Clinic and attend recommended follow-up appointments and/or necessary treatments. Call the Speech Clinic directly at 440-826-2149. 
• If you are an athlete, you will be required to be cleared by a physician before participating in any physical activity and returning to play.
• For non-athletes, you must be cleared by a physician before returning to physical activity (i.e., performance based/activity courses).

5. You should maintain regular communication with your professors throughout this process to keep them informed of your recovery and progress.

 

1. Start by talking with your instructors and academic adviser.
   • Instructors may be able to arrange an Incomplete (I) grade. Instructors can assign an “I” (Incomplete) grade if they believe the situation warrants it. The “I” is used when a student, through no fault of their own, is unable to complete the course. If approved, you would have until the end of week six of the next Fall or Spring semester in which you're enrolled to finish the coursework. After that, the grade automatically converts to an “F” unless the instructor enters an extension.
2. If you are unable to secure accommodations that will work for your situation and need to withdraw, submit the
   • Petition to Withdraw After the Scheduled Withdraw Deadline form
3. Review financial‑aid and billing impacts.
   • A late withdrawal can change your enrollment status, which may trigger a return of federal aid (R2T4 calculation) and leave a balance on your student account. Contact the Financial Aid Office at finaid-1@bw.edu or 440-826-2080  for questions regarding possible changes to your financial aid.
4. Follow up. Watch your BW email for the decision and any next steps.

If you're dealing with a serious and unexpected situation, such as a hospitalization, injury or accident, personal or family crisis, or the death of an immediate family member (parent, grandparent, or sibling)—BW can help notify your professors of your absence.

Please Note: This notification is a courtesy only and does not excuse your absence. It simply informs your instructors that you're unable to attend class due to a significant emergency.

If you haven’t already spoken with your professors, here’s what to do:

1. Complete and submit the Crisis/Emergency Notification Form.
   • This can be submitted by you, a family member, or another responsible person.
2. Your professors will be notified that you're experiencing an emergency and unable to attend class.
   • No personal details will be shared—just confirmation of the situation, in accordance with FERPA privacy regulations.
3. Contact your professors directly as soon as you’re able to discuss your absence and next steps (make-up work, extensions, etc.).

Important Notes:

• This process is intended for current emergencies only and cannot be used for past or future absences.
• If your situation does not meet the definition of a major emergency, it’s best to reach out to your professors directly to explain your absence.
• If you live on campus, notify Residence Life of your extended absence by calling (440) 826-2114.