I was on an airplane once when a person wasnt allowed to go to the bathroom because of some type of turbulence issue. It was a poop problem. I am sure glad I wasnt the person sitting next to them What a mess At least it was understandable in that case
Cheating can happen in the classroom with electronics. I’ve gone through the process of obtaining a disability. Its absolutely ridiculous and a waste of time. Not only that it is a waste of a doctor’s time but the money spent. Its an absolute violation of HIPPA.
I like the airplane story. I’ve heard other stories of this happening in classrooms because everybody should be able to just hold it.
Oh my gosh how traumatizing! I once got motion sick on a plane with severe turbulence, and that was enough to make me avoid flying whenever humanly possible 
Again, someone please tell me if I am misreading or misinterpreting this, but I read this:
as saying the OP needed to use the restroom less than an hour into the exam. If they finished the exam where the professor let them use the restroom in just over an hour, it means they needed to use the restroom sometime during that first hour of the exam. If they finished the philosophy exam in “just over an hour as well,” then they needed to use the restroom (so bad that they thought they would “mess their pants”) within the first hour of the exam, even thought they said they went to the restroom right before the exam.
So it’s not really a question of if we should expect students to be able to hold it 3 hours or 2 hours or 90 minutes. None of that would have helped the OP, who likely still would have had to use the restroom.
I agree that it’s unfortunate the OP ran into this situation, but I don’t see how the OP has any case–from a disability perspective or just from a grievance against unfair practices by the professor (since there is a university rule that it was within the professor’s right to enforce). It doesn’t matter that other professors allow students to use the restroom. Other professors could give take home, open book exams too. That doesn’t mean that every professor should be required to or that it is unfair if a professor does not. All the OP can do now is know this could potentially be an issue going forward, and just check with professors beforehand if they are allowed to leave the exam room to use the restroom or if they are expected to remain in the room until their exam is complete. I have had professors who have done both, and each situation seems perfectly valid to me. When I was a TA, I learned tons of crazy ways that students have cheated in the past, and it’s some crazy stuff, let me tell you. I don’t begrudge a professor that wants to do their best to curb cheating.
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My uni has a policy that all 3 hour classes must have a break in the middle. I’d assume that applies to exams as well but our exams are never more than 2 hours.
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And that’s a reasonable rule.
I don’t like the need for someone to go thru the process to get an “accommodation,” because sometimes the “need” is temporary, and the burden shouldn’t be so high. Instead, just have policies that lessen the need for accommodations.
I would also prefer that everyone have “more time” if necessary. I don’t like that some students get more time and others don’t. If a test is believed to be a 2 hour test, then let anyone have 3 hours.
First of all, it’s HIPAA, and NO, it’s not a violation of HIPAA.
If brought to the attention of the powers that be in a thoughtful, respectful manner, maybe the OP could help initiate changes to the policy, perhaps gaining support for a break midway during a 3 hour exam. The profs would all then have the same task of designing their exams in such a way as to prevent the opportunity for cheating during the break. Sounds reasonable to me.
However, as a retroactive tool to change his grade, or compel the prof to design a new test for him-don’t see that happening.
Oh my gosh, I literally JUST WATCHED a Key and Peele video on this exact subject.
Warning: profanity
Or even no policy at all - if they have to use the bathroom they simply do so.
bluebayou, I was just kidding. I have actually spend years on disability issues for one of my kids, who has multiple health issues including type 1 diabetes. And getting accommodations is a little more complicated than just getting a note from an MD.
I would not have ever thought of applying for accommodations based on the need to take a bathroom break midway in an exam: I would expect there to be a break.
Anyway, many of us older women seem to need a break every 20 minutes, so that was the humor I guess.
An “adult” would have had the COURTESY to ask the professor BEFORE THE TEST for an accommodation.
A “child” seeks to blame others after the fact, for the consequences of his/her total lack of planning.
Is having a “doctor’s note” enough? I can imagine that some profs would NOT treat a doctor’s note with the same respect as an accommodation on file.
“If a test is believed to be a 2 hour test, then let anyone have 3 hours.”
S went to UC several years ago at time when 20K+ UGs with tons of STEM majors in very large class sizes. (The UG enrollment is currently 25% higher). As finals exams were generally 3 hours and rooms have to be reserved to accommodate the exam numbers, by adding say an hour or even half hour to testing schedule for breaks and also allowing time to empty out a hall, then refill hall for next test, will kids end up having tests scheduled at say 12-3 AM?
As to short breaks: I’ve sat in rooms as student with large numbers of kids. Even let say you give 15 minute break, my experience was generally it’s 25-30 minutes before kids are rounded up and ready to resume, especially since there may not be enough toilets to handle a sudden surge.
Does anyone see problem from school’s perspective trying to build breaks into exam schedules?
This whole mind set of everyone being a victim and needing to sue is part of the reason college administration has gotten so complex and the cost is spiraling out of control.
@Jugulator20
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went to UC several years ago at time when 20K+ UGs with tons of STEM majors in very large class sizes. (The UG enrollment is currently 25% higher). As finals exams were generally 3 hours and rooms have to be reserved to accommodate the exam numbers, by adding say an hour or even half hour to testing schedule for breaks and also allowing time to empty out a hall, then refill hall for next test, will kids end up having tests scheduled at say 12-3 AM?
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Good point. But, also avoidable. Finals don’t have to be 3-hour-tests. They could be 2 hour tests within a 2.5 or 3 hour test period.
I just don’t like the idea that some students are given “extra time,” while others aren’t. I think it can give an unfair advantage.
My kids’ undergrad had finals in 2.5 hour periods, with 60-90 minute gaps between exams, but I think a number of profs geared their exams to be 1.5-2 hrs long.
@gmtplus7 most people dont blame victims. They blame the people responsible. There would be no reason to sue if people did what they are supposed to do.
You may want to review section 504 and 34 cfr104.3. It protects students with bowel issues
If OP has bowel issues, or bladder issues at age 24, I think it is a really good idea to see a doctor … get some treatment and if necessary a note. Similarly, severe anxiety issues for someone going to law school and trying for a career in law, that certainly can include some stressful times, seems to at least indicate a need to talk to a counselor. I just don’t see why there needs to be this high an anxiety level or such urge to go after 30 minutes or an hour, both would concern me.
As a future lawyer, OP should consider both sides of this issue - the possible disability issues and the probable cheating issues. Some research would be good, maybe look up the sections above and UT policy. Stop blaming the professor and maybe try to convince the administration there is a better approach or that they are treading on weak legal or ethical ground here. This would then likely impress a law school more than getting one more A.
Not sure how I feel about extra time accommodation. On one hand, I do realize some people have issues and I would love them to succeed and best case overcome them, but on the other hand, will employers give these people extra time to complete their work ? Is it fair for a student with an accommodation to get an A after 3 hours vs another person getting a B after 2 hours ? Each test is different, should I claim a disability in solving physics problems (and how does a difficulty say reading relate to a problem that has 3 short sentences … and lots of physics theory and maybe lots of algebra to get through and check) ? Can I claim some kind of numerical dyslexia and then become an engineer or mathematician ? If it takes me longer to read, should I really become an english or history major ?
The debate about extra time is a complex discussion that may derail this already extraordinarily long thread.
Sincere question for lawyers/other people who work in law: if you’re at trial and need to pee, can you just ask the judge to pause the trial?
I’ve sat through a few but I’ve never seen this happen so someone that works there might be able to answer.
Does giving reasonable notice for a disability accommodation request count as people doing “what they are supposed to do”?