STUDENT HANDBOOK
Services and Policies
Academic Support Programs
The Academic Success Center, located in Room 207 of the Michael Schwartz
Center, provides two services designed to assist students to manage
the curriculum of the University environment. Students with disabilities
are given priority for the Support Services Program: a grant funded
program that provides personal and academic assistance throughout their
undergraduate careers, as well as tutoring in math, writing, reading
and study skills. Students must apply for this program either prior
to enrollment, or the semester prior to starting. Information can be
obtained through the S.D.S. staff. Additionally, the Academic Success
Center offers University Tutoring, which include academic workshops
and open tutoring hours for writing, math and some L.E.R. courses. This
tutoring is provided on a first-come, first-served basis, and is subject
to availability. Both programs are free of charge.
The Academic Success Center also coordinates an academic support group
designed for students with Attention Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder.
This group meets weekly, and there is no obligation to attend.
Advising
The staff of Student Disability Services is available to meet with
students to discuss concerns they might have with accommodations, instructors,
campus accessibility, housing and a variety of other subjects. We also
are very knowledgeable about other campus resources. Although we emphasize
the need for students with disabilities to utilize the same resources
available to their non-disabled peers (such as academic advising), we
will gladly meet with them after they have accessed the resource to
help them assess the extent to which it met their needs. Due to the
large number of students who utilize S.D.S., we strongly urge students
to call to make an appointment.
Augmented Hearing Devices:
Student Disability Services will provide students with augmented hearing
devices (FM Units) as needed. A discussion regarding the student’s
need for this accommodation, as well as the specific type needed should
take place during the initial Pre-Enrollment Interview. Students check
out a transmitter, receiver and charger at the beginning of each academic
year during their required check-in meeting. It is the student’s
responsibility to carry the unit from class to class, giving the instructor
the transmitter to wear at the beginning of class and then getting it
back at the end. The devices are serviced after each academic year,
therefore it is required that students turn them in to S.D.S. at the
end of Spring Semester. Students are responsible to obtain the hearing
aids and personal ear molds necessary to utilize the FM Units.
Braille Documents:
S.D.S. will assist students with obtaining Braille text materials where
appropriate. Most documents can be obtained or contracted out through
Braille clearinghouse resources, but require the student to indicate
the need for these materials at least four weeks in advance.
Classroom Furniture Adaptations:
S.D.S. maintains a variety of different tables and chairs for students
who have physical disabilities that prevent them from utilizing standard
classroom furniture. Students are required to contact S.D.S. at least
4 weeks in advance of classes to discuss their needs, and for staff
to be able to make the necessary arrangements. Additionally, S.D.S.
will make arrangements for any student-owned equipment/furniture to
be place into classroom at the student’s request. Again, 4 weeks
notice is requested.
Housing Assistance (on-campus):
There are a variety of accessible housing options in the residence
halls, including single rooms, rooms with private bathrooms, and apartments.
Students with special housing requirements must bring their request
to the attention of the staff of S.D.S., who will then authorize Residence
Services to place the students in these spaces. Students are strongly
encouraged to get these requests to a staff member at S.D.S. as soon
as possible, as there are a limited amount of rooms available. Students
who request a double room as a single because of needing more space
for equipment will still be responsible for the deluxe single room rate.
Interpreter Services and Policies:
Students who are deaf or hard of hearing may require the use of a sign
language interpreter while attending Kent State University. Student
Disability Services employs both certified and non-certified interpreters
for students’ academic needs (classes and related functions). RID
certification is preferred. All interpreters have experience in post-secondary
educational settings and/or have demonstrated the ability to handle
courses at this level. The Interpreter Coordinator at S.D.S. is responsible
for hiring and assigning interpreters to courses.
Students who require interpreters must schedule their Pre-Enrollment
Interview at least 4-6 weeks prior to the beginning of classes, in order
to ensure adequate coverage.
General Guidelines:
- Meet the interpreter about 15 minutes prior to class to discuss any special needs and/or preferred language
- Pay attention to the interpreter during all aspects of class, and try to sit where you can see both the interpreter and the instructor.
- Ask your questions to the instructor, not the interpreter
- Be careful what you sign. The interpreter will interpret everything you say if your instructor or classmates are nearby.
- When taking a test, you can ask the interpreter to interpret questions for you with the approval of the instructor, but not for answers.
- If you choose to sleep, ignore or be inattentive to the interpreter, he/she is under no obligation to "catch you up" later
- Remember the interpreter's role - do not interfere with the interpreter's work by trying to engage in casual conversation at inappropriate times.
- Remember, the interpreter is not a counselor or a tutor and will not assume either of these roles.
- The interpreter will wait 30 minutes before leaving, if the student fails to show up for class
Failure of Students to Appear:
- It is your responsibility to notify the Interpreter Coordinator with as much advance notice as possible if you are not able to make it to class (illness, etc.).
- Students who miss classes on more than three occasions without informing the Interpreter Coordinator will be REQUIRED to meet with her. This will most likely result in an interruption of interpreting services until this meeting takes place.
Difficulty with an Interpreter:
- It is your responsibility to notify the Interpreter Coordinator if the interpreter is continually late to class and/or does not show.
- If the interpreter does not appear for an assignment, contact the Interpreter Coordinator as soon as possible. If available, a replacement will be sent.
- If you are unable to understand your interpreter, you should first ask the interpreter to clarify what she is saying/signing. If this difficulty persists, contact the Interpreter Coordinator.
Lab Assistance:
Students with physical disabilities that require physical assistance
to meet laboratory course requirements should request this accommodation
through the office of Student Disability Services. We will advertise
and attempt to employ a person to work with you throughout the semester.
Student who require extensive assistance in order to complete in-lab
research projects should notify S.D.S. at least one week in advance.
Library Assistance:
Assistance is available for various facets of the library, from obtaining
text and research requests to copying periodicals through the library
personnel. Contact the main circulation desk with specific requests.
A few days notice is generally required for the acquisition of material.
Notetaking:
A notetaking service is available for students with significant physical,
sensory, or processing deficits. It is important to note that this service
is intended to augment the student’s class attendance, NOT take
the place of it. Notetakers are other students in the class who are
paid $40 (payable at the end of the semester) to make copies of their
notes. A student with a disability is also welcome to purchase carbonless
paper for the notetaker, so that he/she can receive a copy of the notes
immediately following class. It is the student’s responsibility
to arrange a regular time with the notetaker to meet in order to obtain
the notes.
Students who are eligible for this service are given the choice of
either: (1) identifying a potential note taker on their own in class,
or (2) having S.D.S. send a memo to the professor that asks him/her
to make a general announcement in class that a student needs a notetaker,
and anyone who is interested should go over to the S.D.S. office. In
this case, notetakers are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
All notetakers need to fill out student employment paperwork at the
S.D.S. office and Student Employment office in Career Services in order
to be paid. Concerns regarding the quality of notes or the timeliness
of delivery should be directed to the appropriate staff member at S.D.S.
immediately.
Parking:
Parking Services is the office responsible for authorizing special
parking on campus. All students who park on campus must pay for a parking
permit, including those with state handicapped placards. Students who
have a state placard need to bring a copy of their permit registration
form that shows their name and the placard expiration date, and will
then be authorized for a campus handicapped permit. All other students
who request special parking must have their physician fill out an eligibility
form (available at Parking Services or Student Disability Service) or
write a letter that indicates (1) the nature of their disability/injury,
and (2) the length of time they will be needing special parking. This
eligibility form should be returned to Parking Services to determine
if they qualify for "lot parking". Lot Parking enables students
to park in the two lots closest to their classes. Again, it is highly
recommended that students request this parking as soon as possible,
as lots will fill as the beginning of the semester approaches.
Priority Registration:
All students registered with Student Disability Services are eligible
for priority registration for courses during the pre-registration period
for the upcoming semester. This enables students to choose class times
and locations that are best suited for their needs. Student Disability
Services will notify all registered students about the upcoming priority
registration date through a mailing. S.D.S. staff is available to discuss
the most accessible classroom options with students.
Reader Services/Books on Tape:
Some students with disabilities that affect their ability to read printed
materials are eligible to have books read on cassette tape. Prior to
each semester, it is the student’s responsibility to notify a staff
member at S.D.S. which classes they will need books on tape for. Reading
material may take as long as two weeks to acquire, so advance notice
is highly encouraged.
S.D.S. has an institutional membership to Readings for the Blind and
Dyslexic, Inc. (RFB&D), a national library that provides recorded
educational books and related library services. Tapes from RFB&D
are in “4-track format”, and require a special tape recorder
to play. S.D.S. has four tape players in their office for student use,
and also has information that details purchasing options for students.
Textbooks and other reading material that are not available through
RFB&D will be read by S.D.S. readers. If this is the case, students
will be notified and will be asked to do the following:
- Provide a copy of their syllabus for the class readings (note: S.D.S.
can obtain an additional copy of textbooks from the bookstore for
this purpose).
- Provide copies of any outside readings (journal articles, etc.) that are
not available from the bookstore.
- Check with S.D.S. weekly to see if tapes are ready for pick-up.
- Pick-up all tapes in a timely manner. If you do not pick up your tapes (at least once a week), we will assume that you do not need them and will stop recording those particular texts.
All tapes must be returned to Student Disability Services at the end
of finals weeks of the term in which they were used. Students who fail
to return tapes may be responsible for the cost of the tapes and recording.
Student Disability Transportation Services:
Transportation on campus is coordinated by the Office of Student Disability
Transportation Services. For more information contact them directly
at (330) 672-3551 or access their home page.
Test Accommodations:
Student Disability Services provides proctoring, reasonable extended
time, and alternative administration for course examinations within
their office suite. Responsibility for the provision of the exam to
the S.D.S. office lies equally with the student, the course instructor
and the S.D.S. staff. Specific guidelines have been established to ensure
a consistent and expedient process. They are as follows:
The student is responsible for contacting S.D.S. at least three
days in advance to schedule a test. At that time, the student
is also responsible for reminding the faculty member that they will
be taking the exam in the S.D.S. office. Every effort will be made
to arrange test proctoring on the same day and as close as possible
to the time the rest of the class is scheduled to take the exam. However,
the appointment times depend on the availability of proctors. All students utilizing the test proctoring service will be expected
to take their tests at the same time as other class members. Students
must schedule their exams during the hours the office is in operation
(Monday, Thursday, Friday 8:00am-5:00pm; Tuesday and Wednesday 8:00am-7:00pm).
Any student who needs to take their test at a time/date other than when
the class is must obtain permission from their instructor. New testing
arrangements must then be communicated directly to the S.D.S. office
by the instructor. If the student fails to complete her/his exam at
the scheduled time and/or provide permission from their instructor to
take it at another time, the test will be returned to the instructor
the day following the test date. NOTE: Due to the increased need for this service, the S.D.S. staff
may need to schedule a student's appointment at a different date/time
than when the class is taking the exam. If this situation arises, the
faculty member will be directly notified by the S.D.S. office.
The course instructor is responsible for delivering the exam to
the S.D.S. office prior to the scheduled test time. Tests may be faxed
to our office at 3763. S.D.S. assumes responsibility for the security
of the exam once it is received. To ensure the security of the exam,
the S.D.S. office requests that the test NOT be sent via campus mail.
The course instructor may arrange to pick up the completed exam,
or the completed exam may be delivered by a S.D.S. worker, usually within
two working days. If delivered, a receipt for the exam must be signed
by the instructor or another staff member in the department. The instructor must provide written permission for the student to
use notes, textbooks, calculators, or other materials during the test.
It is always the instructor's choice to provide the stated
accommodations in their own classroom or building. Indeed, this may
be helpful in some cases as the instructor or other qualified individuals
might be better served to answer questions about the test. We request
that the student discuss the testing process in detail with the faculty
member prior to the exam. Should a student who is being proctored at the S.D.S. office have
content-specific questions about the exam, every effort will be made
to contact the instructor of the course. If we are unable to reach her/him,
we will instruct the student to provide a written explanation of her/his
question, to be attached to the exam. American Sign Language may be the first language for some deaf or
hearing impaired students. Hence the grammatical subtleties of their
A second language, English, may pose problems in addition to slowing
their reading speed. If the test is in written form, the Student Disability
Services Office can provide a sign language interpreter who reads and
translates the questions to the student in sign language. If the method
of evaluation is oral, the interpreter can reverse this translation
process for the student. If the deaf or hearing impaired student needs
either of these alternative test administrations, please follow the
general procedures for the S.D.S. test proctoring service or contact
the S.D.S. Office for details. Once seated in a testing room, the student is not permitted to leave
the office for any reason. If the student needs to take frequent breaks
as an accommodation for her/his disability, the exam will be broken
up into smaller sections. Each section will thus be administered and
the student will be permitted to take a break after she/he turns in
the small section to the proctor. The student will not be permitted
to return to a section she/he has completed. Any incidents of improper test-taking, as defined by the University's
Policy on Student Cheating and Plagiarism will be handled as if they
occurred in the classroom. If cheating is evident, the S.D.S. proctor
will stop the exam immediately, and the exam will be returned to the
instructor with a written explanation of what occurred. It is expected
that the faculty member will hold the student accountable for her/his
inappropriate action.
Wheelchair Loan Service:
The office maintains a small assortment of manual wheelchairs. These
chairs can be used to assist temporarily disabled persons, as well as
those individuals whose chairs are being serviced. Contact Student Disability
Services for availability. S.D.S. also maintains a list of reputable
wheelchair sales and service dealers in the area, and will provide this
information on request.
[ Handbook Contents ] [ Introduction
][ Eligibility ] [ Reasonable
Accommodations ]
[ Rights & Responsibilities ]
[ Course Substitutions ] [ Assistive
Technology ]
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