RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT
The ACCESS Center offers support services to any qualified student with a disability who requests such services. It is each student’s responsibility to make use of these services. Each student is reminded that he is ultimately responsible for his academic success and/or failure. Each student must take the initiative to use time, facilities, and support services in a productive manner. Each student is responsible for his own work and grade in each course.
Also, the ACCESS Center offers direction in securing guidance in academic and personal matters. Again, it is each student’s responsibility to make use of these services. The ACCESS Center will not be held responsible for acts of misconduct committed by any student.
It is the responsibility of each student to know and abide by all UM-Helena and ACCESS Center policies, rules, and regulations. Each student must take the initiative to familiarize himself with these policies, rules, and regulations. Failure to do so will not exclude the student from reprimand or any other consequence of violating any UM-Helena or ACCESS Center policy, rule, or regulation.
CLASS ATTENDANCE is crucial for successful academic completion. When a student who uses an interpreter, transliterator or captionist will be absent from class, notifying the ACCESS Center is expected. This is crucial when communication facilitators (CF) are being paid for their time in class. The interpreter, transliterator or captionist can be notified ahead of time when any change is expected. When at all possible, prior notification is expected by calling the ACCESS Center. The CF is there as a supplement to the classroom experience, not as a substitute. If a student misses class, he needs to meet with the instructor for follow-up. CF’s are not responsible for the student’s absence nor their academic responsibilities.
BASIC EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENT
Role: The student’s role is simply to be the learner. She is in the classroom for the purpose of learning.
Responsibilities:
1. Contact the Director of Disability Services if an interpreter, transliterator, captionist or other accommodation is needed.
2. On the first day of class or in any new situation, please identify yourself to the interpreter, transliterator, or captionist.
3. Be on time for all classes, labs, and meetings.
4. Sit in a place that provides the best distance, lighting, background, and angle for seeing the interpreter, transliterator, or captionist.
5. If you have any questions relating to class materials, ask the instructor.
6. Personal conversations with the interpreter, transliterator or captionist should not occur during the class, but before or after the class.
7. Notify the ACCESS Center to set up note-taking services.
8. If you have difficulty understanding the interpreter, transliterator, or captionist, discuss it with the provider of the service. If this does not solve the problem, then go to the Director of Disability Services.
9. If you have problems with your note taker, contact the ACCESS Center.
10. If your interpreter, transliterator or captionist does not come to class, notify the Director that he or she has failed to show up.
11. Let your interpreter, transliterator or captionist know if:
A. You plan to be absent or miss a class.
B. Your class is canceled.
C. There will be a video shown in class.
D. You will be making a presentation.
NO-SHOW POLICY
If communication facilitation (CFs) services have been requested, and you know that you will be unable to attend class, you should provide the ACCESS Center with at least 24 hours advanced notice so that CFs can be informed. Failure to provide any advanced notice is considered a “No-Show." To give advance notice, a student may:
1. Call the office at 444-6800 (front office) and leave a message; there is a TTY phone at this number.
2. Contact the Director of Disability Services (Cindy Yarberry: 444-6897) and speak either in person or leave a message by voice or relay or TTY. If you prefer, you may leave a message at her email address: yarberryc@umh.umt.edu.
3. Contact the ACCESS Center (Tammy George: 444-2766) and leave a message either by voice or relay.
Failure to provide notice will result in the following actions:
First “No-Show”: Interpreter will wait for 10 minutes and then return to her office.
Second “No-Show”: A letter will be sent to the student informing the student that they have two “No-Shows”: In addition, the letter will remind the student of the policy and appropriate procedures.
Third “No-Show”: Services will automatically be temporarily suspended and a letter will sent to the student informing the student of the policy and the appropriate procedure. Services will remain suspended until the student makes an appointment and meets with the Director of Disability Services in The ACCESS Center to reinstate services.
For each subsequent “No-Show”: Services will automatically be suspended and a letter will be sent to the student informing the student of the policy and the appropriate procedures. The services will remain suspended until the student makes an appointment and meets with the Director of Disability Services in The ACCESS Center.
Exception to the “No-Show Policy”: If three (3) or more “No-Shows” occur within the same two week period, services will automatically be temporarily suspended and a letter will be sent to the student informing the student of the policy and the appropriate procedures. The services will remain suspended until the student makes an appointment with the Director of Disability Services.
Excessive absences: Even with advance notice, excessive absences are a problem for the student. Attendance in class is directly correlated to student success. If the student misses three classes in a given week, then he or she may find services suspended by the Director of Disability Services, and a conference will be required to reinstate them.