Advising Assistance

All Southwestern Students are assigned an advisor prior to First-Year or Transfer Orientation. Usually, this individual is a faculty member. The Assistant Director for Academic and Access Resources can work with a student and his/her advisor to develop an appropriate degree plan. The Assistant Director for Academic and Access Resources is also available to work with students on advising or academic concerns related to a specific course.

Advocates for Persons with Disabilities

Advocates for Persons with Disabilities is a group of Southwestern students, faculty and staff who are interested in educating our community about issues related to persons with disabilities. Contact The Center for Academic Success for more information or to join the group.

Alternative Books

For students with appropriate documentation and a demonstrated need, The ADAAR will work to provide audio-texts to a student. At present, texts are provided in PDF or CD formats. Texts can also originate from volunteer readers. Click here for the Alternative Book Practices for Students (Adobe PDF)

Classroom and Program Accessibility

Any questions or concerns about building access or programmatic accommodations should be directed to The Center for Academic Success. These requests include, but are not limited to, keys to wheelchair lifts and elevators, interpreting and captioning services, classroom locations, large-print resources, parking and maps of accessible entrances.

Confidentiality and Disclosure of Disabilities

The Center for Academic Success treats all students professionally. To this end, we respect a student’s right to confidential interactions. Click here for confidentiality practices (Adobe PDF)

Course Substitutions

Course substitutions at Southwestern are rare and may occur only by petitioning and gaining the approval of the Academic Standards Committee. Click here for more information about Southwestern’s Guidelines for Substitutions.

Documentation Guidelines

In order to receive assistance, the student with a disability must provide the ADAAR with documentation that describes the disability. General documentation guidelines are as follows:

1. Documentation must be from a qualified professional (excluding family relations) in the area of the disability (i.e. psychologist, psychiatrist and/or physician). Documentation must come from the original professional who conducted the testing. Documentation may be provided by more than one source if a team approach to treatment has been implemented.
2. Documentation must current (within three years for most disabilities) and testing must be age-appropriate.
3. Documentation must be comprehensive and provide the following:
   • A specific diagnosis based on the DSM-IV-TR or ICD-10 criteria
   • A description of functional limitations in the academic and other environments
   • A summary of current treatment and previous history with condition
   • A list and interpretation of any tests given along with the individual scores for all evaluative measures
4. Specific recommendations for accommodations with appropriate rationale
5. All accommodations and services for eligible students are determined on a case-by-case basis. The professional’s recommendation for a student’s college program makes an important contribution to this process but is not a guarantee of any accommodation or service.
   • Click here for specific documentation guidelines for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
   • Click here for specific documentation guidelines for Learning Disabilities
   • Click here for specific documentation guidelines for Psychological Disorders
   • Click here for specific documentation guidelines for physical or health-related disabilities (including vision and hearing impairments.)

Extended Time and Reduced Distraction Testing

The Center for Academic Success maintains two testing rooms that are available to students by appointment from 8 AM to 5 PM Monday-Friday. When necessary, special arrangements may be made for Southwestern classes with evening exams.

Facilitation with Faculty and Campus Departments

In addition to helping individual students negotiate accommodations with faculty and departments, the ADAAR is available for outreach and educational services to faculty, students, staff and departments on campus. These services may include educational programming, classroom resources, speaking engagements or one-on-one consultation.

Grievance Policy for Students with Disabilities

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended (Public Law 93-112) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-336), Southwestern University prohibits unlawful discrimination on the basis of disability in its programs, services, and practices.

 The complaint resolution process at Southwestern University for accommodating the academic needs of students with disabilities is meant to address complaints about the provision of appropriate academic accommodations in classes in which students with disabilities are currently participating.  The complainant must be able to establish that he or she appropriately requested the desired accommodation in accordance with the Policy on Academic Accommodation and Program Modifications for Students with Disabilities set forth in the Student Handbook.

 If a complaint is brought by a student regarding denial of an accommodation needed in an ongoing class, the decision of the Assistant Director for Academic and Access Resources (or designate) to provide or deny said accommodation shall be implemented until such time as a formal resolution of the grievance process is achieved.

 In situations where there is disagreement concerning the appropriateness of a particular accommodation, every effort should be made to resolve the disagreement as expeditiously as possible.

 In the event as a student at Southwestern University believes that he or she is being denied a reasonable academic accommodation, discriminated against within the academic environment based on a disability, or retaliated against due to an academic accommodation, the following grievance process is in place:

• A meeting with the Assistant Director for Academic and Access Resources must be scheduled no later than 10 working days* after the denial, alleged discrimination within the academic environment based on a disability, or retaliation due to an academic accommodation.  In this meeting, a discussion of individual needs will take place in an attempt to address the complaint and work toward an appropriate resolution.
• If the student is not satisfied with the outcome of the meeting with the Assistant Director for Academic and Access Resources, he or she must, within 10 working days* of this meeting, contact the Director of Academic Success and Advising at 863-1286 (voice) or 863-1283 (TTY) to schedule an appointment.  The Assistant Director of Academic and Access Resources makes all documentation of the student’s disability available to the Director of Academic Success and Advising.
• If an academic accommodation and/or resolution of the complaint cannot be mutually agreed upon following the meeting with the Director of Academic Success and Advising, the student must, within 10 working days* of this meeting submit in writing a petition to the Academic Standards Committee in care of the Provost/Dean of Students, Cullen Building, Southwestern University, PO Box 770 Georgetown, TX 78627. In the petition, the student should set forth in writing the basis for the complaint, including, but not limited to, a description of any academic accommodations sought by the student.  All documentation of the student’s disability will be made available to the Committee.  The Committee will make a recommendation to the Provost.  A written response by the Provost will be provided within 10 working days* from the day the student submits his or her petition to the Committee.
• In the event that the student believes that the complaint has not been resolved after following the above process, the student has the right to file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights within the Department of Education.  In accordance with federal law, if a complaint is made to the Office of Civil Rights, all relevant records would be made available upon their request.

 

*Note:  Working days are considered Monday through Friday (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and time periods when an academic term is in session.  It does not include Southwestern University holidays or breaks between and during semesters.

                                    Approved by the Faculty on April 24, 2001.

 

Identification of Resources and Providers

The Center for Academic Success will accept documentation from any qualified medical or service provider. While we do not support any particular provider, the lists below reflect professionals who have worked successfully with Southwestern or with colleges or Universities in the area. Linked documents are Adobe PDF Files.

• Austin
• Dallas
• Houston
• San Antonio

On campus, the Center for Academic Success works closely with Student Counseling Services and Student Health Services to provide comprehensive resources for students.

Note Takers and Readers

If needed, the Center for Academic Success (CAS) can hire a fellow student to serve as a note taker or a reader. Note takers are students who are also enrolled in the class where the notes are needed. These students agree to provide copies of the notes they take for themselves to the CAS. Notes are scanned and sent to the student via email to their SU email account. Readers are available for exams or in-class assignments.

Peer Mentoring

The Center for Academic Success employs Southwestern Juniors and Seniors who are skilled in working with small groups and individual students. These peer academic mentors are available to work on general topics such as note taking, organizational skills, time-management skills, study skills and exam preparation.

Registration Assistance

Students, who for reasons of a disability, feel that they need specific accommodations during the registration process, or who, for reasons of a disability, must schedule classes at specific times, should contact the ADAAR prior to registration. The student and the ADAAR will meet to determine the most reasonable accommodations possible.

Temporary Accommodations

Students who are in the process of being tested for a disability may contact the ADAAR for temporary accommodations. Temporary Accommodations are provided at the discretion of the ADAAR for a maximum of one semester. Students who sustain major injury during a semester may also contact the ADAAR for assistance.

Tutoring

Individual departments offer tutoring services at Southwestern. The Center for Academic Success employees peer mentors who are available to assist with a variety of general topics. The Center staff can also assist a student in finding a tutor in a specific department.

Contact us:

Academic Success
Southwestern University
P.O. Box 770
Georgetown, Tex. 78627-0770
success@southwestern.edu