Growing Support & Managing Change

Three Case Studies

AHEAD ConferenceJuly 2014, Sacramento, CA

Tom L. Thompson – Facilitator

Marcy Van Meter, Lynn Shattuck & Jen Radt

A Tale of Three Cities / Colleges

Cedarville University – small, liberal arts university in rural, central Ohio

Rock Valley College – medium, community college in northern Illinois

University of Cincinnati – Clermont – a small, two year campus of a university system

Commonalities and Differences

Cedarville U: from 110 To 225 students of 3,400 (6.6% of total enrolled)

Rock Valley College: from 60 to 401 students of 8,600 (4.7% of total enrolled)

U of Cincinnati - Clermont: from 95 to 209 students of 3,461 (6% of total enrolled)

If you “build it they will come”! Enrollment of swd is growing consistently.

Cedarville – support grew within an Academic Support Center – The Cove

Rock Valley – support grew due to increasing students and consistent evaluation – regular accessibility reviews

U of Cincinnati-Clermont – grew through strategic planning, relationships within the system, grants

All gathered & used data!!

Cedarville University – The Cove

Video about the Cove at Cedarville, by Kim Ahlgrim, Associate Dean, Academic Enrichment

http://www.cedarville.edu/Media/Video.aspx?VideoId=KB5FLVki4UOXQaiMWCEmRg&source=InformationTechnology&ShowTitle=true

Cedarville University

Disability Services –part “The Cove” Provide courses, programs, services

Staffing: Coordinator ft, .5 position for Testing and Alt Media; .5 for other support; proposed .5 Admin Ass’t for fall 2014

Developmental milestones: Assessed needs, Educated campus

New facility, Accommodate data base, new hw & sw acquired

Rock Valley College

Disability Support organized in 2002 by Director of Success Center

2002 – one person office; 2014 – two staff interpreters; two half time admin asst’s; approved for part time Accommodations Specialist & part time AT Specialist All have helped with Alt Media, other duties

Future space plan being developed

Emphasized physical and digital accessibility

Implementing AIM data base

University of Cincinnati-Clermont

A video introduction to the campus with Jen Radt, Director

http://www.ucclermont.edu/students/dso.html

University of Cincinnati - Clermont Clermont is one of three regional campuses.

Learning Center started with 75 students, in 2014 Disability Services serves 209

Coordinator started in 2003. Added half time GA. Work closely with DS at other campuses. Advisory Committee in 2007.

Testing Center proctors accommodated testing

Grants helped with technology & AT. DS has its own strategic plan with annual goals

Lessons Learned & Tips

Plan, assess and gather data – key to convincing others of needs/changes

Build relationships with key stakeholders. Create alliances.

Inform, advise, educate others

Grow as a professional – read, learn, attend conferences and webinars; network with other colleagues

National Trends & Challenges

Enrollment of students with disabilities is growing, even when college is declining Invisible disabilities are most common

CAS (new) Standards emphasize three roles: Consultation with campus colleagues

Removing barriers & increasing access

Providing individual support to students

Digital accessibility is paramount – teaching relies on it more and more

Consider

Greatest area(s) of need in your department

What data collection systems are in place? What do you know about students?

Do you practice quality improvement with your services?

Benefits and Risks of responding / not responding to increasing numbers of students

Discussion Time

Questions, Challenges, Concerns?

Presenters: Tom L Thompson – facilitator

tltharper30@yahoo.com

March Van Meter – Cedarville mvanmeter@cedarville.edu

Lynn Shattuck – Rock Valley College L.Shattuck@rockvalleycollege.edu

Jennifer Radt – University of Cincinnati/Clermont Jennifer.Radt@uc.edu