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President’s Idea Exchange

  • Temp Last Modified: 2024-10-22

Welcome to the President’s Idea Exchange!

As we celebrate the successful completion of CT State Community College’s inaugural year and embrace year two, we recognize that the best ideas often come from within our own community. This platform allows students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the college to share their thoughts, ideas, and feedback directly with the President’s Office.

We value your voice and the diverse perspectives within our community. Whether it’s a new initiative, a way to improve our services, or thoughts on current projects, your insights are essential in helping us advance our strategic priorities, achieve our shared goals, and maintain an environment of innovative learning, collaboration, and student success.

Please complete the fields below to submit your suggestion. You may choose to remain anonymous or provide contact details, which may assist administrators with any follow-up. Note that CT State will not publicly attribute any comment received. Submissions are reviewed by the President’s Office and may be forwarded to relevant leadership teams. While not every suggestion may result in immediate action, your feedback is crucial in guiding our efforts toward continuous improvement and informed decision making.

Finally, this forum is not intended for emergency situations or urgent matters. If you are experiencing an emergency or require immediate assistance, please contact the appropriate campus resources or emergency services.

Thank you, and we look forward to hearing from you!

MAKE A SUGGESTION

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Resources

  • Temp Last Modified: 2024-03-25
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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Temp Last Modified: 2025-02-19

While the process to request accommodations may seem overwhelming at first, we have developed some frequently asked questions to help guide some potential concerns you may be experiencing.

  • Do colleges provide special education services?

    Accommodations, modifications and special education services are covered under IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) which ends when a student graduates from high school. Therefore, colleges do not provide special education services.

    CT State provides reasonable and appropriate accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

  • How do I transfer my accommodations from high school to college?

    Accommodations do not transfer from high school to college. Instead, CT State’s Office for Disability and Accessibility Services works with students to determine reasonable accommodations for the college environment. Please keep in mind that your high school accommodation plan (IEP, 504, etc.) does not automatically transfer. Additionally, accommodations granted in high school may not be considered reasonable in college.

  • What is a reasonable accommodation?

    Postsecondary institutions are required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. To comply, post-secondary institutions must provide reasonable accommodations to ensure that the student can access their college program. A reasonable accommodation is an adjustment to a course, program, service, job activity or facility that ensures equal opportunity for qualified students with disabilities to participate in and enjoy the benefits of a service, program or activity. The purpose of reasonable accommodations is to afford students with disabilities equal opportunities to receive equal results. Reasonable accommodations cannot substantially alter, change, or modify grading, assignments, exams, instructional methods or class activities.

  • Will my disability status be listed on my transcript?

    The information that you share with the Office for Disability and Accessibility Services is strictly confidential. Your disability status will never be listed on your transcript or any other document from the college.

  • What if I think I have a disability but haven’t been diagnosed yet?

    The Office for Disability and Accessibility Services does not conduct or provide evaluations to determine if a student has a disability. However, our staff is happy to meet with you and offer guidance. We can provide information about local options if a student feels that they would benefit from an evaluation.

  • Is there a deadline to register with the Office for Disability and Accessibility Services?

    The Office for Disability and Accessibility Services recognizes that a student can develop or become aware of a disability at any time. Students are strongly encouraged to submit their semester requests as early as possible. Approved accommodations are not retroactive. However, a student may request reasonable accommodations at any time during the semester.

  • What role do parents and caregivers have in the development of a student’s accommodations?

    When a student is in high school, parents and caregivers are legally entitled to participate in the process of determining accommodations and supports. At the college level, the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) protects a student’s privacy. If a parent or caregiver wishes to speak to staff from the Office for Disability and Accessibility Services, the student must provide their consent in advance.

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Differences Between Accommodations in High School and College

  • Temp Last Modified: 2025-02-19

If you had an IEP or 504 plan in high school and/or have a diagnosed disability, you may be eligible for accommodations at CT State. The process to obtain accommodations in college changes from the process students may have experienced in high school. It is important that students develop their self-advocacy skills and understand which accommodations best support their learning.

The chart below highlights some key differences between high school and college in the accommodation process.

HIGH SCHOOL

COLLEGE

Structured

Unstructured

The school and parents/caregivers direct disability-related needs

Each student directs their disability-related needs

The school is obliged to meet most student needs

“Reasonable” accommodations are provided

The student’s IEP or 504 plan outlines accommodations

The documentation provided by the student outlines reasonable accommodations

High parent/caregiver involvement

Limited parent/caregiver involvement

Frequent school-to-parent/caregiver communication

Limited/no school-to-parent communication

High teacher involvement and responsibility

High student involvement and responsibility

May provide tutors, attendants, and/or paraprofessionals

Not required to provide tutors, attendants, and paraprofessionals (unless provided for all students)

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Using Your Accommodations

  • Temp Last Modified: 2024-03-24

Please find below the processes to utilize certain accommodations. Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis. Some accommodations may not be applicable based on the individual student. Refer to your Accommodate portal to understand your approved accommodations. Accommodations provided in high school may not be available in college. If you have a question about your approved accommodations or would like to request additional accommodations, please reach out to your Disability Service Provider.

  • Exam Accommodations

    Proctored exams are available to students approved for this accommodation. Like all students with approved accommodations, students should submit their semester request through their Accommodate portal at link one accommodate (CT State Accommodate link will be available here early August). Once they have submitted their semester request:

    Steps to Schedule Testing Accommodations:

    • On the left navigation panel, select “Testing Room”

    • Select “New Booking Request”

    • From the drop-down menu, select the course

    • Complete the testing information fields.

    • Select “Check Availability”

    • Available testing seats will be displayed on the right side of the screen. Please select an available day/time to register

    • From the “Confirm Exam Booking” screen, please review that the information is correct, and click “Submit Request”

    • Upon submitting your test request, an auto-generated email will be sent to you and your instructor indicating the testing reservation
  • Alternate Formats

    Students with disabilities who require alternative access to printed material may receive their textbooks in an alternate format. Eligibility for this academic adjustment is determined individually, and students must demonstrate a substantial visual, physical, or learning disability that requires alternate materials. Students approved for this accommodation are required to show proof of purchase of the book prior to receiving it in an alternate format due to copyright laws. Like all students with approved accommodations, students should submit their semester request through their Accommodate portal at link one accommodate (CT State Accommodate link will be available here early August). Once they have submitted their semester request:

    Steps to Request Alternate Format Textbook Titles

    • Click “Accommodations” and in the drop-down list you will see “Alternative Format”

    • Click “Alternative Format” then click “Student Entered”

    • Click “Upload Document for an Alternative Format Request”

    • Fill in the information requested- ISBN number, title, semester, class, and upload proof of purchase

    • Submit

    • Repeat for each individual audiobook you are requesting
  • Interpreting Services

    Interpreting services may be available to deaf/hard-of-hearing students. Please note the following:

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