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Differences Between Accommodations in High School and College

Posted in CT State.

  • 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

Posted in CT State.

  • 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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Extended Enrollment Hours

Posted in CT State.

  • Temp Last Modified: 2024-12-31

Need Help Enrolling in Classes?

Campus offices are open to assist you during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, as well as during additional, extended hours. Visit your campus One Stop Enrollment Center for more information.

Haven't applied yet? Go to the online application and be sure to upload any required items to be accepted. And, if you are a CT high school graduate, you may be eligible for free college. Access to free tuition and other financial aid starts with your completing the Free Application for Student Financial Aid, or FAFSA.

Please note: you are considered a continuing student if you've attended a CT community college in the past two years. You are a re-admit student if it has been more than two years since you've attended a CT community college.

Click on any location below for more information.

Asnuntuck

Extended Hours

Capital

Extended Hours

Gateway

Extended Hours

Housatonic

Extended Hours

Manchester

Extended Hours

Middlesex

Extended Hours

Naugatuck Valley

Extended Hours

Northwestern

Extended Hours

Norwalk

Extended Hours

Quinebaug Valley

Extended Hours

Three Rivers

Extended Hours

Tunxis

Extended Hours

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State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement

Posted in CT State.

  • Temp Last Modified: 2024-09-20

State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement

The State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA) is an agreement among member states, districts and territories that establishes comparable national standards for interstate offering of postsecondary distance education courses and programs. It is intended to make it easier for students to take online courses offered by post-secondary institutions based in another state. SARA is overseen by a National Council and administered by four regional education compacts. The Connecticut Office of Higher Education became a member of SARA in 2017, thus allowing CT State Community College to apply to be a member of SARA and to accept students from all SARA-approved states.

Student Complaints

Pursuant to federal regulations and the terms of SARA, the Office of Higher Education is responsible for the investigation and resolution of out-of-state students’ complaints against institutions of higher education based in Connecticut and offering distance education via SARA. Note that issues regarding student life, such as discipline, grading, etc., fall solely within the purview of the institution and are not generally investigated. Additionally, the Office of Higher Education does not investigate anonymous complaints or provide legal advice.  Currently, SARA institutions are to:

  • Apply the tuition refund policies of their home state to students located in other SARA states; and
  • For students located in non-SARA states, follow any relevant tuition refund policies of those states.

Within two years of the incident complained of, out-of-state students enrolled in a Connecticut institution via SARA may file a complaint in accordance with the following steps:

  1. The student must attempt to resolve the complaint by exhausting the institution’s established internal grievance procedures. These are usually published in the institution’s catalog, student handbook and/or posted on the institution’s website. Absent extenuating circumstances, the Office of Higher Education will not investigate complaints filed by students who have not first sought a resolution with the institution.
  2. If all remedies at the institutional level have been exhausted and the complaint is not resolved, the student may file a complaint with the Office of Higher Education. To file a complaint, please follow these procedures. All documentation for review related to the complaint must be provided by the student as part of the filing.
  3. The Office of Higher Education will process the complaint and provide copies of all documents filed with the complaint to the institution. The institution has 20 days to respond. After receiving a response and conducting an investigation, the Office of Higher Education will issue a findings report to all parties. The findings report is final.

If a Connecticut student is enrolled in a distance education program offered by a SARA institution based in another state, the student should contact the portal agency in that state to pursue the complaint process. Connecticut students enrolled in Connecticut institutions must first exhaust an institution’s established internal grievance procedures, and then should contact the Office of Higher Education prior to filing a complaint.

All correspondence, including institutional applications and student complaints, should be sent via email or post to:

SARA CoordinatorNC-SARA approved institution
Office of Higher Education
450 Columbus Blvd, Suite 510
Hartford, CT 06105

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Mental Health Resources for Faculty and Staff

Posted in CT State.

  • Temp Last Modified: 2024-03-24

Resources Available by Campus

Gateway

The Counseling & Wellness Center offers support to Gateway faculty and staff in the following topics:

Request a Workshop

Providing mental health workshops for faculty/staff is the main, direct way of collaborating between others on campus to provide leadership in student mental health. Workshops will be done throughout the Fall and Spring semesters made available to the GCC community. More specifically, faculty/staff can request a private workshop on specific subjects than can be given virtually. Some potential topics can include, but are not limited to self-care, how to build a support system, depression and anxiety, or the topic can be chosen by you.

Click Here For Form

To request a personal workshop please fill out the linked form a minimum of 2 weeks in advance. Please be sure to include the number of expected attendees, virtual or on campus, and possible dates.

Faculty/Staff Guide to Common Scenerios

SEEKING GUIDANCE OR ADVICE CONTACT
Student:
• Communication indicates having been a victim of a stalking,
harassment, hazing, or other crime.
• Communication reflects sexual assault or relationship violence.		 Wellness Center
203-285-2480, N114
Acting Dean of Student Affairs
203-285-2210, N220
Student:
• Has not attended class for an extended period of time.
• Is overwhelmed by a problem with the university.
• Is debilitated or overwhelmed by a family emergency.		 Student Success Center
203-285-2090, N213
Student:
• Substantially impairs, interferes with or obstructs orderly processes
and functions of the university.
• Deliberately interferes with instruction or office procedures.		 Acting Dean of Student Affairs
203-285-2210, N220
REPORTING CONCERNING BEHAVIOR
Student:
• Does something significantly out of character.
• Acts peculiar and this is cause for alarm.
• Displays unhealthy or dangerous patterns of behavior.
• Appears to be under the influence or coping with the effects of
substance use.		 Wellness Center
203-285-2480, N114
Submit an I-CARE Report
Security
203-285-2246
IMMEDIATE ACTION
Student:
• Threatening the safety of self or others.
• Acting in a frightening or threatening manner.
• Not leaving the classroom or office after being asked to leave.		 Public Safety Officers
203-285-2246
Police
911

Virtual Resource Guide


Click Here For Guide

CARE Reports


Click Here For More Info

I-CARE Reports (Wellness Center)


Click Here For Form

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