Congratulations on becoming a WCCC student! 

Already, you may notice several differences between what you experienced in your K through 12 schools, and what you are experiencing in college. For some students, this is a significant change and we want to provide as much information as possible to you.

In K through 12 schools, the emphasis was on your success and the 504 plan, or IEP may have provided significant modifications to the learning environment. Often, the school district or individual schools arranged for services and assistance for you, and perhaps a parent was also involved.  

At college, the emphasis is on equal access to the learning environment, not on modifying or changing the environment. If you are seeking accommodations, you must notify the College and provide documentation for each category of disability. The documentation must provide information on specific functional limitations and demonstrate the need for accommodations. 

Why is there such a big difference between K through 12 schools and college? It is due to the differences between the laws and regulations governing primary and secondary education (K through 12), and post-secondary education (college and universities). 

Below is a sample of what you can expect as a college student:

Role of the Student:

In high school, the student is identified and supported by the school, teachers, and parents. 

In college, the student must self-identify with the Accessibility Services Office and is responsible for seeking accommodations. Under the Family Educational Records Privacy Act (FERPA), students hold the privacy right to their information and must provide written permission for a college staff member to speak with a student’s family member. 

Role of a Parent:

In high school, a parent may have participated in the disability services process and received progress reports. Parents could seek out information about the student without the student’s permission.

In college, a student holds the privacy right to their own educational records. No information about the student can be shared with a parent without the written signed permission of the student. This is true even for a high school student taking a college course.  

Required Documentation:

In high school, a student may have had an IEP or 504 plan, and the student did not need to provide any documentation to the school.

In college, the IEP and/or 504 plan no longer exist. Any student seeking an accommodation must provide documentation for each category of disability, and the documentation should be recent – within the last three years. The documentation has to provide information on specific functional limitations and demonstrate the need for accommodations. The College cannot accept an IEP or 504 plan as sufficient documentation; if a student needs an evaluation, they are responsible for obtaining and paying for the evaluation. 

The student must engage in an interactive process – a back and forth with the College – to determine what accommodation would be reasonable based on the documentation provided. 

Academics:

In high school, the curriculum may have been modified including different assignments, tests, and grades. Teachers were required to remind students about schedules and attendance, provide student with information missed during an absence, and present materials in different ways to help the student understand the content. 

In college, the course curriculum is not modified, and every student is expected to meet the standards – essential elements of the course objectives – of the course. Tests, assignments, and grading rubrics are applied equally to all individuals in the course. 

Students are responsible for attending classes, keeping track of projects, assignments, due dates and test dates.  Student are also responsible to seek out information they may have missed during an absence. 

CLICK HERE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION