COMPREHENSIVE ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES for College Students with Learning Disabilities & AD/HD. PLUS Program CENTER FOR ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING

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1 N E W C O N C O R D O H I O COMPREHENSIVE ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES for College Students with Learning Disabilities & AD/HD PLUS Program CENTER FOR ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING

2 PLUS Program Comprehensive Academic Support Services for a Successful College Career Muskingum College Center for Advancement of Learning The staff of the PLUS Program and the Center for the Advancement of Learning helped build in me the confidence to allow me to reach my goals and live out a dream despite a learning disability. Robert W. Mascolino Class of 1997 Teacher, Cambridge City Schools B.A., Political Science, History and Education M.A., Social Studies Curriculum Program & Philosophy For more than 165 years, Muskingum College has helped students lay the foundation for academic success and lifetime achievement. Toward that end, the College offers various levels of support, through its academic departments and through the Center for Advancement of Learning. Since 1983, the PLUS Program, located within the Center, has provided comprehensive, academic support services for students with disabilities. While any student with a qualified disability is eligible for PLUS services, the majority of students currently participating in the program exhibit high incidence disabilities, such as specific learning disabilities and AD/HD. Muskingum s PLUS Program is built upon a learning strategies instructional model. Using this model, professional learning consultants assist students by providing explicit instruction through learning strategies which are embedded in course content and involve comprehension and organization that are often difficult for students with LD and AD/HD. An important goal of the Program is to help students understand how they learn, thereby empowering them to direct and manage their own learning processes. Course and graduation requirements are not compromised for PLUS students, and PLUS participants graduate at a rate comparable to that of other students. The Program consists of two levels of fee-based tutorial support: an intensive Full Program, and a less intensive, reduced-fee Maintenance Level. Typically, students begin with Full Program support and move to the Maintenance Level after several semesters of academic success. (See Fees.) Students not participating in the PLUS Program who provide documentation of a qualified disability to the Director of the Center may also receive auxiliary services and/or reasonable accommodations. These are coordinated by the Center for Advancement of Learning staff and provided at no charge. (See Reasonable Accommodations.) Learning Strategies Learning strategies are sequenced patterns of behaviors used in all activities to make individuals more effective learners. Strategies are used to overcome difficulties in such areas as time management, language skills, reading, writing, and memory. These strategies can be crucial in helping students manage stress, become more selfassertive, and develop techniques to learn more effectively throughout their lifetimes and in a variety of contexts. Employing appropriate strategies is essential in college due to the nature and volume of work. Postsecondary learning requires students to connect old and new information, to extend or make new associations, and effectively use their memory capacities. Strategies also provide structure to elicit the higher-order processing demanded in college but not stressed in high school. Many college students tend to discover, through trial and error, which strategies to use in specific learning situations. Research indicates, however, that

3 without intervention, some students especially those with learning disabilities lack an awareness for how they learn best. Typically, these students also lack strategies to compensate for their weaknesses and complement their strengths. For these students, guidance from professional learning consultants who are familiar with college expectations and learning strategies is essential to developing more effective methods of learning. PLUS Program Staff The success of students in the PLUS Program can be attributed in part to the highly qualified, professional learning consultants who provide explicit learning strategies tutoring within specific content areas. The Center for Advancement of Learning is under the administrative oversight of the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The staff consists of the Director, Associate Director, Special Services Coordinator, Administrative Assistant, and the professional, full and part-time learning consultants. The Assistant Dean for Student Services works closely with PLUS staff and students. All professional learning consultants have Bachelor degrees, and many have completed Master s degrees and/or advanced training. Consultants are selected for academic preparation across disciplines, skill in learning strategies application and their ability to work in one-to-one, small group and large group sessions. The staff-to-student ratio is approximately 1:8. Tutorial Services Both individual and/or small group tutorial support are offered. Participating students must maintain a minimum of one contact hour per week for each course, for an average total of 3-5 hours each week. Maintenance Level students are entitled to one-half hour of contact per week for each course, and may have the option of devoting all hours to one or two courses. Tutorial sessions are scheduled around each student s class schedule and extracurricular activities. Involvement in campus activities is encouraged, permitting students to enjoy and benefit from participation in the broader campus community. Communication among many parties is essential to student success, and the PLUS Program promotes this in a variety of ways. Each student s primary learning consultant acts as a liaison between the Program and home, making contact on an as-needed basis (parents may always call the Center office with questions). Students are encouraged to make frequent contacts with faculty throughout the semesters. The Centerline newsletter communicates news from the Program and the College. Support Services Tutorial sessions to enhance learning and application of skills Study sessions to reinforce learning Priority registration by specific need and class standing to facilitate timely progression through courses Program advising to promote adequate course load and selection Reduced academic load, thus maximizing potential for success ChatBack, an informal group in which students may share experiences First Step Transition Program: a twoweek summer program to help bridge the gap between high school and college (additional fee required). PLUS Program Admission Process The PLUS Program reflects the College s commitment to the ultimate success of all of its students. The services of the PLUS Program go beyond the legally mandated framework that protects the

4 educational rights of students with disabilities. Due to the great demand for these high-quality support services, the PLUS Program targets admission to applicants who submit documentation that (1) adequately substantiates a qualifying disability that impacts learning and (2) indicates a reasonable chance of success for degree completion at Muskingum College. To apply to the PLUS Program, applicants should complete all materials required for regular admission to the college. In addition, PLUS applicants should submit a recent comprehensive evaluation which includes the following: 1. Aptitude Testing (must include subtests with standard scores). Preferred measure: Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale 2. Achievement Testing (must include subtests with standard scores). Preferred measures: Wechsler Individual Achievement Test; Woodcock-Johnson Psychoeducational Battery 3. A diagnostic summary in which a qualified examiner provides clear and specific evidence of the disability along with a diagnostic summary statement. The examiner should also discuss functional limitations and recommendations for specific accommodations. In order to be considered eligible for accommodations and services, the assessment must be recent, complete and conducted by a certified and/or licensed professional. A school plan such as an individualized education program (IEP) or a 504 plan is helpful for accommodation clarification and can be included as part of a comprehensive psychoeducational evaluation. Based on careful evaluation of admission materials and documentation, applicants are invited to the campus for a personal interview with a member of the PLUS Program staff. At this time, they can also talk with the Admission staff, members of the faculty, and other students. Admission to the College and the Program is based upon application materials and the personal interview. Each applicant is evaluated by a committee of PLUS and Admission staff for their potential to complete degree requirements. Students should have a college preparatory curriculum. Generally, four years of English, three years of collegepreparatory mathematics, and at least two years each of laboratory science and social sciences are recommended for admission. Because space in the Program is limited, early application is strongly advised. "As parents of a son with a learning disability, it was amazing to find a college program that cared as much as we did about his academic success as well as building his self-confidence. We admire not only the expertise of the professional learning consultants, but also the compassion and encouragement they gave to our son and to us every step of the way. It has been our great privilege to be a part of this exceptional program." Susan & Steve Blatchly, Parents

5 PLUS Program Comprehensive Academic Support Services for a Successful College Career Muskingum College Center for Advancement of Learning The learning consultants and staff are personable and caring. They give me a sense of security and confidence being away from home. Heather Ball Muskingum PLUS student Class of 2006 Class Schedule The typical first-semester schedule for a first-year PLUS Program student consists of a reduced academic load of credit hours. PLUS students may continue registering for a reduced academic load during subsequent semesters; however, they must carry a minimum of 10 credit hours to maintain full-time status. Taking a reduced academic load will necessitate additional semesters or summer sessions to meet the minimum 124 semester credit hours required for graduation. First-semester classes are typically selected from Muskingum s Liberal Arts Essentials (LAE). The LAE offers required coursework and electives to help all Muskingum students gain confidence as independent thinkers, expand their knowledge base and explore potential academic majors. Courses include selections from the listings below. Three-Credit Courses English Composition Arts and Humanities of Western Culture An introductory course in humanities from art, music, theatre or literature An introductory course in the social sciences from history, psychology, political science or sociology An introductory lab course in the natural or life sciences from biology, chemistry, geology, physics or experimental psychology A communication skills course chosen from computer science, study abroad, or a foreign language course A mathematics course One-Credit Courses First-Year Seminar, a course designed to help all students make a successful transition from high school to college and beyond Physical Education classroom and activity courses Academic Advising Muskingum College provides academic advising for all students. During the first semester, students are advised by their First-Year Seminar course mentor. When students declare a major, they are assigned an advisor in their academic major. PLUS consultants serve as program advisors only, assisting students in determining how to balance courses and create an appropriate course load each semester. All students must be aware that some majors have minimum admission criteria. An example of this is the education major that leads to teacher licensure. Students must meet a basic skill proficiency and GPA requirement prior to application and continuation in teacher education courses. The Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio State Board of Education require additional licensure testing by area of specialization. PLUS Program Fees PLUS Program fees are assessed for tutorial services provided by professional learning consultants. Fees are not assessed for reasonable accommodations for students with verified disabilities. Developmental instruc-

6 tion is not included among the services of the PLUS Program. The current fee schedule is available upon request. Reasonable Accommodations All students with verified disabilities, whether in the PLUS Program or not, have certain rights under federal law. In order to access services and protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, individuals with disabilities must submit documentation that verifies the disability and the need for accommodation(s) because of a substantial impairment in one or more major life functions. Documentation should conform to the same guidelines set by the PLUS admission process in the four areas of: qualifications of the evaluator; recent evaluation; appropriate clinical documentation of a disability, including functional limitations and recommendations for specific accommodations; evidence establishing a rationale to support the need for accommodations. Students requesting auxiliary services or accommodations should submit their documentation to the Director of the Center for Advancement of Learning., who may be contacted in Room 223, Montgomery Hall, Accommodations are provided at no charge and will be coordinated with or without the PLUS tutorial service. Reasonable accommodations can include but are not limited to the following:: Extended time for tests A distraction-reduced environment Exams administered by a reader or scribe Enlarged print Computer access during tests Spelling assistance About Muskingum Muskingum College s picturesque, 220 acre campus provides an ideal setting for academic exploration and growth. With 1,600 full-time students, the College is located in New Concord, Ohio, one hour east of Columbus, along Interstate 70. The coeducational, liberal arts and sciences program presents students with a variety of academic and pre-professional opportunities. With a 15:1 student-to-faculty ratio, classes are small and personal. More than 90 percent of students live on campus or within the village of New Concord. Muskingum College admits students of any race, color, handicap or physical challenge, gender, religion, age, orientation, socioeconomic status or political affiliation and national or ethnic origin. Muskingum College and the PLUS Program reserve the right to review and change at any time the policies stated in this brochure. Academic Majors Accounting Art Biology Business Chemistry Christian Education Computer Science Earth Science Economics Early Childhood Education Middle Childhood Education English French Geology German History Mathematics Music Philosophy Physical Education Physics Political Science Psychology Religion Religion & Philosophy Sociology Spanish Special Education Speech Communication Theatre Interdisciplinary Majors American Studies Child & Family Studies Conservation Science Criminal Justice Environmental Science Humanities International Affairs International Business Journalism Molecular Biology Neuroscience Public Affairs Self-Designed Pre-Professional Programs Christian Ministry Dentistry Engineering Law Medical Technology Medicine Physical Therapy Speech Pathology/Audiology Veterinary Medicine Teacher Licensure Early Childhood Middle Childhood Adolescent/Young Adult Multi-Age - Foreign Language - Music - Physical Education & Health - Visual Arts Reading Endorsement Special Education MUSKINGUM COLLEGE OFFICE OF ADMISSION 163 STORMONT STREET NEW CONCORD, OH PHONE: EHENRY@MUSKINGUM.EDU