Disability Services
Wharton County Junior College is committed to providing a discrimination-free environment for our students with disabilities, in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Students with disabilities are encouraged to inform the college of any assistance they may need upon application for admission to attend WCJC. Early self-identification by the student will allow students to receive approved accommodations as quickly as possible.
Disability information is strictly confidential and is not released without consent of the student. Additionally, disability information is not part of a student's WCJC academic records or academic transcript.
Steps to Apply for Accommodations:
- Provide documentation of disability to an Office of Counseling and Disability Services staff member or send to disabilityservice@wcjc.edu. Review the Documentation Guidelines prior to sending your documentation of disability, collect all required documents, and ensure you have documentation submitted in a timely manner.
- After the Office of Counseling and Disability Services confirms receipt of appropriate documentation as identified in the Documentation Guidelines, schedule an ADA Intake and Orientation meeting by contacting the WCJC Office of Disability Services at disabilityservice@wcjc.edu. It is important to schedule this appointment early, preferably a minimum of one month prior to your first semester of enrollment.
- Attend your ADA Intake and Orientation meeting to review the documentation of disability and discuss your accommodations for college. This meeting can take place in person or virtually.
- Before you leave your ADA Intake and Orientation meeting, check to be sure that there is no other documentation required. Ask any questions that you may have, especially if this is your first time meeting with the Coordinator.
- If you are approved for accommodation, an Action Plan will be written up that is specific to you and your needs. You will not be charged any fees for accommodations that are approved and written into your Action Plan.
Continuation of Accommodations:
WCJC students must request continuation of their approved accommodations each semester,
preferably at least one month prior to the start of a semester. The Request for Continuation
must be submitted each semester by contacting the Office of Counseling and Disability
Services at DisabilityService@wcjc.edu.
Student Responsibilities:
It is the responsibility of the student with a disability to voluntarily and confidentially
disclose information regarding the nature and extent of their disability. Wharton
County Junior College does not assume responsibility for providing accommodations
and services to students who have not identified themselves as having a qualifying
disability, made their need known, and/or requested accommodations in a timely manner.
Accommodated Testing Guidelines:
Student Guidelines for Accommodated Testing
Due to the high volume of students that WCJC Offices of Counseling and Disability Services and Testing Services assists, the following student guidelines have been established to assist students receiving accommodations, faculty, and staff. These guidelines are in effect at all campus locations.
- All students must make their own testing appointments after communicating with their instructor.
- Students should contact the appropriate Testing Center to schedule an appointment
48 business hours in advance of the day of the test.
- Testing Center personnel are not aware of students' accommodation requirements other than what is specified on the Instructor Exam Form, which is based on the information provided on the ADA Action Request. Students should verify the accommodations for testing are correct. Students may bring a copy of the ADA Action Plan email to their testing appointment.
- If the Testing Center is unable to provide approved accommodations, students should contact the Office of Counseling and Disability Services (disabilityservice@wcjc.edu) as soon as possible.
- Testing appointments are scheduled on a space, time, and day availability basis and also depend on the student’s schedule and accommodation(s). It may not be possible for a student to test during the regular class time. Testing appointments should not interfere with other class times.
- If a student is late by more than 10 minutes, he/she may be unable to test on the same day.
- Students must contact the Testing Center 24 hours in advance of missing an appointment. Tests may be rescheduled only with instructor/faculty member approval. Note that leniency of absences is an approved accommodation only in some very rare situations with documented chronic medical conditions. Most classes do not allow make-up exams.
- Students must complete testing within the scheduled appointment time window. Testing time starts at the beginning of the scheduled testing appointment window. When time is up, students must surrender test documents to the Testing personnel.
- Any student caught cheating on their test will have their testing materials removed immediately and the instructor/faculty member will be notified.
- All students using the Testing Center services should be prepared to present photo ID (driver license, state ID, recent student ID, passport) to Testing personnel at each testing appointment. Students will be required to store all personal items and will only be allowed to bring in items specified on the Instructor Exam Form. Students are not allowed to leave the testing room once they have started an exam unless breaks are allowed per the Instructor Exam Form.
Faculty Guidelines for Accommodated Testing
Faculty guidelines for coordinating ADA testing include:
- All students must make their own appointments with the Testing Center after communicating with their faculty member.
- Faculty members must bring the test to the testing location and/or Testing Center 24 hours prior to the time of the exam. Faculty members must complete the Instructor Exam Form and identify the accommodations that are to be provided based on the ADA Action Plan received from the Office of Counseling and Disability Services.
- Testing Center personnel are not aware of students' accommodation requirements. Faculty must specify accommodations on the Instructor Exam Form based on the information provided on the ADA Action Plan.
- If the Testing Center is unable to provide requested accommodations, please contact the Office of Counseling and Disability Services (disabilityservice@wcjc.edu) as soon as possible.
- Testing appointments are scheduled on a space, time, and day availability basis and also depend on the student’s schedule and accommodation(s). It may not be possible for a student to test during the regular class time.
- If a student is late by more than 10 minutes, they may be unable to test on the same day.
- Students should be instructed to contact the Testing Center and/or the Office of Counseling and Disability Services 24 hours in advance of missing an appointment. Tests may be rescheduled only with instructor/faculty member approval. Note that leniency of absences may be an approved accommodation in some rare situations.
- Students must complete testing within the scheduled appointment time window. Once time is called, students must surrender test documents to the Testing personnel.
- Any student caught cheating on their test will have their testing materials removed immediately and the instructor/faculty member will be notified.
- Students should be instructed to contact the Testing Center to schedule an appointment 48 hours in advance of the day of the test.
Contacts
For information related to disability services, please contact the Office of Counseling and Disability Services at disabilityservice@wcjc.edu or call 979-532-6384.
Testing locations and schedules vary. For more information, contact a WCJC Testing Center.
Disability Services Resources:
Disability Services Guidelines
Web Resources
Students with Disabilities Preparing for Post Secondary Education
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