Tom L Thompson – Higher Education Consultant

Sandi Patton – Lone Star College System

Deborah Larew – Valencia College System

MULTI-CAMPUS COMM. COLLEGE PERSPECTIVES

- EFFECTIVE PRACTICES AHEAD 2014 SACRAMENTO

Tom Thompson – Higher Education Consultant and retired Director, Disability Services and ADA Coordinator – Harper

College (IL)

Sandra Patton – Director, Disability Services – Lone Star College System (TX)

Deborah Larew – Director, Disability Services – Valencia College System (FL)

INTRODUCTION

LONE STAR COLLEGE

VALENCIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Community College Facts (from AACC)1. 50% located in or near a large city

2. 33% located in or near a mid-sized city

Multi-Campus SystemsUS has many multi-campus systems – most in large cities

such as:Chicago, New York, Phoenix, Houston, Baltimore, Miami,

ClevelandDS Systems Director – systems approach to work: focus on

institutional needs and not on individual studentsGoal: Improve operations, student impact and accessibility

overall

MULTI-CAMPUS SYSTEMS

Institutional Access

- Managing Interpreting, Captioning

- Assistive Technology and E-Text Resources

- Digital Accessibility – Course Management System, Student Portal, ERP

- Budget, Space & Personnel

Policy, Practices & Training

- - DS policies: grievance, documentation review, service

animals- - DS practices: production and

delivery of accessible materials

- - Training: promotion of UDL, new issues for DS providers

SYSTEM DIRECTOR’S ROLE

When started and background prior to current role?

Why did your campus move to a system Director? What existed prior?

Specific examples from each college system (past 2-3 years)1. Key areas of focus

2. Relationship with DS staff, faculty & others3. Policy, procedures & practices

4. Training for DS and campus

LONE STAR & VALENCIA’S SPECIFIC ROLES

Lone Star System

System-wide model for interpreting and

transcribing

Standardizing forms and departmental practices

System-wide professional development; Expanding

Horizons annual conference

Valencia College System

Centralized model for interpreting and

transcribing dollars

Adequate staffing college wide with a system of team building and professional

development

Faculty relationships and collaborative, systemic

training

THREE ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Gaining an “institutional focus” of DS work – allocating time apart from direct support/services

1. Facilitating change on campus2. Dealing with budgetary/space needs

3. Managing complex services such as interpreting or e-text

4. Providing important training and education5. Collaboration with administrators and allies

6. Other?

TRANSFERABLE PRACTICES

How can you advance access and support for students with disabilities?

Network with city or state colleageus to enhance services, find good contractors?

Create partnerships on campus, which increase access – with whom?

Encourage your campus to do an external evaluation – determine what needs to be addressed!

RESPONDING ON YOUR CAMPUS

Issues on your campus?

Planning for an external review

Hiring, training and supervising others

Presenters Contact InformationTom L Thompson: tltharper30@yahoo.com

Sandi Patton: Sandra.L.Patton@lonestar.eduDeborah Larew: dlarew@valenciacollege.edu

DISCUSSION AND APPLICATION