Services for Students
SERVICES OFFERED BY DISABILITY SERVICES: |
SERVICES OFFERED BY MEREDITH COLLEGE: |
PROGRAMS OFFERED BY DISABILITY SERVICES: |
|---|---|---|
| Disability Counseling | Learning Center | Outreach, Advocacy, & Training |
| Coaching | Academic Advising | Disability Support Organization |
| Mediation | Support Groups | Disability Panel |
| Mentorship | 23+ Program | Disability Awareness Day |
| Assistive Technology | Commuter Life & Diversity Programs | Preview Orientation |
| Dean of Students |
SERVICES OFFERED BY DISABILITY SERVICES:
The Counseling Center/Disability Services offers counseling to all students that is free and confidential. Sometimes students with disabilities, like many other students, have difficulty coping with the challenges that comes with being a college student. Disability counseling is available in order to provide support and offer an avenue for students to process their emotions.
Coaching is a supportive, practical, concrete process in which the coach and client work together to identify and pursue the client’s goals. It is a collaborative process that supports individuals in improving their everyday performance by gaining knowledge, structure, and power. Coaching helps individuals develop the structure necessary to function effectively and teaches practical approaches to the challenges of life through inquiry and goal setting. Typical topics in coaching include but are not limited to; time management, organizational skills, medication titration, building self-esteem, and interpersonal skills and techniques.
Disability Services staff are available to assist a student in advocacy when her attempts have not been as successful as she would have liked. We welcome meeting with students to discuss strategies to make her interactions with faculty and staff more successful. We are also available to meet with students with faculty/staff as a means of facilitating communication and understanding.
The Disability Support Organization (DSO), which is a student led for student with disabilities, has devised a mentorship program where students can be paired with another student with a disability who will serve as their mentor in order to help students with self-advocacy and other concerns that may arise.
In addition, Disability Services will make every effort possible to pair students who may have similar interests or disabilities together, when requested. Confidentiality laws make this process somewhat difficult, but we are glad to connect students to one another once the student has given us permission to do so.
Disability Services provides Assistive Technology (AT) to qualified students. Assistive technology (AT) is technology used by individuals with disabilities in order to perform functions that might otherwise be difficult or impossible. Assistive technology can include mobility devices such as walkers and wheelchairs, as well as hardware, software, and peripherals that assist people with disabilities in accessing computers or other information technologies.
Disability Services mostly provides Reading Technology, sometimes called text to speech software, to our students. Disability Services offers many options for students who want or require their texts in an audio format. This software is useful for students with and without disabilities as it proves to enhance comprehension of any print material required for class. This concept is referred to as Universal Design. To learn more about Reading Technology, please click here.
Learning Technology Lab
Disability Services is home to the Learning Technology Lab (LTL) in 213 Carroll Hall, a small computer lab that houses Reading Technology. There are currently six computers and the lab is available for use by the entire Meredith community. It is currently open 7 days per week.
The Counseling Center/Disability Services office publishes two newsletters each year to inform students of important information about Disability Services. Newsletters are also published and sent to incoming freshmen throughout the summer prior to their arrival. All newsletters are available online and alternate formats are available upon request.
SERVICES OFFERED BY MEREDITH COLLEGE:
919.760.2800
The Learning Center provides free one-on-one tutoring to Meredith students. We specialize in tutoring mathematics, grammar, and writing for all subjects. Help in other subjects varies by semester. Learning Center tutors are Meredith students who have excelled in their coursework and have been trained to assist their peers.
Subjects tutored are listed on the web at www.meredith.edu/learn/subjects
Appointments
There are three ways to make an appointment.
- Sign yourself up on one of the bulletin boards in the hallway outside of The Learning Center. Here you can see the full range of times and tutors available. Blank schedule sheets are generally posted 1-2 weeks in advance.
- Call 760-2800 to sign up with a Learning Center representative. If you reach voice mail, please leave the date and time you would like an appointment, as well as the subject
and class you are taking. Someone will call you back to confirm. - Make an appointment online. This method has the longest turnaround time, so try one
of the others if you are looking for an appointment soon. You will receive a confirmation email when your request has been processed.
If you must cancel an appointment, please do so 24 hours in advance. You may cross your name off the schedule, call The Learning Center at 760-2800, or cancel online.
Drop-In Policy
You are welcome to come in without an appointment. If a tutor is available and is not expecting an appointment, she will be glad to help you.
*Information taken from the Learning Center website.
www.meredith.edu/students/advising
919.760.8059
The mission of the Office of Academic Advising is to provide support and assistance to Meredith students in reaching their full academic potential through quality academic advising, study skills information, and proactive programs and interventions with academically at-risk students. The Office also serves as a resource for the training, development, and support of faculty in their advising relationships with Meredith students.
*Information taken from the Academic Advising website.
www.meredith.edu/students/counsel/groups.html
919.760.8427
The Counseling Center offers various support groups throughout the academic year. Groups can be an excellent way for students to make important connections and cope with emotional concerns that can hinder academic and personal growth. Typically, support groups are organized around a theme or a need. Most groups meet weekly for an hour for one semester. Groups are facilitated by a counselor, and students are required to meet with the counselor once before the group begins.
All groups are free and confidential.
Previous groups have included:
-
The Perfection Trap- A support group for students struggling with identity issues, self-esteem concerns or body image issues related to perfectionism.
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Anxiety Management Group- A group for students struggling with anxiety and panic. People who experience anxiety and panic may find it terrifying or impossible to function in personal relationships, social situations, classes, and jobs. Group members will learn ways to overcome anxiety and panic in a safe, comfortable setting.
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Women in Transition- A confidential support group for women who are exploring the possibilities for change in their lives.
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Is Your Glass Half Empty: Exploring Attitudes About Alcohol Use- A four session, substance abuse education group for students.
*Information taken from the Counseling Center website.
www.meredith.edu/academics/23plus-info.htm
919.760.2366
The Meredith College Undergraduate Degree Program for Women Age 23+ provides an avenue for women to begin or continue their college education. The mission of the 23+ Program is to assist women ages 23 and older in identifying their educational goals and in developing plans for meeting these goals through the Meredith College undergraduate program. The 23+ Program was established in 1972 with only five students; more than 400 students are enrolled now. Approximately 20 percent of the student body at Meredith is over the age of 23.
*Information taken from the 23+ Progam website.
Commuter Life and Diversity Programs
www.meredith.edu/students/commuter
919.760.8633
Mission: The mission of the Office of Commuter Life and Diversity Programs is to develop and maintain supportive programs and events for the development and advancement of commuter students and diverse populations.
The Office of Commuter Life and Diversity Programs serve as a support system to the diverse population of students of color. The office is dedicated to helping students of color be successful academically and socially. A wide range of services are offered to enhance cultural diversity, racial understanding and personal development.
This office provides a comprehensive program of social, cultural, intellectual, and leadership programs on campus to bring awareness, support and understanding of differences.
*Information taken from the Commuter Life and Diversity Programs website.
(919) 760-8521
Meredith College is proud of its traditions, new ideas, and a long history of providing the "Meredith Experience." As a member of this community, you will find that opportunities for participation, leadership, and learning abound in all facets of campus organization, sharing a meal in the dining hall, taking part in athletics, attending social events, or learning life skills, the "Meredith Experience" is always present.
Members of the Meredith community, like family, support and challenge each other to develop and learn. The staff in the Dean of Students Office is here to help facilitate each student's growth and development. Please call on any of our staff when you need assistance.
The Dean of Students advises the Honor Council, serves as the ADA coordinator, chairs the Incident Management Committee, participates in retention research and assessment, and supervises the directors of residence life, first year experience, and commuter life and diversity programs.
Mission: The staff of the Office of the Dean of Students are committed to the development and growth of all students at Meredith College. The staff provide support and assistance to students through both social and educational programs and interventions.
**Information taken from Dean of Students website.
PROGRAMS OFFERED BY DISABILITY SERVICES:
Outreach, Advocacy, & Training
The Disability Services staff members offer a variety of outreach to the campus community. These programs can include guest lectures in academic courses, faculty trainings, and disability awareness programs. The staff also provides coaching training each year to new interns as well as interested staff on campus. Additionally, Disability counselors work with students to develop self advocacy skills.
Disability Support Organization
The Disability Support Organization (DSO) is an SGA-recognized organization of Meredith College. Membership is open to any Meredith student. Membership can be rewarding for both the student with a disability and the student who is interested in advocating for individuals with disabilities. The mission of the organization is to provide education, support, and friendship through meetings, programs, workshops, and socials. The organization also provides education for the campus during an annual Disabilities Awareness Day.
The Disability Panel is a committee comprised of faculty, staff and student members who are responsible for addressing disability related issues on campus. The Disability Panel is also responsible for hearing grievances related to disability issues filed through the grievance procedure.
The panel has been responsible for past projects including creating a grievance procedure, securing grants for adaptive technology such as braille machines and computer software, improving facility accessibility, educating the campus about disability issues, sponsoring Disability Awareness Day, and adapting campus policies to reflect current legal and ethical trends, just to name a few. Overall the Disability Panel is an essential component in creating the diverse atmosphere that Meredith hopes to cultivate.
Disability Services, the Disability Panel, and DSO sponsor Disability Awareness Day to promote campus awareness of disability issues. Past events have included guest speakers, experiential learning programs, movie presentations, Chapel services, and student panels. Disability Awareness Day is offered every other year; if you are interested in participating in the planning, contact the Disability Services office.
Disability Services also conducts and sponsors other awareness activities on campus. These programs can integrated into the curriculum of a course or may be related to other awareness and/or diversity programs on campus.
For more information about Disability Awareness activities, please visit our Groups & Events page.
Preview is a program designed specifically for students with disabilities who will be attending Meredith for the first time or who are unfamiliar with the resources available through Disability Services.
This unique opportunity offers students a chance to move in early and get a jump on the transition to college through special programs, activities, and introduction to Preview Mentors. Many past participants reported feeling better prepared for a success after their Preview experience.
