Information for Current Students

Advising and Early Registration

Continuing students who are documented with OSSD and who have registered for classes within the academic year are eligible for priority registration. The special registration dates are posted in the College catalog and student handbook. A courtesy reminder letter with the special advising dates will be mailed to each student on the active OSSD list by the home campus OSSD office before each term. Registration dates are not automatically moved up in the computer system; students are responsible for knowing the correct dates and requesting priority status from a Learning Specialist, academic counselor, or academic advisor.

It is each student’s responsibility to be involved in academic planning and course selection, and to monitor progress toward program completion and graduation. SPC strongly recommends that all students consult with a counselor or advisor before choosing classes each term. A student who is registered with OSSD may speak with any academic advisor or counselor in order to plan future course selection. Learning Specialists do not routinely advise on course selection or enter every documented student’s registration, but as counselors they can assist OSSD students who have disability-related scheduling issues and/or concerns about academic requirements.

Students are expected to register for classes personally either by using the MySPC student web portal, or by presenting a completed registration form at any SPC campus business office. Assistance in completing the registration form is available on campus for students with qualifying disabilities.

The College provides a Technical Support Help Desk to address technical questions and computer access issues while registering or using College websites. The SPC Technical Support phone number for students is 727-341-4357. The Help Desk can also be contacted via email at OnlineHelp@spcollege.edu or at their web site: http://www.spcollege.edu/helpdesk/info_a.htm

Arranging Academic Services

Students with disabilities must maintain the same level of academic integrity and responsibility as students without disabilities. This includes achieving the same academic standards; completing the same or equivalent work in order to earn credit; attending class; treating faculty, staff, and peers with respect; and following the SPC academic honesty policy. Failure to abide by policy or the student conduct code for any reason may result in penalties imposed by the College.

It is each student's responsibility to:

• meet the essential qualifications and institutional standards.
• disclose and document the disability with OSSD in a timely manner.
• speak with a Learning Specialist to determine eligibility.
• inform OSSD office(s) of accommodation needs before each term.
• talk with instructors about classroom or testing accommodation, as needed.
• use classroom services appropriately.
• call to cancel services requiring another person (such as interpreting or lab assistance) if unable to attend.
• inform a Learning Specialist immediately of academic barriers or issues.
• maintain and return borrowed equipment.
• complete accommodated testing at the time assigned by instructors.
• keep all appointments with OSSD staff, or call to cancel or reschedule.

In order to receive previously-approved classroom accommodations, a documented student must 1) request copies of his or her Student Accommodation Form before or at the beginning of every term and 2) use the form to discuss accommodations with each instructor privately, early in the semester. Online students may do this via e-mail with a .pdf copy of the accommodation sheet. The only documentation a student needs to present to an instructor is the accommodation sheet; no further explanation or documentation is required for faculty once a student registers with OSSD.

Students are responsible for requesting approved course and testing accommodations personally and in a timely manner, using a college Student Accommodation Form, so that instructors may plan for these changes. Instructors are obligated to provide accommodation only if a student submits an accommodation sheet and makes requests in a reasonable time frame. Instructors are not required to make last-second accommodations when a documented student does not personally present a form and request an approved accommodation well in advance. Instructors also are not obligated nor expected to allow modifications such as re-takes, due date extensions, extra credit, or make-ups simply because a student declares a disability. OSSD students must abide by an instructor’s posted grading and credit policies, unless all students in the class are permitted equal modification.

Repeated student failure to request accommodation in a reasonable and timely manner, repeated unexcused absence, improper behavior, or misuse of OSSD services or property may result in the suspension or modification of OSSD services. (BACK TO TOP)

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services

St. Petersburg College has a highly-qualified staff of nationally or state-certified sign language interpreters who work in a variety of modalities, plus trained captionists who provide C-print (real-time captioning) campus services for Deaf or hard-of-hearing students who do not sign. Once you have qualified for OSSD services, you may request an interpreter or captionist for college classes and activities using the form below. Please make all requests at least one week in advance. Last-minute requests cannot be honored due to scheduling issues.

Interpreter Request Form

Assistive Technology

SPC provides a comprehensive assistive technology program to make campus computers, classrooms, and equipment accessible to all students. Screen reading and enlarging programs, portable CCTVs, video captioning, adaptive computer peripherals, adjustable lab tools, accessible desks and chairs, speech-to-text software, signaling lights, and other types of services are available for eligible student use on campus.

The SPC Assistive Technology Specialist consults with individual students on their needs and oversees installation and function of adaptive software and equipment on all College sites. However, extensive training in using assistive programs or tools is the responsibility of each individual student. Such training should be arranged with support agencies or private individuals prior to taking classes at SPC. The College also does not provide personal equipment such as custom back supports, home computers, software copies, etc. For more information or to discuss previously approved technology use, please e-mail machel.christopher@spcollege.edu

Testing

Testing accommodations are determined during the initial meeting with the home campus Learning Specialist. Each student is then responsible for notifying individual faculty by meeting with each instructor and presenting a Student Accommodation Form. A faculty member is not required to provide testing accommodation if the student has not presented a form and made the request reasonably in advance.

Testing arrangements are usually agreed upon by student and instructor (with OSSD assistance if needed) and are flexible in nature. For example, a student requesting double time may take an exam in the instructor’s office, in the campus testing center, or in another proctored location. A student who uses audio for testing may have a recorded CD or a live reader. While the College considers student preference in making testing arrangements, any mode of appropriate accommodation may be provided.

Testing locations and contact personnel vary among SPC campuses and sites. Please speak with your home campus Learning Specialist about how to arrange testing accommodation on your site. If you are taking classes on multiple sites, please refer to the Attending multiple campuses section for more information.

Attending Multiple Campuses

Documented students with disabilities who plan to attend classes on more than one SPC campus should notify their home campus Learning Specialist prior to the start of the term. The student may then take - or have the home OSSD office send - a copy of his or her Student Accommodation Form to the Learning Specialist(s) on the other site(s). Any student who is taking a class on multiple campuses should check in with the OSSD office on each site at the beginning of a term. Each Learning Specialist will counter-sign an accommodation sheet for faculty on that campus, and will assist the student with arranging services at that location. OSSD cannot guarantee timely classroom services or testing arrangements if a student does not speak with the Learning Specialist on each campus attended.

Students who attend both a physical campus location and eCampus will need additional information in order to request an electronic Student Accommodation Form and arrange online course accommodations. Please see the following section on eCampus Procedures for more information.

eCampus Procedures

• EACH INDIVIDUAL OSSD STUDENT is responsible for notifying instructor(s) of the need for online course accommodation by presenting a Student Accommodation Form, just as for campus classes.

You may send your form(s) in one of two ways:

1. Ask your home campus Learning Specialist for hard (paper) copies of your form and distribute them via fax, US mail, or hand delivery. Each instructor should have contact information posted within the course. YOU as the user are responsible for getting the copies to their destinations.

2. Ask your home campus Learning Specialist to e-mail a copy of your accommodation form as a PDF file to an e-mail address that you specify. You may then send copies of the file as attachments to your instructors. The Learning Specialist will send one PDF file to you; YOU as the user are responsible for getting the copies to their destinations.

• If you need extended test tine online and your testing is on electronic timers, remind your instructor to adjust the timers when you send your accommodation sheet. If your instructor is not familiar with the process, Dr. Linda Giar (giar.linda@spcollege.edu), the SPC Seminole Campus Learning Specialist, can e-mail a tutorial on changing timers to the instructor. Any other technical questions should be directed to Alan Shapiro (727-394-6237 or shapiro.alan@spcollege.edu),the Seminole Campus Instructional Technologist.

• Some online classes require an in-person midterm and/or final exam given at the SPC Seminole Campus (only) for local students. If you are approved to use audio, a private room, a scribe or other assistant, or adaptive software, or if you have a major disability-related reason that you cannot test at the Seminole Campus, please speak with your home campus Learning Specialist immediately. You will need specific written permission in advance to have your exams sent to your home campus instead.

• If you are a distance student who has documented with OSSD and you require accommodation for in-person exams, you should apply for proctored testing just as any other eCampus student, via the eCampus website. Once you have an approved testing site, present or e-mail a copy of your SPC Student Accommodation Form and speak with the personnel there about any services you will need. If you or the proctor site personnel have any questions, please notify Dr. Linda Giar - (727) 394-6289 or giar.linda@spcollege.edu.

• If you or your instructors have other accommodation-related questions, please notify Dr. Linda Giar (727) 394-6289 or giar.linda@spcollege.edu. Dr. Giar will be happy to answer or refer questions as necessary.

Disability-Related Course Substitutions

If reasonable accommodation does not allow a student to fully participate in or complete a course due to the nature and/or severity of a disability, a student may be considered for permission to substitute an alternate SPC course or a modified course taken elsewhere, in order to satisfy some graduation requirements. Requests for course substitutions or alternate satisfactions are considered on a case-by-case basis.

All course substitutions and alternate satisfactions must be approved in advance by a campus academic committee. Requests require detailed documentation of a qualifying disability and academic history. The home campus Associate Provost’s office usually is the first point of contact for substitution requests. Ask your home campus Learning Specialist for details if you wish to seek a course substitution or alternate satisfaction and think that you might qualify.

What should I consider in requesting a course substitution?

The student is responsible for knowing if a substitution or alternate satisfaction will interfere with or limit future participation in a specific major or higher degree program. This is especially important for students who are intending to go on to a university, to transfer, or to change majors. The substitution also cannot make a “substantial alteration” in a course or program or in an “essential function” of a course or program.

What is a “Substantial Alteration”?

All students must complete the same or equivalent projects in order to earn credit in SPC courses. A substitution or alternate satisfaction cannot make a major change in the amount, level, or type of projects required to pass a course. For example:

• Students with disabilities should not expect to be excused from exams or projects unless they complete a similar or accommodated version, or to be graded more leniently, or to be permitted to turn in projects later than other students, or to be given assignments that are less challenging.
• A substitute course or alternate satisfaction must allow the student to learn similar types of information and demonstrate similar types of skills as the original course.
• An introductory course in a field usually cannot substitute for a more advanced or detailed course that is required in a specific major.

What is an “Essential Function”?

In many majors - including corrections and public safety, education, health careers, and some others – certain skills and information absolutely must be learned and performed accurately before the person can graduate. There is no appropriate substitute course that can teach the same information or no alternate way to demonstrate competency - based on health and safety issues, licensing and certification requirements, or program accreditation standards. Such skills and information knowledge are “essential functions”.

If you are considering a specific major or are enrolled in a program and would like to know if mastery of essential functions is expected, please speak with your home campus Learning Specialist. He or she can help you find out how to access an essential functions description for your field of study.

CLAST (College-Level Academic Skills Test) Waivers

Associate in Arts degree-seeking students who do not receive a 2.5 or better grade average in their two college-level math courses and two college-level English composition/literature courses must pass some or all portions of the State of Florida CLAST exam before graduating. CLAST examinations are scheduled three times per year at SPC and are also offered on computer at various times at other institutions. Campus academic advisors can provide more detailed information upon request.

Appeals to waive the CLAST as a graduation requirement are made through the home campus Associate Provost’s office and reviewed 2-3 times per year by a collegewide academic committee. You may apply for consideration for a waiver for one or more of the subtests of CLAST if you:

a. have failed a subtest at least four times but have earned a GPA of 2.0 or better in all of the college courses in the same subject area(s) as the failed subtest(s) and completed all other requirements for the A.A. degree.
OR
b. have a specific learning disability such that you cannot pass one or more of the subtests of CLAST using the accommodations approved by the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities (OSSD), and you are achieving at the college level in every area except that of the disability. You must also provide evidence of a diagnosis that further remediation will not succeed in overcoming the disability.
OR
c. have a documented physiological disorder that substantially impairs your visual, auditory, manual or speaking abilities, or you have a documented learning disability, and you believe that the subtest(s) of CLAST has not been modified in administration so that your performance on the subtest(s) accurately reflects your achievement of the skill(s) being measured.

How may I apply for consideration for a waiver?

Your application for consideration for a waiver should be made in writing to the Associate Provost of your campus. Your request should include all of the following information and appropriate documentation.

If you are appealing because of four or more failures, please provide:

a. documentation of your efforts to pass the subtests including at least two successful completions of the appropriate CLAST Review courses;
b. evidence of an attempt to pass the subtest(s) after completing the required related courses - i.e. ENC 1102 for the English Language Skills and Essay subtests; MGF 1106, MGF 1107 or higher for the mathematics subtest;
c. documentation of your work with the appropriate CLAST Review Resource Person and/or qualified tutors who assisted you in your preparation for the subtest(s);
d. transcripts from colleges or universities showing successful upper division level work subsequent to your completion of coursework at SPC;
e. evidence that you have explored taking or have taken the subtest (except Essay) using the Computer Adaptive version of the test (see the Testing Coordinator on your campus for details); and
f. other evidence that you believe the committee should consider in its obligations to determine that you do indeed posses the required skills and that you have made appropriate efforts to pass the subtest(s).

If you are appealing because of physiological or learning disabilities please provide:

a. complete documentation of your disability (If it is on file with the college you may ask your home campus Learning Specialist to provide the information.)
b. evidence of your efforts to overcome the disability through use of accommodations and/or tutoring to pass the subtest(s) of CLAST; and
c. other evidence that you believe the committee should consider in its deliberations

Will I have to appear in person?

You will be given the opportunity to appear before the CLAST Appeals Committee to discuss the reasons for your appeal and to describe the efforts you have made to pass the subtest(s) of CLAST that you have failed. A meeting of the CLAST Appeals Committee will be convened to consider your appeal as soon as possible after you have provided the information described above to the appropriate Associate Provost.