FAQs

How do I get connected with Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) at The College of New Jersey?

To get connected with ARC, you should fill out the Accommodations Request form. In completing this form, you are notifying The College that you want to access reasonable accommodations as a TCNJ student. The affiliation form serves as a starting point for formulating an accommodation plan.  View the accommodation process page.

Do I need to provide documentation of disability to receive reasonable accommodations at TCNJ?

Yes, we ask for documentation as part of the ARC request process. You can view documentation guidelines. If you have questions about documentation, contact us.

I have never been evaluated on the basis of disability, but I have always noticed that I struggle with certain subject areas. Does ARC provide evaluations?

ARC does not provide disability-related evaluation. Check with your insurance carrier to see if this expense is covered and for a list of providers.

What happens after I submit my ARC affiliation form and my documentation?

After you submit your ARC affiliation form and documentation, this information will be reviewed by an Accessibility Specialist. After the review, you will be contacted about the next steps in the accommodation process. This usually involves a meeting between you and your Specialist to collaborate on and finalize accommodations for the upcoming semester. For more detail, see our accommodation process webpage.

I received accommodations in high school. Will these same accommodations be available to me as a TCNJ student?

Not necessarily, but many do remain generally the same. It is important to consider the differences between the K-12 educational environment and the college environment. An Accessibility Specialist will work with you (and your faculty) to develop an accommodation plan that provides collegiate-appropriate educational access.

How will my professors know that I am affiliated with ARC?

Every semester you will complete a semester request on the Accommodate portal for ARC to send an “accommodation memo” to your faculty. As part of the process, it is expected that you will keep the lines of communication open with your faculty throughout the semester in regard to use of your accommodations.

If I have accommodations for testing, can I take my exams in the ARC offices?

Yes. However, our time and space are limited, particularly during mid-terms and final exams, when there is a high demand for assistance. There may be other proctoring options. You and your instructor should first agree together whether ARC or another proctoring option will be implemented, and then agree on a date and time for the proctoring within the posted availability of ARC proctoring. Please see the Academic Accommodations page for more information for how to schedule an exam with ARC.

I am planning to live on campus. Does ARC work with students to secure housing accommodations?

Yes. If your disability impacts your on-campus living experience, ARC will collaborate with you and Residential Education to find housing that meets your needs through the process described in Question 1 — completing the Accommodation Request form for new students, or the Housing Accommodation Request form for returning students (contact us for specifics at 609-771-3199  and/or arc@tcnj.edu). Please note:  Even when pursuing a housing accommodation request through ARC, you must also complete the on-campus housing application through Residential Education. Then our two offices work together to make the appropriate housing placement. Please note that housing accommodations are determined on a year-to-year basis, and must be applied for each cycle.

Can the Accessibility Resource Center aid in anyway in having my student admitted into The College of New Jersey?

No. All students applying to TCNJ including student with disabilities apply in the general admissions process. Any disability disclosure would be voluntary. If you choose to identify your disability as an explanation of your strengths and/or any missing components of your application you can do so in the essay or with an additional statement. Admissions will review all materials provided. Disability documentation SHOULD NOT be sent to admissions.

What is the difference between the high school accommodation process and the post-secondary process?

From high school to college, students will face many challenges. However, for students with disabilities, the difficulties they encounter will be different. In high school, the laws regarding accommodating students differ from the laws in college. Therefore, it will be helpful for students to familiarize themselves with the main regulations protecting them, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (as amended) and the Rehabilitation Act. Once you understand how the laws can help you, you will be further able to advocate for yourself.  By taking matters into your own hands you will take on the responsibility of learning, and you will fully recognize what you need to do in order to be successful.

Advocacy

In college YOU are responsible for getting the help you need. You must be willing to advocate for yourself to ensure your college experience is successful. Planning in advance and managing your time wisely may be the most important factors in being a successful student. Accessibility Resource Center (ARC) strives to enhance and improve communication, collaboration, and rapport between students with disabilities, the faculty, and the staff. Being a good self advocate may be the most important first step to building a solid foundation into the college community. Remember to:

• Know Yourself and Your Disability
• Know Your Rights and Responsibilities
• Know Where to Go for Help
• Take Action

Also remember to keep these key ideas in mind:

• Use time management
• Develop a Routine
• Know school policies and procedures
• Work with your advisers and professors
• Use resources and any assistance needed for disability management and coursework

View our helpful document to see the differences between College and High School as it related to accommodations.

Differences between College and High School

My student  is seeking a post-secondary education. How do I know what program is best for them?

If your student has a disability, there are two programs at TCNJ that are entirely separate of one another. One program is the four year bachelor’s degree that is for all students. Your student would have to apply through general admissions like students without disabilities.

If your student requires more attention and is not seeking a four year degree then they may want to consider Career & Community Studies. Career & Community Studies is a college-based, liberal studies program designed to prepare students (ages 18-25) for adult life through academic rigor, career discovery and preparation and peer socialization as part of a diverse community of learners.  Students wanting to be considered for this program must present a disability that is characterized by significant limitations both in intellectual functioning and in adaptive behavior, be seeking a post-secondary experience on a college campus and require a strong system of supports.  Students must be highly motivated young adults who have received extensive educational services in either public or private schools and would likely have considerable difficulty succeeding in a traditional college degree program.

How accessible is the TCNJ campus?

TCNJ was designed as a walking campus, therefore all students are required to commute by their own means. Also, the buildings at TCNJ have been designed to accommodate all students and include disability access.

As a parent, how involved should I be in my student’s disability transition?

Initially it is important to follow up with your student’s progress in attaining his or her accommodations. If checking in with each other may help ease the transition, then as a family you may want to discuss a plan of action. However, it is necessary to allow them to advocate for themselves and learn to determine their strengths and weaknesses, and differentiate between needs and preferences. This will be a crucial skill to develop, especially when entering the work force.

It is the beginning of the semester, and I received an email from ARC asking me to sign an Accommodation Memo. What is this?

A “Letter” or “Accommodation Memo” is an official document used to facilitate communication between Accessibility Resource Center (ARC), students, and faculty. Specifically, a student enrolled with ARC will hand each of his/her professors a Letter or Memo that officially indicates that a student is registered with ARC and delineates the legally required classroom accommodations in detail. The Letter/Memo is intended to initiate conversation between the professor and student; therefore, ARC encourages each student to self-advocate via open communication with their professors. The accommodations will not begin until the student has a discussion with their professors about their letters, and acknowledgement of that conversation is received in the form of a signature on the memo through the Accommodate portal.

As a faculty member, we suggest that you use the Letter/Memo as an informative outline for necessary accommodations in order to allow the student equal access in the academic environment. The Letter/Memo is intended to promote an open dialogue between you and the student. If you have any questions regarding the accommodations outlined in the Letter, please let us know (arc@tcnj.edu). We are glad to be a resource for you and your student to facilitate a resolution to questions and concerns.

Each semester, accommodation memos will be sent to students at the beginning of the semester and the student is to bring them to you to discuss how they are to be implemented.

A student is requesting an accommodation that I believe is not feasible in the course I am instructing. Am I allowed to refuse such a request?

If ARC has determined that a student is entitled to specific accommodations according to the evidence of documentation of the disability (or disabilities), the law holds you responsible as a faculty member to adhere to those accommodations.

However, if you feel that the requested accommodation is either: unreasonable, ineffective, fundamentally alters the course curriculum, or causes an undue hardship on the faculty/classmates, please confer with the ARC accessibility specialist who is listed on your student’s accommodation memo.  We are here to be a resource for you, too, as well as the student, and we are glad to work with you both to find a way to meet the student’s legitimate accommodations needs.

How do I provide testing accommodations that do not fit into the usual testing environment?

Students may receive a variety of accommodations for testing, such as extra time or a reduced distraction environment. Sometimes it is not possible for the student to take the exam with the rest of the class and still have their accommodations provided. Some alternatives to consider:

• Allow the student to begin the test earlier than the rest of the class, or stay later to complete it.
• Arrange for the student to take the test in your departmental office. A member of the office staff can serve as a proctor.
• Permit the student to take the exam in the instructor’s office, if time and space are available.

To maintain academic integrity, ARC does not advocate that any student take a test “alone” or “in a private room”. There should always be someone else present throughout the testing process to serve as a proctor.

Can ARC staff proctor the exam for me?

ARC is happy to assist with proctoring exams, with the understanding that we have limited staff, office hours and space available.  Please keep the following in mind for tests that you would like us to proctor:

• Refer to the Exam Accommodations page for specific information and processes.

I have a student in my class who I believe would benefit from support services; however, they are not registered with your office. What is the best manner to refer this student?

It is encouraged that the faculty member speak to the student in private to discuss a referral to ARC.  Registering with ARC is voluntary on the part of the student.  Please refer to the Accommodation Process page, and encouraging them to contact the ARC office for more information (arc@tcnj.edu).  We are glad to be a resource for them and you throughout the semester.

Does ARC offer any training services to better prepare me in providing an inclusive classroom for all of my students?

Faculty is encouraged to browse the ARC website for more in-depth disability classroom support information. Any specific details relevant to your course can be discussed with the ARC specialists. Departmental trainings are available upon request.

If a student discloses a disability to you:

Ask if they have connected with ARC. If not, please share with them the information above on referring a student, and assure them that this is the most appropriate and comprehensive way to secure accommodations. If they have already registered with ARC, invite them to share their accommodation memo from ARC with you. This will describe the accommodations to be provided. Discuss with your student what you can do to facilitate learning.

If a student thinks they have a disability?

Refer the student to ARC at arc@tcnj.edu or to visit us at Roscoe West, Suite 202, or to call us at 609-771-3199.

If a student who is receiving accommodations is not doing well in class?

Treat the student as you would any other student apart from their accommodations. We do welcome and encourage you to contact the student’s accessibility specialist (the signer of their accommodation memo) to discuss your concerns and brainstorm other ways to support the student. We appreciate your partnership.

If a student wants to file a grievance?

Refer student to the TCNJ faculty/student/staff handbook and the ADA policies and procedures.