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| Undergraduate Catalog 2004-2006 |
Statement of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
Aurora University provides many services, facilities, and programs for its undergraduate
and graduate students, including resident and commuter students. For detailed
information, consult the "A-Book,"
an on-line manual provided for students by the Student Life Office.
Housing:
Aurora University has four on-campus residence halls - Wilkinson, Jenks,
Memorial, and Watkins Halls - with accommodations for approximately 540 residents.
Priority for residential accommodations is given to undergraduate students.
In most halls, single, double, and triple rooms are available, as well as suites.
Laundry facilities are available in each residence hall.
Food Service on Campus:
Students on meal plans eat in the Student Dining Hall in Alumni Hall.
Commuter students are also welcome to eat in the cafeteria, either by paying
a flat per-meal rate at the door, or purchasing a commuter meal ticket through
the Sodexho Food Service. The University Commons, usually referred to as "The
Spot," serves hot and cold fast food. Located in the lower level of Stephens
Hall, the Spot is available as a social gathering place and study area. Limited
food and beverage service is also available in Dunham Hall.
Student I.D. Cards:
Students are issued an Aurora University photo identification card
after registration. The I.D. card is required for the use of University facilities
and services and for free or reduced-price admission to paid events on campus.
There is a $25 fee for replacement of lost or damaged I.D. cards.
Campus Safety:
The safety and security needs of the Aurora University campus are addressed
by the Office of Campus Safety. Led by experienced professionals who are university
employees, the Office provides a variety of services from parking management
and enforcement, to distribution of safety information, safety training, and
being visible on campus 24 hours a day. Through established relationships with
local police and fire departments, the resources of these organizations are
available to our campus community for safety preparedness as well as response
to emergency situations.
Athletics:
Aurora University has a long history of excellence in intercollegiate
athletics. A member of NCAA Division III, AU fields intercollegiate teams in
football, soccer, basketball, baseball, tennis, volleyball, softball, cross
country, track, and golf - often with championship results. About 40% of all
resident students, and many commuters, participate in intercollegiate athletics
Center for Faith and Action:
The Aurora University Center for Faith and Action was founded to sustain multi-faith
understanding and action. It will focus on curriculum, University and community
service, and academic and scholarly activities. The Center is dedicated to discovering
and deepening connections between faith and daily life, advocating and working
for justice, and promoting human dignity for all people.
Campus Ministries:
Campus Ministries at AU is coordinated through the Center for Faith and Action
and is intended to complement its programming. Student organizations that are
reflective of campus ministry concerns include the Fellowship of Christian Athletes
(FCA) and Gospel Choir. Various university personnel as well as area pastors
are involved in offering spiritual guidance and opportunities for meaningful
activities such as worship, Bible studies, and discussions.
Counseling Center:
Contact the Counseling Center for information on services available free of
charge to students, as well as for referral information to services in the community.
The Counseling Center helps students work through the common social and personal
problems associated with orientation to college life.
Career Services Center:
The Center offers a variety of workshops, seminars, and individual services
to assist students in identifying their career goals and working toward them
in an organized and effective way. Assistance in writing resumes and sharpening
interviewing skills is also available. Career fairs and other placement activities
are offered both on campus and throughout Illinois in connection with the Illinois
Small College Placement Association. The services of the Center are available
free of charge to all Aurora University undergraduate and graduate students
and alumni.
Academic Advising Center:
Aurora University uses a dual advisement model in which students may be advised
by faculty or professional staff advisors in the Advisement Office. All students
must participate in the advisement process prior to registering for classes
each term. First-year students participate in an advising program that includes
academic assistance as well as social activities. The advising program for first-year
students becomes a strong link between students and their academic goals. Faculty
advisors work closely with students to provide them with class information and
advise as well as to track academic progress. After the student's first semester
on campus and if he/she has declared a major, the student meets with a faculty
advisor in the student's major for advisement.
Professional advisors help students wishing to drop or add courses, help clarify university rules and regulations for students concerned with graduation requirements, transfer work, double majors, minors, and perform graduation audits. The Academic Advisement Office is open Monday through Friday and has evening hours.
Learning Center:
The Learning Center provides professional tutoring in math, writing, and study
skills. Peer tutors and peer-led review sessions are also available for specific
courses. The staff offers workshops on research writing, documentation, and
preparation for the Illinois Basic Skills Test for teachers and social workers.
The Learning Center is the office for students with disabilities. It also proctors
examinations. The STAR Program for conditionally admitted students is also facilitated
by the director. Services are free to all Aurora University students - undergraduate
or graduate. The Center is open six days a week and has evening hours.
Student Clubs and Organizations:
Approximately three dozen student clubs and organizations are established at
Aurora University. Both undergraduate and graduate students, whether resident
or commuting, are eligible to organize a student group and apply for recognition
and funding.
Wellness Center:
The Center is located in Jenks Hall, where a licensed registered nurse is available
on campus weekdays for assessment and treatment, consultation and referral,
and immunization compliance guidelines. The Director of the Center provides
wellness programming on campus as well.
Aurora University is committed to making reasonable accommodation and to providing accessibility to its programs, activities, and employment for all persons defined as having documented disabilities based on the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Policy for Students with
Learning Disabilities
Aurora University will provide reasonable accommodations for students
with a diagnosed and verified learning disability, physical disability or psychological
disability. In order to be entitled to such accommodations, the student must
present a diagnostic report that is acceptable to the University. A diagnostic
report indicating a learning disability must be prepared by a qualified psycho-educational
practitioner and be based on standardized, reliable and valid testing instruments.
The report must include testing of intellectual ability and achievement, a specific
diagnosis, and recommended accommodations based on the diagnosis. Students with
physical or psychological disabilities will need documentation from an appropriate
medical or psychiatric practitioner, indicating diagnosis, impact of the disability
and/or treatment plan on major life activities, expected duration of the condition
and/or treatment and recommendations for accommodations. Documentation for students
with disabilities must be recent, having been prepared within the past three
years. Documentation for students with psychological disabilities must have
been prepared within the past six months.
Statement for Students with
Special Needs
Individuals who have any situation/condition, either permanent or temporary,
which might affect their ability to perform in class or access class materials
are encouraged to inform the instructor at the beginning of the term. Adaptations
of teaching methods, class materials or testing may be made as needed to provide
equitable participation.
Definition
A learning disability may exist in the presence of average-to-superior
intelligence and adequate sensory and motor systems. The marked discrepancy
between intellectual capacity and achievement is what characterizes a learning
disability. Many learning disabled students have high intellectual ability and
creative talent, the development of which benefits society as much as the well
being of these individuals. Although the majority of learning disabled students
can be characterized as having difficulty with reading, writing skills and math
skills, the degree and scope of these difficulties varies, as do the defects
in the underlying psychological processes. For these reasons, academic adjustments
must be made on an individual basis.
A learning disability is any of a diverse group of conditions that cause significant difficulties in perception, either auditory, visual, and/or spatial. Of presumed neurological origin, it covers disorders that impair such functions as reading (dyslexia), writing (dysgraphia), and mathematical calculation (dyscalculia), aural receptive dysphasia, sequential memory, and minimal brain dysfunction. Learning disabilities, even of the same type, will vary widely between and among students. Learning disabilities are defined as a "handicapping condition" under Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and as a permanent life condition under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. The act required post-secondary educational institutions to make "reasonable adjustments" for such students with disabilities in order for them to fulfill academic requirements.
Identification Procedures
Students with disabilities who are seeking accommodations must identify
themselves to the University by contacting the Learning Center. If a request
for accommodation comes to the Admission Office, staff will correspond with
the student or parent indicating the need to provide a diagnostic report to
the Learning Center. A student's disability will in no way impact the decision
of the University to admit or decline an applicant. When a student approaches
the Learning Center, staff will outline the policy and the need for a verifiable
diagnosis. If a student does not have appropriate documentation of a learning
disability, the Learning Center staff will offer assistance to the student in
locating qualified individuals in the Chicagoland area who can provide a psycho-educational
evaluation.
Institutional Review and
Reasonable Accommodations
Upon receipt of the diagnostic report, the Learning Center staff will
confirm that the report is competent and reliable and that it identifies a bona
fide disability. If a diagnosis of a learning disability is not confirmed, the
Learning Center will inform the student and refer the student to other appropriate
courses of help. If the diagnostic report is confirmed, then the Learning Center
will provide the student with documentation which indicates that the student
has been recognized as having a disability. This documentation also indicates
what reasonable accommodations might be appropriate for the student to receive.
The Learning Center staff will not share specific information on a student's
disability with faculty members unless requested to do so by the student.
A "reasonable accommodation" is any accommodation offered by a faculty member, department or the University which enables a student to participate equitably in a class and access course materials without fundamentally altering the service being provided. Reasonable accommodations may include testing accommodations (e.g., additional time, quiet environment, readers and scribes), classroom accommodations (e.g., changes to the physical environment of a classroom, adjustments in how materials is presented in class), providing course materials in an accessible form (e.g., readings on cassette or disk, notetakers), or access to assistive technology (e.g., use of on-campus computers with adaptive software). The Learning Center staff initially determines what would be reasonable accommodations, taking note of the preferences of the student requesting accommodations. The student then may request those accommodations from a faculty member by presenting to the faculty member the documentation provided by the Learning Center. In considering requested accommodations, the faculty member may instead choose to suggest other appropriate accommodations. The faculty member and student are encouraged to consult the Learning Center in this event. It is ultimately the decision of the faculty member whether to implement the determination of the Learning Center; however, the faculty member shall adhere to the above-stated policy and to all applicable laws in making that decision.
Confidentiality
Any documentation concerning a disability provided by a student to
the Learning Center is confidential. The faculty and staff of the University
will not have access to these materials unless a student specifically requests
that an individual be allowed to view these documents or share in this information.
In the event that a student were to challenge a determination made by the Learning
Center, it would, of course, be necessary for the appropriate University officials
to access these materials in order to review the Learning Center's determination.
Student Responsibility
It is understood that it may be necessary for a learning disabled student
to put in extra work, use a tutor, and/or seek special help outside of class.
The student has a responsibility to fulfill his/her part by continuing extra
help as recommended for his/her particular condition. If a student requires
specialized services beyond what is normally provided by the university, these
services must be paid by the student.
Grievance Procedure
Any student who desires to challenge the accommodations made in his
or her case should follow the procedures outlined:
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