Academic Accessibility Services

Students must self-disclose their disability status in college, which is very different from the secondary school system (PreK-12).

• Students can self-disclose to an instructor, or an advisor, or contact the Director of Academic Accessibility Services directly in Admissions – Dellinger Hall, Room 225.
• Students should set up an Eligibility Appointment with the Office of Academic Accessibility Services by calling 276-964-7301 or emailing Dionne Cook.
• Students must meet with the Director before the beginning of each semester.
• Accommodations will not automatically carry over each semester.
• Instructors will not provide accommodations until they receive notice from the Director.

If the student has an IEP and/or 504 Plan that is less than 3 years old, SWCC can use this to establish eligibility for services. However, bear in mind that these documents may be insufficient as the sole form of documentation, as both are required under laws that no longer apply once the student attends college.

Any diagnostic documentation from treating healthcare providers should state the specific results of the evaluation and include relevant test scores.

The Director will communicate if any additional documentation is needed for the student at the Eligibility Appointment.

Once the Eligibility Interview is complete, the Director will notify the student by email as to their eligibility status and forward the Approved Accommodations Form to the student’s instructors. Academic accommodations will be provided based on functional limitations documented.

Accommodations may include:

• Extended time for timed testing
• Read-aloud services for testing
• Supervised breaks during proctored testing
• Private room testing (proctored and non-proctored)
• Audio recording of in-class lectures
• Closed-captioning on video-recorded lectures
• Assistive & adaptive technology
• American Sign Language interpreter services
• Preferred seating in the classroom
• Instructor notes & presentations, if not already available

Instructors reserve the right to provide accommodations themselves, as appropriate, but there are times when the classroom setting is not the best environment for this level of support. The Office of Academic Accessibility Services will administer all testing accommodations as needed and communicated by the instructor.

Students must work with their instructor(s) to schedule all assessments (quizzes, tests, exams) that require accommodations. Instructors will communicate directly with Academic Accessibility Services regarding each student's scheduling. 

NOTE TO FACULTY & STUDENTS REGARDING TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS:

• Students are required to request any needed accommodations at least 48 hours before each test by contacting Academic Accessibility Services and their instructor.
• If a reader or scribe is needed, then the test will be administered on the main campus.
• For all testing accommodations, the student is expected to take the test on the regularly scheduled day and to provide advance notice of the need for the accommodation.
• Faculty are expected to submit all testing information to Academic Accessibility Services at least 24 hours before the due date.
• Faculty are expected to contact Academic Accessibility Services if they need assistance to implement these accommodations.

Applied Studies Diploma and non-high school/non-GED recipients:

• Will need to meet Ability to Benefit criteria by taking the Virginia Placement Test before enrolling (students must test into EDE 10 and MDE 10).  The student will need to schedule an appointment with the Director of Admissions before testing.
• Passing scores of the Ability to Benefit assessment ONLY allow enrollment options, not financial aid eligibility.
• Students will ONLY be allowed to register for certificate programs unless the certificate program specifies a high school diploma/GED; if so, the student will not be allowed to register for that program. Example: Practical Nursing is a certificate program that requires a high school diploma or GED for program acceptance, based on program policy and procedures.
• Students can register and receive funding for Workforce classes if they are over 18, are VA residents (have resided in VA for 12 months or longer), and have no previous student holds. Contact Workforce Development for more information.
• A student cannot receive federal/state financial aid.
• To receive Title IV funds, a student must be qualified to study at the postsecondary level. A student qualifies if she: has a high school diploma (this can be from a foreign school if it is equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma); has the recognized equivalent of a high school diploma, such as a general educational development (GED) certificate or other state-sanctioned test or diploma-equivalency certificate.

VCCS Policy related to non-high school graduates or non-GED recipients:

6.0.1 General Admission to the VCCS Colleges

Individuals are eligible for admission to the community college if they are high school graduates or the equivalent, or if they are eighteen years of age or older and able to benefit academically from study at the community college, as demonstrated by assessment in reading, writing, and mathematics.  Minimum scores are noted in the chart below:

Virginia Placement Test Scores:

• Reading:  EDE 10
• Writing:  EDE 10
• Math:  MDE 10

Exceptions to this policy may be made by the college president only for documented reasons.

Resources:

• VCCS Accepted Diploma Types for High School Equivalency
• Options for Graduates with an Applied Studies Diploma

In compliance with applicable law, Southwest generally allows service animals in its buildings, classrooms, meetings, dining areas, recreational facilities, activities, and events when the animal is accompanied by an individual with a disability who indicates the service animal is trained to provide and does provide a specific service to them that is directly related to their disability. 

For more information, refer to the SWCC Service Animal Policy