Spotlight on Graduate Resources
Disability Services
Prepared by Jasmine Cutter, MS Range Student
Disability accommodations came up at the staff meeting and I just wanted to make sure that the larger community of SNRS is aware of how they work. NDSU and the SNRS have a legal obligation to provide appropriate and reasonable accommodations to students with documented disabilities. Accommodations exist so that students with disabilities can receive equal access to educational opportunities. Accommodations need to be requested before the semester starts (and sometimes take a while to implement).
A person with a disability is defined as any person who
1. has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities,
2. has a record of having such an impairment, or
3. is regarded as having such an impairment
Examples of major life activities include walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing, learning, concentrating, working, caring for oneself, major bodily functions, and performing manual tasks.
If you are in need of accommodations, all requests go through Disability Services, who ensure that you have the proper documentation and then works with faculty to arrange reasonable accommodations. These accommodations could include modifying the texts needed for class, alternative testing conditions, assistive technology, scribe for classes, and several other options. Often, these accommodations will only require minor adjustments in how a professor teaches, the majority of the logistics is carried out by Disability Services. Disability Services can be reached at 701-231-8463 or ndsu.disability.services@ndsu.edu.
Reminders: All students enrolled at NDSU have met academic requirements for admission. Accommodations do not mean that you have to lower academic standards or fundamentally change the course. Students with disabilities are expected to meet the same academic standards as other students, accommodations exist because the same treatment is not always equal treatment.
For more information:https://www.ndsu.edu/disabilityservices
Graduate Center for Writers
Why might I need it? Whether it is for classes, professional communication, or the ever-present dissertation, you do a lot of writing in graduate school! Moreover, it is often writing that is quite different than things you’ve done in the past. The Graduate Center for Writers “aims to help graduate students…to become more successful writers”. If you are having difficulty with any type of writing or just need a little extra help, this can be a great resource.
What can they do to help? One of their most helpful services is the 1-on-1 sessions they offer. It’s a unique and extremely valuable opportunity to get help and advice from one of their consultants. They also offer a number of events including workshops, seminars and a writing bootcamp. In addition, they have a number of writing resources to help your writing.
For more information: www.ndsu.edu/gcfw/
NDSU Counseling Center
Why might I need it? Graduate school is incredibly difficult and can be a tremendous challenge on a number of fronts, including on our mental and emotional health. The NDSU Counseling Center helps students “explore a variety of concerns which may prevent them from functioning at their optimum levels.” If you are struggling or are concerned with something, they can be an important resource to help.
What can they do to help? The NDSU Counseling Center does provide individual and group counseling. However, they do much more than that. For example, they put on a variety of short classes and workshops. Of particular interest is the Graduate Student Support Group which meets weekly “to provide a safe place for students to meet one another, discuss challenges and struggles they may be experiencing while working in their graduate program or within the personal life, and to be able to build friendships and offer support to fellow graduate students across academic disciplines.” They also provide a number of resources and information to help you with a variety of potential problems.
For more information: https://www.ndsu.edu/counseling/