ADDITIONAL UNIVERSITY SUPPORT

In addition to academic programs and RDS support, other services and activities provided and offered by various departments on campus are also available for students with disabilities. Each student, regardless of disability or not, comes bringing his/her own interests, strengths, weaknesses, and general needs that may be addressed through campus resources. The most commonly used services and their appropriate departments are described briefly on this page.

Assistive Technology

Tutoring/Study Skills	The Writing Center
Academic Advising	Medical/Psychology Services
Career Exploration/Development/Planning	Other Student Support/Activities

graduate in cap and gown

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

The Assistive Technology Resource Center (ATRC) is available to help students determine the most appropriate adaptation needed to access computer technology on campus. Students may self-refer or be referred by RDS staff for an evaluation.

It is critical that students contact the ATRC prior to the semester in which they will need the adaptations for specific courses. Some training may be required by the student before a system of adaptation is utilized.

For more specific information, please contact the Assistive Technology Resource Center, 300 Occupational Therapy Building, (970) 491-6258.

Assistive technology for general student use is located in the Morgan Library and may be available in specific computer labs on campus. Contact the reference personnel at Morgan Library for more information on what is in the Library. Contact either the ATRC or the specific lab for what may be available in other places on campus. In addition, students are able to use assistive technology in the RDS office for academic purposes (e.g., taking exams).

TUTORING/STUDY SKILLS

Peer tutoring is available from the Academic Advancement Center (AAC) for most academic subjects. The service is free to eligible students with disabilities but the program is limited as to the number of students it can serve. Documentation verifying a disability is required as part of this program's application process in order to be eligible for this service and can be provided by RDS. The Academic Advancement Center is located in 117 Gibbons, (970) 491-6129.

Tutors may also be found through specific academic departments and colleges. For example, private tutors often advertise through specific academic departments. The cost of these various tutors varies and arrangements and fees would be the responsibility of the student.

The Mathematics Department provides free walk-in tutoring for specific courses especially related to the Individual Mathematics Program (IMP). The College of Natural Science provides free group tutoring for courses related to chemistry, biology, and other natural sciences.

RDS may also have available information and resources for more specific needs related to tutoring. If a student's specific needs cannot be met through the above mentioned support, he/she should see the RDS Counselor.

Several workshops or sessions designed to assess and/or improve study skills are offered through the Academic Advancement Center (AAC), through the Residence Hall system and through the Learning Assistance Center.

For more information, contact AAC, a residence hall representative, or the Learning Assistance Center, 104 General Services Building, (970) 491-5527.

WRITING CENTER

The Writing Center helps students who have difficulties with the writing process, including helping to start, draft, revise, research, and proofread on your own. However, they will not proofread or edit your papers or discuss a paper's potential for a given grade. Walk-in service is available or you can call for an appointment. The Center also provides a variety of worshops each semester on various aspects of the writing process. Assistance is provided through the computer or in person. For more information, contact the Writing Center, Room 6, Eddy Hall, 491-0222.

ACADEMIC ADVISING

In addition to completing a general course of study through the university's core curriculum, students are expected to select a major field of study at least by their junior (or third) year. The selection of courses is critical to success in completing the requirements for graduation both for general education purposes as well as for a major field of study. This selection is aided by academic advisors.

Students who are accepted to the university with a selected major will automatically have an academic advisor assigned from within that major's academic department. An academic advisor is a resource for students in selecting courses as well as for information about the academic major requirements. In many cases, an advisor is also a faculty member in the academic department.

Students who enter the university with no major selected or who were not accepted into a preferred major due to qualifications (usually closed or restricted majors) will be assigned to the Center for Advising and Student Acheivement (CASA) (formerly the HELP/Success Center) for advising purposes. Majors that are designated as "closed or restricted" are those that have a limit to the number of students who can select it as a major and/or have specific criteria which students must meet for acceptance. Criteria may include completion of specific courses and/or a minimum GPA.

Contact an advisor in CASA for more information about "closed/restricted" majors. CASA is located in Aylesworth NE (not all offices are accessible to students using wheelchairs), (970) 491-7095.

Students are encouraged to disclose any specific academic needs related to a disability with their advisor so that courses are selected that best meet the needs of both the requirements and the student's strengths/weaknesses. In addition, the RDS Counselor can provide additional guidance in selecting courses that take into account a student's more specific needs related to a disability.

Any student who is not satisfied with his/her advisor's assistance is free to request another advisor in the department and/or to seek addition guidance from RDS.

MEDICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES

All students are required to have proof of measles vaccinations on record with the Hartshorn Health Services (HHS). The HHS provides students with an on-campus medical clinic including gynecological, dental, pharmaceutical, and physical therapy services.

In addition, staff can help students develop healthier life-styles through nutrition, wellness and drug and alcohol education. Students have the option of accepting the university health insurance or using another provider for coverage of medical costs as a student. For more information, contact the Hartshorn Health Service, Student Health Building, (970) 491-7121.

The University Counseling Center (UCC) is staffed with trained psychologists who are available to help students who encounter personal or emotional difficulties while at Colorado State. In addition, the UCC offers test anxiety support as well as group counseling opportunities. Contact the UCC at C 36 Clark Building, (970) 491-7095 for more information.

For students who experience academic difficulties, the Learning Assistance Center under the UCC also provides screening and diagnostic testing to determine the specific cause of the difficulty. Many students have been found to have a specific/slight learning disability once they are in college even though they were successful in high school. Contact the Learning Assistance Center, 105 General Services, 491-5527 for more information.

CAREER EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING

The Career Center provides a range of services for students who may already know the direction of their career and are looking for information about career placement strategies or simply want to explore career options prior to selecting a major field of study. Students are encouraged to explore these options prior to their senior year so as to be better prepared upon graduation. For more information, contact Career Center, Ammons Hall, (970) 491-5701.

The Center for Advising and Student Achievement (CASA) (formerly the HELP/Success Center) provides assistance to students who are undecided about their majors, who may still be unclear as to their career goals or who have been admitted to the university under conditional terms. Information on, and assistance with, career exploration strategies is available to help students clarify their direction.

In addition, some academic majors are restricted and students may need to meet certain requirements before they are accepted in those areas of study. CASA also provides guidance and information on how to qualify for these restricted majors (see information on Academic Advising). Contact the CASA at (970) 491-7095 for more information.

OTHER STUDENT SUPPORT AND ACTIVITIES

Colorado State University has a comprehensive system of services and activities for all students in academic and non-academic areas. Student organizations, cultural events, and sports are only a few of the opportunities available for students to learn outside of the classroom. Many of these opportunities also give students a chance to develop leadership skills.

The Committee for Disabled Student Accessibility (CDSA) gives students, with and without disabilities, the opportunity to make a difference on campus by improving the accessibility of campus. This committee receives funds from student fees to implement student-determined projects, including, but not limited to, installing automatic doors, purchasing adaptive computer hardware and supporting awareness programs. For more information on CDSA, contact the RDS office.

For information on other student groups and activities, contact the Lory Student Center, Campus Activities Center, 1st Floor, (970) 491-6626. Every effort will be made to reasonably accommodate the needs of students with disabilities in terms of access to the support and opportunities available and students are encouraged to voluntarily acknowledge their needs within the university system as appropriate.

Since accessing the information necessary to find a service, department, or activity may be confusing, students with disabilities are invited to use the RDS office as a starting point when trying to negotiate the maze of on campus opportunities and possibilities. In addition to general campus information, RDS also has information about the community and possible available resources.

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Resources for Disabled Students
100 General Services
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523 USA (970) 491-6385

ADDITIONAL SUPPORT	Assistive Technology	Tutoring/Study Skills	The Writing Center
Academic Advising	Medical/Psychological Services	Career Exploration/Development/Planning	Other Student Support/Activities