Jefferson College of Health Sciences is committed to providing student services that support educational programs and the College mission: "to prepare within a scholarly environment, ethical, knowledgeable, competent and caring healthcare professionals.” The institution provides a quality educational environment founded on sound standards, policies and accessibility to College programs of study.
The mission of Student Services is to facilitate learning and development by providing opportunities for students to achieve their goals, including mastery of knowledge, the ability to think critically, enhancement of interpersonal skills, cultural awareness and a sense of community. Specifically, Student Services provides programs and services that:
· Promote students' increased self-understanding and personal development;
· Increase students" understanding of their roles and responsibilities to others, to society and to themselves;
· Assist students in overcoming barriers that may prevent them from completing their education;
· Integrate students’ classroom and non-classroom living and learning experiences within the College community;
· Promote student appreciation of human diversity;
· Provide guidance in areas of advising, counseling, and career development.
For more information, please refer to the “Student Services” section of the College Student Handbook.
Code for Student Conduct
Students attending the College are accepted as responsible adults working with the faculty in search of knowledge. It is assumed that the rigid regulation of personal conduct will not be necessary since freedom as an objective of education is difficult without the actual existence of freedom. Such freedom must be balanced by individual responsibility and respect for the rights, responsibilities and freedoms of others. Students, therefore, will be held accountable for their own decisions and actions. Failure to assume responsibility for actions that jeopardize the rights and freedoms of others or involve the integrity of the College will result in disciplinary review.
The College expects its students to uphold high standards of academic excellence and personal conduct.
Description of Counseling Services
Counseling Services is a department within the Division of Student Services. Counseling is a free and confidential service, provided for College students, that seeks to assist in the development and maintenance of students’ academic and personal growth. While students are expected to accept the responsibility for making their own decisions, counselors are available to assist them in making necessary adjustments for improving academic skills, learning to better communicate, strengthening relationships, and solving problems that interfere with learning. Counseling can often provide assistance in dealing with loneliness, anxiety, frustrations and depression associated with the college experience.
Professional counselors and graduate students enrolled in Master’s degree counseling programs provide services at the College. Confidentiality is strictly maintained for all personal information shared in counseling.
Specific services include:
· Individual and group counseling
· Academic skills development
· Preparation for state or national certification exams
· Career counseling and testing
· Arrangements for disability accommodations
· Referral for educational testing for learning disabilities
· Crisis intervention
Eligibility for Services
All College students are eligible for Counseling Services.
Limits of Service
Counselors provide primarily short-term or brief therapy- usually lasting 4-6 sessions. If more intensive care, certain specializations or hospitalization services are needed, the staff can assist in making referrals to outside mental health providers.
Appointments
Initial, non-emergency appointments are usually scheduled within one week of the request. Appointments are made between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. To make an initial appointment, stop by room 410 or call (540) 985-8513. In the event of an after-hours emergency, please call RESPOND 776-1100 or CONNECT 981-8181.
Confidentiality
Communication with Counseling Services is confidential. Contact made with the Counseling Services Department and information resulting from individual sessions, does not become a part of one’s student record in the Registrar’s Office.
No information, unrelated to academics, can be released without the written permission of the client. The exceptions to confidentiality, as mandated by state law include: when the information relates to clear and imminent danger to an individual; when there is reason to believe that a child or vulnerable adult has been, or is likely to be, abused or neglected; when the information is requested by a valid court order. Any disclosure in these situations will be made to an appropriate authority and will be limited to material directly related to the issue involved.
It is important to note that College counselors are allowed to discuss academic information with appropriate College faculty and staff according to FERPA regulations. No other, non-academic information will be released without the student’s written consent.
Services for Students with Disabilities
The College is committed to serving students with disabilities by providing appropriate accommodations to assist them, in compliance with federal and state regulations. Under College policy, federal and state laws, qualified people with disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations that will allow them access to College programs, jobs, services, and activities, unless the accommodations would pose an undue hardship on the College. The College does not have a structured program designated and designed just for students with disabilities. A person with a disability is anyone who either has, used to have, or is treated as having a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits a major life activity (such as learning, caring for oneself, seeing, breathing, walking or working). A qualified person with a disability is someone whose experience, education, and training enable the person to perform the fundamental job duties or meet essential course or program requirements, with or without a reasonable accommodation. An accommodation is any change in the work or learning environment or in the way things are customarily done that enables a person with a disability to have equal employment or educational opportunities.
The College has designated the Counseling Services department, located in room 701, as the office that coordinates services for students with disabilities. Students with disabilities who desire accommodations should schedule a meeting with a College counselor (540) 985-8395, to discuss program accessibility and individual needs. Reasonable accommodations tailored to meet the individual student’s needs, will be made when requested and supported by appropriate documentation. For more information, request a guide for students with disabilities by calling (540) 985-8449.
A request for accommodation is deemed reasonable if it:
1. is based on individual documentation;
2. allows the most integrated experience possible;
3. does not compromise essential requirements of a course or program;
4. does not pose a threat to personal or public safety;
5. does not impose undue financial or administrative burden on the College;
6. is not of a personal nature (i.e. hiring of personal care attendants).
It is the student’s responsibility in the accommodation process to:
1. Self-identify as having a disability to a Counselor, or to a faculty, or staff member. Students may voluntarily notify Admissions or contact Counseling Services to self-identify prior to the completion of the admissions process for the purpose of providing information concerning their disability, OR
2. The Admissions acceptance packet provides an opportunity for students with disabilities to self-identify. Responses are addressed directly to Counseling Services, kept confidential, and only used to assist in planning reasonable accommodations;
3. Students may elect to contact the Counseling Services Department for formal identification at any time during their enrollment. The point in time at which a student chooses to identify a disability remains at the student’s discretion. However, the College is not responsible for making retroactive accommodations;
4. Provide, at the student’s expense, current (not more than 3 years old), appropriate documentation of the disability from a medical or other licensed professional qualified to diagnose the disabling condition;
5. Request specific accommodation(s) or service(s) through the department of Counseling Services.
Student Discrimination Complaint Procedure
Under 34 C.F.R. § 104.7(b) the College is required to adopt a grievance procedure providing for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging noncompliance with Section 504 or its implementing regulations that incorporate appropriate due process standards. Jefferson College of Health Sciences has a complaint procedure to deal promptly and fairly with concerns and complaints about discrimination based on disability as well as other areas of discrimination. The procedure may be used by any student who believes that he or she has been discriminated against or harassed based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or citizenship status, age, disability, or veteran’s status.
Anyone may bring information or a concern about discrimination or harassment. Complaints are handled as confidentially as possible to protect the rights of both the complainant and the person accused. Retaliation against anyone who makes a complaint or participates in a complaint process will not be tolerated.
Disability Grievance Procedure:
All ADA/Section 504 complaints, excluding those filed against the ADA/Section 504 Coordinator, should be addressed to:
ADA/Section 504
Coordinator of Disability Services
Jefferson College of Health Sciences, Room 701
920 S. Jefferson St.
PO Box 13186
Roanoke, VA 24031-3186
All ADA complaints filed against the ADA/Section 504 Coordinator should be addressed to:
Jennifer Carlo, MA
Dean for Student Services
Jefferson College of Health Sciences
920 S. Jefferson St.
PO Box 13186
Roanoke, VA 24031-3186
1. Complaints must be filed in writing within 180 days after the complainant becomes aware of the alleged violation. It must contain the name and address of the person(s) filing the complaint, and a description of the alleged violation.
2. An investigation, as may be appropriate, shall follow the filing of the complaint. The investigation shall be conducted by the Coordinator of Disability Services or the Office of the Dean for Student Services, depending upon the nature of the grievance. All interested persons and their representatives will have an opportunity to submit evidence relevant to the complaint.
3. A written determination as to the validity of the complaint and a description of the resolution shall be issued by either the Coordinator of Disability Services or the Office of the Dean for Student Services, and a copy will be forwarded to the complainant no later than fifteen (30) working days after receipt of the complaint.
4. Upon receipt of the decision, if the student is not satisfied, he/she may file an appeal to the Provost & Dean for Academic Affairs. The Office of the Provost must receive the appeal no later than 30 working days after the date of the written determination by the Coordinator of Disability Services or Dean for Student Services. The Office of the Provost, as may be appropriate, shall conduct an investigation, and shall issue a written determination as to the validity of the complaint and a description of the resolution. A copy will be forwarded to the complainant no later than fifteen (15) working days after receipt of the complaint. The decision of the Provost is final.
5. The student may file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights by accessing the complaint form and instructions at www.ed.gov/offices/OCR/complaintintro.html. |
