The Office Policies

PROCEDURES FOR STUDENTS REQUESTING INTERPRETER SERVICES

The Essex Campus strives to provide high quality service to students with hearing impairments who request sign language interpreters for classes. The following procedures have been established to assist the Office of Special Services (OSS) in providing the best service.

1. A Student should register for classes as early as possible, providing the Office of Special Services with a copy of his/her schedule on the "blue form " each semester. If a schedule change is made, it must be reported to OSS as soon as possible, since it may take up to two weeks to arrange for an interpreter.

2. The OSS will attempt to notify the student of his/her interpreters' schedules before classes start. The student should refer to the schedule sheet of information regarding when and how to contact interpreters. Procedures may be different for freelance and Agency interpreters. If the student has not received this information from the Office of Special Services, she/he should discuss with the interpreters how the interpreter should be contacted in case of last minute changes.

3. The students must inform the Office of Special Services as soon as possible if she/he will be late or plan to miss a class. Without 48 hours notice, the college will have to pay the interpreter or Agency for the assignment. Messages can be left at any time of day/night. If possible, students should also call the Interpreting Agency, or when appropriate, the interpreter, to let them know of a change of schedule. A STUDENT WITH MORE THAN THREE UNEXCUSED ABSENCES WILL RECEIVE A LETTER OF WARNING FROM THE OFFICE OF SPECIAL SERVICES, INFORMING HIM/HER THAT INTERPRETER SERVICES MAY BE IN DANGER OF BEING SUSPENDED, UNLESS THE STUDENT SCHEDULES AN IMMEDIATE MEETING WITH THE DIRECTOR TO DISCUSS THE SITUATION.

4. A student requesting additional interpreter services for campus appointments, activities, meetings, or tutoring should contact the OSS as soon as possible to allow for arrangements to be made.

5. The student and interpreter should agree to wait 30 minutes for each other at the beginning of class. The student should check with the OSS for messages regarding substitute/absent interpreters.

6. The student must notify the OSS as soon as possible if she/he decides to withdraw from a class.