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Things Aren’t Going the Way You Expected? There’s Still Time to Work It Out!

October 28th, 2015 No comments

You may be, possibly for the first time, facing the possibility of failing a class. Maybe it’s chemistry. (Just a wild guess.) And you may be, possibly for the first time, unsure where to turn or what to do.

But here’s the deal: Monday is November500px-Busy_desk.svg 2 – the UVM withdrawal deadline. You can choose to withdraw from a course you’re struggling in, and then take it again when you’re more prepared to handle it. Or, you can create a plan to put in the time required to improve your grade this semester – and work really hard.

How do you decide which to do? There’s no easy answer. If you’re thinking of going to graduate school, your grade point average is very important to preserve. If you’re not thinking of post-graduate study, you may be able to substitute another course for the one you’re currently struggling in.

The best choice is the one that will help you reach your goals . . . and talking with an advisor can help you reach that conclusion. If you’re one of those students who hasn’t made it in to 002 Rowell for an advising appointment yet, don’t worry! We’re still here and we want to help you.

Following the withdrawal deadline you have three weeks of classes; and then you have a week off. There’s time to spend working on material that’s been challenging you. But a word of warning: good intentions won’t help you reach your goals. It’s intention followed by action that makes a difference.

We can help you make the decisions you need to make, and recommend actions that will help you achieve your desired outcome. But the courage to recognize habits that aren’t working, and to change them, can only come from you.

Be honest with yourself. Take stock. And ditch the denial.

“Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.” – Mark Twain

A Note from ACCESS (Accommodations, Consultation, Collaboration, and Educational Support Services)

September 18th, 2013 No comments

Students with disabilities or those who suspect a diagnosis can find resources in ACCESS. We work with upwards of 1,000 students each semester to provide accommodations like notetaking, exam proctoring, interpreting, removing residential or programmatic barriers, and disability related advising.

Disability advising centers around when and/or how to disclose, understanding your diagnosis, coaching on having conversations about accommodations, planning accommodations in future settings – study abroad, internships, advanced degrees, the workplace, etc.

ACCESS works with students who have any kind of disability, diagnosis or condition, including: Chronic pain, Attention Deficit Disorder, Lupus, Anxiety, Diabetes, Depression, Hearing Loss, Crohn’s, Eating Disorders, Learning Disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Allergies

We can provide accommodations in many different ways such as: Classes, residential halls, events/activities/programming, clinicals, internships, study abroad, licensing/placement exams, etc. The Office of Institutional Research shows that students who begin working with ACCESS in their first semester tend to graduate in 4 years with a higher overall GPA. This may be because students feel they have a stronger support network and ways they can equal the playing field.

As one student stated in our May 2013 survey:

“Before I met with my ACCESS specialist I thought my grades and dreams were doomed. I had no idea how many options were available or what a huge difference they would make in my studies. I have gone from a C to an A average in one semester. The ACCESS services have been the most important positive change in my academic career. Thank you for all that you do.”

Our Senior Exit Interviews are another way we gain feedback from students who have used our services. We ask the following question of graduating seniors:

What advice would you give to incoming students who choose to use ACCESS?
The answer year after year can be summed up with: Use ACCESS early and often!

Other reasons to use ACCESS:

  • Opportunities for scholarships, internships, part and full time work
  • Understanding your rights as a person with a disability
  • Participating in workshops, stress relievers and/or Disability Awareness Month

Things to know about working with ACCESS:
If you know you have a disability/diagnosis/condition:

  • Submit documentation
  • Come to ACCESS at the beginning of each semester to help make your academic transition go smoothly.

If you suspect you may have a diagnosis and want to learn more about pursuing an evaluation:

If you have any questions about our services or process for accommodations, please feel free to come by our office at A170, Living Learning [across from Alice’s] or email us at access@uvm.edu. Also, please visit us online.

We look forward to working with you!

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