Your academic advisor is an important resource for you here at Oregon State. Each college has their own advising structure, so depending on your college and major your academic advisor may be a full-time professional faculty or a professor. Your advisor will aid you in planning your course schedule and help you select courses that meet Baccalaureate core, degree requirements, and work with you to graduate on-time. It is important to meet with an academic advisor regularly so that you can track your progress and construct a schedule that works best for you.
Although you are not required to disclose disability information to your advisor, depending on your needs you may wish to disclose information about your disability to your advisor. Here are some things to consider:
If your disability impacts mobility: it may be difficult for you to have courses scheduled back-to-back. It may be helpful to let your advisor know that your disability impacts your ability to travel across campus quickly.
If your disability impacts alertness or requires you to take medication: If your medication affects your ability to be alert during certain times in the day (i.e. in the morning) it may be helpful to let your advisor know that your disability affects your ability to be alert at certain times so this can be taken into consideration during your course scheduling.
If you have a learning disability/ADD/ADHD: The impacts of your disability may be lessened by the type of teaching style, course type, structure, and organization. If there are several different instructors teaching a course you need it may be worth investigating (through the academic advisor, other students, or the faculty member) what the course is like. In addition, finding balance in your course schedule can help make the term more manageable for you. For example, if you have dyslexia you should avoid taking several classes that require extensive reading and writing at the same time.
By understanding your how your disability impacts you in the classroom, and communicating these impacts you may be able to help your advisor plan a schedule that works better for you.
Requesting a Meeting with an Instructor
First Meeting with an Instructor
Think about your specific accommodations beforehand so that you're prepared to express your needs. Examples: if you have a strong desire to test in the instructor's location, if you have overhead copies as an accommodation, see Disclosing Your Disability, Notetaking, etc.
Disclosing Your Disability (to faculty, classmates, roommates, supervisors, social groups, advisors, etc.)
In order to be successful, students may need to disclose their disability with faculty, roommates, advisors, etc. Typically, when disclosing a disability it is best to focus not on the condition itself, but how the condition impacts your education, and what you need in order to be successful.
Recruiting Your Own Notetaker
Students who recruit their own notetaker are more likely to be satisfied with their notes. During class keep a look out for students who appear to be taking good notes. How do you spot a good notetaker? Characteristics of a good notetaker: someone who is organized, who sits at the front of the room, and someone who always attends class. Here is an example of how to approach a potential notetaker after class:
Once you've recruited your own notetaker, be sure to e-mail or call Notetaking Services to let us know the name of your preferred notetaker so we can be sure to assign them.
Problem with a Notetaker
Before you contact Notetaking Services try and resolve the issue with the notetaker. A simple e-mail can go a long way!
Communicating with Group Members
Requesting Extra Help
Reporting Alternative Testing Problems to a Proctor
If environmental or situational circumstances are negatively affecting your exam performance, and if these circumstances can be influenced by your proctor, students should inform the proctor as soon as possible during the test so that action can be taken. Do not wait until the exam is finished to complain, as that will likely be too late.
Questions Regarding Grades
It is important to track your progress in your classes. One way to do that is to keep track of the grades on each of your assignments through Blackboard or assignments/tests returned to you.
If you receive a low grade on an assignment or an exam you may want to meet with your instructor or TA to go over the questions you missed to help prepare for future exams or the final.
First, check your instructor's office hours to see if you can attend. If you have to request an appointment outside the instructor's office hours check the syllabus to see if your instructor has a preferred method of communication/way of setting appointments: phone, e-mail, or talking after class.
For essays or papers, check to see where you missed points, if it is not clear ask the instructor for specific areas where you could improve.
Make sure you have reviewed the exam and write down questions or issues you had with specific parts of the exam/assignment, look for patterns in the types of questions you missed.
