New Student Information

Welcome to the SDC RAMily!

Welcome new students, parents, and families! We are excited to welcome you to the SDC family. This is your introduction to the Student Disability Center, what we do, offer, and how to get involved. We look forward to meeting you and finding out how we can support your educational access here at Colorado State University.

Prospective Students

Congratulations as you embark on this wonderful and challenging endeavor as a college/university student. You will find this new world to be both gratifying as well as frustrating, fearful as well as exciting, challenging as well as easy to master. You may come to this experience as you would an adventure in which you must conquer the elements. Or you may wish to see it as a new job, requiring you to learn new skills and methods. Any way you decide to approach this new endeavor, you can be certain it will change you from what you are today.

As you proceed through your college career, you will not only learn about the world from different viewpoints but you will have a deeper understanding of it. You will not only learn about others who are different from yourself but you will also learn a great deal about yourself and your connection to others. Consider this your opportunity to join the elite of society as many people in the world do not have this same opportunity and privilege. Do well by it and it will do well by you.

It is important to realize that being a student in college is different than being a student in high school. The pace is different and the expectations are different. Even the laws under which you are protected as a student with a disability are different.

If you have been a student receiving support from special education services, one of the first differences you should be aware of is that YOU are directly responsible for initiating the support you need and not the University. The input and influence of your parents is not as important at the college level as it was in your elementary or secondary schools. You actually control your own destiny. Your success or failure depends on what you do and on what you may choose not to do. You will need to be a self-advocate regarding your education as well as the support you may need to accomplish your academic goals.

The average college or university environment is based on a traditional method of teaching and learning. As part of their teaching responsibilities, in a typical class, the instructor lecture, create assignments, prepare exams to measure how much students have learned, and facilitate the learning process to the best of their abilities. Students, on the other hand, are ultimately responsible for any learning that may take place.

A typical college student is responsible for attending class, taking notes, reading the books, doing the research, writing the papers, completing assignments, and taking exams; hoping that they have learned enough to pass. While instructors are responsible for facilitating and evaluating the learning process, students are held responsible for their own learning. Whether or not an instructor is able to teach effectively for every student is not as critical as whether or not a student is able to learn under different circumstances, with different instructors, and on a more theoretical level. In other words, how successful a student is at college is dependent on how effective a student is at being a student.

As a student with a disability, there is a general expectation that you are able to manage the effects of your disability in order to meet the requirements of being a college student. For example, if your disability causes you to be disorganized, you will be expected to learn new strategies that help you become more organized. If you have difficulty showing up for class, it is expected that you will discover ways that compensate for this trait so that you show up on time and at the right place. While you may have had assistance in the past from your parents, when you come to college, you will be held responsible for the behavior that will lead to your success.

Success does not come without effort nor without skills. Being interested in college and motivated to learn is not enough. Your instructors will take for granted that you are able to read, write, listen, take notes and do exams and assignments effectively as well as showing up for class. They also expect you to be able to comprehend complex theories, synthesize ideas, and demonstrate how to apply theories and ideas to real-life situations.

Students who experience problems with these tasks may be faced with more difficulties than the average student and may need to develop specific strategies to overcome these obstacles. To be a successful student, then, you will need to have a plan as well as basic survival skills.

Knowing how to study is merely the beginning. Time management, how to use the library, and understanding what is and is not important for an exam are only a few of the details you will need to master if you expect to be successful as a college student.

The learning process does not take place only in the classroom environment. In addition to the demands of mastering academic knowledge, you also have the opportunity to learn and develop a great deal more about yourself. Your growth as a college student is not only in the process of learning but in building your character. Balancing the demands of both your academic responsibilities and your personal obligations and needs is not an easy job. It, too, takes some planning and some trial and error before most students find the right combination of school work (thinking) and personal development (doing). But once you find that balance, the rewards are many.

While in college you have the opportunity to learn how to be a leader, how to interact with people from different cultures and backgrounds, and how to look at the world from different perspectives. You have the opportunity to redefine what you value in life at the same time you discover what you want to do for the rest of your life. Taking advantage of some of the options available to you for participating in the greater community of the campus is only one of the many benefits you have as a college student. Learning about yourself as a complex and unique individual comes along with the experience, too.

Students with disabilities must meet the criteria established for admission to any institution of higher education in order to be considered “otherwise qualified” under current federal statutes. In general, four-year colleges and universities have admission criteria that are more stringent than community or junior colleges. For students who do not meet criteria for a four-year college or university, a two-year community or junior college may be a more appropriate option to begin the pursuit of a college education. Many classes at two-year institutions are transferable to four-year institutions.

With guidance from the state, Colorado State University has established specific admission criteria for entrance into the university’s programs. Many factors are considered and each applicant is evaluated in a holistic process. For freshmen that include such credentials as completion of required high school coursework, SAT or ACT scores, high school grade point average, and class rank (if applicable).  Priority consideration is given to applicants who have earned a minimum 3.25 GPA and have successfully completed 18 recommended high school units.  Applicants who don’t quite meet the criteria for priority are still strongly encouraged to apply since other factors are recognized in the review process.

Specific types of disabilities may have had an adverse effect on students’ prior school performance. Disclosure of the presence of a disability is voluntary.  While each institution may have different procedures, students are encouraged to submit with their application to CSU an explanation of the possible effects the disability has had on their academic record (e.g., test scores, grade point average, etc.). This identification can be included in the personal essay or through letters of recommendation.  Disability not the sole basis of an admission decision and an applicant may be admissible if there is sufficient indication of strong potential not reflected in the current achievement record.

For more details about the application process for CSU contact the Office of Admissions.

Just Accepted, Now What?

Congratulations on accepting admission to Colorado State University and welcome to the Ramily! As you begin the pre-orientation and orientation process, here are some accommodations you can request even before you enroll in classes and start on day one of the semester:

If you are in need of academic accommodations, we encourage you to connect with us early. We recommend requesting accommodations before starting your first semester at CSU. To request accommodations, you will need to meet with an accommodation specialist. To schedule an appointment you can call our office at 970-491-6385 or email [email protected].

If you will need housing or dining accommodations to make living on campus as accessible as possible, you will need to meet with one of our Accommodation Specialists. To set up an appointment you can contact our office by phone at 970-491-6385 or email at [email protected].

Before meeting with our office, you should submit your on-campus housing application.

Ask for testing accommodations for your placement exams prior to taking them. If you have already taken your placement exams without accommodation but feel like you need accommodations, please connect with us at 970-491-6385 or [email protected] to get accommodations for your placement exams, and you can take it again with accommodations.

Steps to Connect

Once you have accepted your journey as a Ram you can follow these steps to connect with our office.

Step 1: Submit a New SDC Student Application

Once you are ready to formally request accommodations, you will need to submit a New SDC Student Application. This application is an opportunity for you to provide our offfice information about your accommodation requests. 

Once your application is submitted, you can call 970-491-6385 or email [email protected] to set up an appointment with an accommodation specialist so we can get to know you! It’s always best to be able to put a face to a name and give students a warm welcome.

Step 2: Meet with Us

You will meet your accommodation specialist who will become one of your many resources throughout your journey at CSU. Your specialist will discuss your strengths, interests, and goals and how CSU can best provide access to all aspects of your college life at CSU. This is where you identify accommodations (academic adjustments) to the college environment that best suit your individual needs. Add them to your email and phone contacts so you can reach out whenever you need some additional support.

Step 3: Submit Documentation

If you haven’t already, you can submit documentation (or verification) of your disability to your Accommodation Specialist (if applicable). Your accommodation specialist will discuss the documentation needed and advise you on where to find this documentation if you don’t have any. Don’t have any documentation? That’s ok! We will still meet with you and provide accommodations while we identify the best ways to move forward.

Step 4: Renew

Each semester don’t forget to complete your Accommodation Letter Request Form prior to the first day of classes (or anytime thereafter) so that the Student Disability Center can send your letters to your professors and copy you. This informs them about the accommodations you need to access your classes.

Step 5: Communicate

Now that your instructors have your accommodation letter and you now have access to the syllabus, you can review the course outline, content, and requirements. Find a time to intentionally connect with your professor through email, phone, office hours, or via appointment to check in with them about any questions, concerns, or logistics that need to be sorted for the accommodations to run smoothly. If you run into any challenges working it out with your professor, your Accommodation Specialist is always there to assist with finding creative solutions.