Student Disability Services—How College is Different
Identification
High School
Students are identified by the school districts.
College
Students must self-identify by registering with the Disability Services office.
Privacy
High School
Information is shared with parents/guardians.
College
Student's right to privacy and confidentiality is upheld.
Placement and Accommodations
High School
Placement and accommodations include parents/guardians.
College
Placement and Accommodations do NOT include parents/guardians.
Eligibility for Services
High School
Eligibility for services is diagnosis-driven.
College
Eligibility for services is driven by severity and impact on major life activity(ies).
Instructor Awareness
High School
Special Education teachers know you well and are aware of your specific difficulties or concerns, and know your strengths and weaknesses.
College
Students will need to initiate discussion and make your concerns known to college instructors, advisors, and disability resource facilitators.
Time Management
High School
School district structures a student's weekly schedule.
College
Student is responsible for their own time management.
Reminders and Deadlines
High School
Teachers remind students of exam dates and assignment deadlines.
College
Students are expected to know exam dates and assignment deadlines by referring to their syllabi.
Discipline
High School
Students are disciplined for skipping class.
College
Professors have different attendance policies regarding the number of classes a student may miss before being penalized. See the University Attendance Policy.
Time Spent in Classroom
High School
Time spent in classroom averages about 40 hours per week.
College
Time spent in classroom is approximately 13-16 hours per week. Don't let this fool you!
Time Spent on Homework
High School
Time spent on homework is oftentimes substantially less than in college.
College
Time spent on homework is usually 2 hours for every hour you spend in class.
Preparing for Exams
High School
Preparing for exams usually involved memorization, and identification of information.
College
Preparing for exams will involve application of information.
Tutors
High School
Tutors and/or extra instruction is provided by teachers.
College
Students must seek out their own tutors to get more information on specific content information, Michigan Tech offers learning centers free of charge.
Grades Changes
High School
Instructors might retroactively change grades by allowing a student to retake an exam.
College
Grades aren't usually retroactive.
Altering Courses and Programs
High School
Courses and programs can be fundamentally altered.
College
Courses and programs ARE NOT fundamentally altered.
Origins: 2008 DRES – U of Ill, Urbana-Champaign
