the role of student affairs and services in higher education

• To assist and support students in the transition from home to college and
college to work, allowing them to become independent and to develop
life-long strategies for independent management of their disabilities and
lifestyle as they enter the work force.
Typical Activities –
• Serving as the official institutional/agency office and mediator that assists
students in acquiring classroom and other accommodations, as necessary.
• Working with the institution to ensure that students with disabilities have
equal access to all areas, including libraries, food service, computer labs and
other areas with technology, and other facilities.
• Informing and making the campus community aware of the need to include
people with disabilities in all programs, services and activities.
• Acting as the institutional agent to inform the community about access issues.
• Arranging for interpreters/signers for deaf students.
• Arranging for notetakers, readers, and volunteer books-on-tape readers.
• Arranging for appropriate alternative student academic assessment and
examination methodologies.
• Assisting students in acquiring alternative formats of classroom materials
(Braille, audio textbooks, large print text.).
• Providing individual counseling and assistance for disabled students from
matriculation through graduation.
• Managing the budget that provides for all classroom accommodations.
• Providing leadership in assessing existing and new space/facilities to
determine compliance with accessibility criteria and standards set by
government units and the institution.
Financial Aid/Student Employment
Purpose/functions –
• To help remove financial barriers for students and assist them in financing
the costs of college attendance.
• To try to fill the gap that exists between the cost of attendance and funds
available from the family, savings, and other resources.
• To provide counseling and assistance in completing the financial aid
application, evaluation and determination of need.
• To provide support services to students for summer/part-time employment.
• To conduct studies on the economic needs of students and the impact of
financial aid on participation in higher education.
• To manage scholarship and other financial aid for students coming from the
private sector and non-profit organizations.
40