Transcript ahead.org
Emerging Practices for working with Graduate Students: Relationships, Structure, Appropriate Accommodations 37th Annual AHEAD Conference Sacramento, CA July 18, 2014 Who are we? • Barbara Hammer • University of Missouri • Neera Jain • University of California, San Francisco • Auckland Disability Law Centre, New Zealand • Jane Brown • University of Connecticut What do we mean by graduate students? • PhD and masters students • Generally students in non-professional graduate programs (e.g. no clinical rotations, fieldwork, etc.) What is unique about these programs… … and what are some of the opportunities and pitfalls? Opportunities • Chance to focus their study on their true area of interest • Less rote requirements • coursework/schedule can be more flexible • less lecture classes • Less focus on “time sensitive” tasks • less exams, more papers The vulnerable graduate student Potential Challenges • Less of a roadmap • Writing and independent reasoning become more critical • Managing one's dissertation committee Potential Challenges • Teaching requirements • Hidden Curriculum • Issues of funding, what it means to take “time off” • Academic, departmental culture • Relationships become more critical and tend to be murky Approaches to teaching… Case Examples What are you seeing on your campus?? What can DS do? • Your approach is governed by: • When the student comes to your attention • What the presenting issue is • Who are the personalities involved • How dire is the situation? Program expectations can be grey… Untangling the Christmas lights… • Has the program/school followed their published policies and procedures? • Is it a disability issue or a standard grad student concern? • Is there an accommodation that would help (modification of policy or procedure) Active supports • Understanding student’s unique circumstances • Helping students understand program requirements • Peer mentor • Social Interpreter and Coaching in Soft Skills • Formal Accommodations • Disclosure Creating Systemic Change • Outreach to Programs and Students • Building relationships and developing liaisons/champions • Program structure and requirements • Policies are clear and easy to find Small victories Questions? • Barbara Hammer: [email protected] • Neera Jain: [email protected] • Jane Thierfeld Brown: [email protected]