Colleges and Universities serve students with special
needs in many ways. Most schools offer mandated services; that is,
services whose provision is required by law, such as priority
registration and note takers. Schools sometimes offer additional support
services at a charge such as tutoring, personal attendants, individually prescribed devices, etc. Some schools offer alternative post-secondary transition programs. Not all post-secondary institutions provide exactly the same programs and services for students with disabilities. It is important to know that the college you choose can offer the types of programs and support services you need.
Once you begin to narrow your choices of possible career goals you can begin to think about how to reach those goals. Which colleges offer the academic program(s) and degree that will lead to your goal? Can your family afford that college? Can you start at a college close to home and transfer later? These are questions that all potential college students need to address. The following chart briefly describes different types of
post-secondary institutions and their academic options:TYPES OF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
College
| An institution that offers educational instruction beyond the high school level in a 2-year or 4-year program. | | University | An
academic organization, which grants undergraduate and graduate degrees
in a variety of fields. It is made up of a number of 'schools' or
'colleges,' each of which encompasses a general field of study. | Liberal Arts College
| Four-year
institution, which emphasizes programs of broad undergraduate
education. Pre-professional or professional training may be available,
but is not stressed. | Community and
Junior Colleges
| Two-year
institutions of higher learning, which provide vocational training and
academic curricula (terminal and transfer). TERMINAL COURSE: Academic
program is complete in itself. A student who completes it most often may
not apply to a 4-year college for further study without completing
additional
course requirements. School may confer a license or certificate.
TRANSFER COURSE: Academic program is designed to lead into a 4-year
course at another college or university. School may confer Associate
degrees.
| Engineering or Technical College
| Independent
professional schools, which provide 4-year training programs in the
fields of engineering and physical sciences. They are often known as
Institutes of Technology or Polytechnic Institutes. | Technical School
| A
2-year institution that offers terminal occupational programs intended
to prepare students for immediate employment in fields related to
engineering, computers, physical sciences, etc. These schools may also
offer certificates in= certain career programs and clerical areas. | Alternative Post-Secondary Transition Programs
| “Transition”
programs usually have their own self-contained facility or separate
facilities on traditional campuses. Transition programs have a strong
vocational component. These programs are designed to serve high
functioning, limited learners and lower functioning students with
disabilities. |
Adaped from "Effective College Planning by teh WNY Collegiate Consortium of Disability Advocates.
|