Accommodations and Accessibility
Learning Support Program
Learning Support Program Virtual Information Session
Hear more about the College's Learning Support Program, the role of the Learning Specialist, the benefits of the program, and application requirements.
Thursday, September 7th at 7 PM: Register here
Thursday, October 5th at 7 PM: Register here
Click here to view a recording of a previous Learning Support Program Virtual Information Session.
Learning Support Program Presentation >
Overview of the Program
Since the late 1960s, Marist College has enrolled students with diverse special educational needs, believing their similarities to other college students to be greater than their differences. In 1982, the Office of Accommodations and Accessibility formally began its Learning Support Program. Each participant in the Program receives a complement of academic services that are designed to meet his or her individual needs. The Program focuses on the development and use of strategies that will promote independence and personal success. To this end, each student is expected to serve as his or her own advocate in a continually increasing fashion.
Each student is enrolled in credit-bearing courses and completes degree requirements set forth for all students. Learning Disability Specialists work closely with faculty and administration to assist the students. Each individual is encouraged to openly discuss his or her learning needs with appropriate faculty at the start of the semester. Specialists frequently assist students in preparation for this meeting. Participation in the Program is available to students on a continual basis for as long as the Specialist and student mutually agree is necessary. Students are expected to assume increasingly higher levels of responsibility for their academic success and to function independently as soon as possible beyond the freshman year.
*The Learning Support Program is a fee-based program. For information on how to apply, please visit our Learning Support Program: Application Process page.
Services Available
The Program emphasizes the development of compensatory strategies. Each student is assigned to work one-on-one with a Learning Specialist*. Typically, freshmen meet with their Specialist two sessions per week. While the goals of each session must be individualized, typical sessions concentrate on:
- Improving writing skills
- Note-taking skills
- Organization skills
- Test-taking strategies
- Time management skills
The Specialist will also establish a plan for necessary and appropriate academic accommodations. There is no charge for these accommodations which may include any of the following:
- Adaptive testing procedures
- Notetakers
- Scribes
- Alternative text
- Use of adaptive equipment
- Personal readers
*A program fee is charged only for the services of the Learning Specialist.