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Educational Support

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2013-2014 Undergraduate College Catalog

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Academic Advising

Academic Resource Center

Higher Education Learning Program (HELP)

Manhattanville Advancement Program (MAP)

Transitional Program

Manhattanville Mentoring Program

Disability Services

Grievance Procedure

Academic Advising

Academic advising at Manhattanville is the province of the faculty. Most full-time faculty members serve as advisors, either for departmental majors or for freshmen and sophomores. This merger of instructional and advising functions is the key to Manhattanville's special commitment to mentoring students in their first year of college.

The Academic Advising Office, located on the ground floor (G – 8) of Founder’s Hall, manages the operation of the Portfolio System, and provides a wide array of advising functions.

Academic Resource Center

The Academic Resource Center provides support services to all Manhattanville students who wish to improve their competence in any area of study. Instruction for individuals and small groups is available by appointment and in regularly scheduled tutorial sessions.

The Academic Resource Center has developed interactive learning modules of Supplemental Instruction for students in many major introductory courses. The Center also maintains a peer tutor bank for assistance in most course areas.

Professional tutoring is available in mathematics, reading, writing, and study skills. Writing labs offer help with work in progress, including portfolio requirements and research papers.

For additional information, contact Elizabeth Lewis at 914-323-5474.

Higher Education Learning Program (HELP)

HELP offers a full range of individualized services designed to accommodate the needs of any student with a diagnosed learning disability. The services include: one-on-one tutoring; note-taking strategies; study skills; time management; organizational support; program planning; assistance with test-taking. Fees to cover these services are added on to the regular tuition and fees assessed by the school. For further information, contact Eleanor Schwartz at 914-323-5313.

Manhattanville Advancement Program (MAP)

The Manhattanville Advancement Program (MAP) is a scholarship program that provides educational opportunity and support to economically disadvantaged students. The MAP scholarship is a four-year commitment.

Students receive a broad range of services including academic, personal, and career counseling. Beyond the traditional academic focus of most scholarship programs, MAP encourages the development of the student as a whole— intellectually, ethically and socially. Students are encouraged towards these aims by fostering community service, student leadership development, and goal-oriented self-management.

Program Requirements:

Students must comply with the following requirements in order to maintain their MAP status:
Complete all courses and achieve a minimum 2.8 GPA during the residential Pre-Freshman Summer Program. Continuing at Manhattanville College is contingent upon completion of the residential summer program.
Attend and pass Student Enrichment Workshops during the Academic Year
Meet with their MAP counselor on a regular basis
Maintain full-time status (12 credits per semester)
Complete 15 community service/social justice hours per semester
Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.8
Attend two MAP sponsored events per semester
Freshmen participate in the MAP Mentoring Program
Adhere to the MAP Policies
Participate in individual or group tutoring through the ARC during first year

For more information about the program, please contact: Sharlise Smith-Rodriguez, Coordinating Director, 914-323-5206.

Transitional Program

A transitional student is one who has been admitted under the premise that he or she may need additional support in order to be successful in college. Students are classified as transitional by the Office of Admissions.

Students admitted through the Transitional Acceptance Program fall under the oversight of the Center for Academic Success during their first semester. Students are required to attend a series of workshops through the Student Enrichment Program which will ease the transition to Manhattanville. Students must also successfully complete 12 credits with at least a 2.0 grade point average by the end of their first semester. Although 12 credits must be successfully completed by the end of the first semester, we recommend that students register for no fewer than 15 to 16 credits per semester. If these criteria are met, the student will no longer be considered a transitional student. If these criteria are not met, the student could be placed on academic probation or dismissed from the college.

Manhattanville Mentoring Program

In keeping with the traditional values and mission of Manhattanville College, the Manhattanville Mentor Program was created to encourage camaraderie, support and success amongst fellow students. The Mentor Program was developed by members of the Enrollment Management Committee to provide an opportunity for students, matched with upperclassmen, to ease the transition process of entering a new and challenging environment. Mentors earn the responsibility of helping to foster the social, intellectual and ethical maturity of every student entering the college and that they are given every opportunity to be fully explored.

To participate in the Manhattanville Mentor Program as a Mentee, students and parents are encouraged to contact the Mentor Program Office. Students are given an overview of the program regarding expectations and responsibilities of Mentors and Mentees. Mentees will be matched with an upperclassman according to similar academic background and/or interests. It is important that both the mentor and mentee(s) feel comfortable working with each other.

For more information about the program, please contact Sharlise Smith-Rodriguez, Coordinating Director, at 914-323-5206.

Disability Services

Mission and Philosophy

Manhattanville College seeks to enroll students who show evidence of academic ability, personal achievement, and a willingness to meet challenges. The College welcomes students with diverse backgrounds, interests, and talents, including qualified students who have disabilities.

Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Manhattanville College strives to ensure that “no otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program administered by the College.”

Eligibility

Any qualified student who has a “physical or mental impairment, which results in a substantial limitation of one or more life activities” is eligible to receive reasonable accommodations. Reasonable academic and physical accommodations are determined by review of an individual’s documentation of disability and an intake interview. Examples of accommodations may include, but are not limited to: extended time on examinations, separate location for exams, readers, sign language interpreters; electronic text.

Self-identification and Notification of Accommodations

Students must self-identify at Disability Services in order to register for reasonable accommodations. Documentation of disability should be submitted (see guidelines below). Once a student is registered and accommodations have been determined, the student must request from Disability Services that notice of accommodations be sent to the Professors of their choice each semester. The Office of Disability Services then sends the notice to the requested Professors outlining the approved accommodations.

Documentation

Students diagnosed with a disability that request services or reasonable accommodations are required to provide appropriate and current documentation. In the case of multiple disabilities, students must provide documentation for each disability for which accommodations are requested. Prior documentation such as an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or a history of receiving accommodations from a former school does not necessarily validate the need for services or continuation of accommodations at the college level. This history can, however, be attached to the current documentation as part of a comprehensive assessment battery.

If necessary, the Office of Disability Services can provide a medical/psychological release of information forms allowing a student’s provider to send all appropriate documentation directly to Disability Services. Additionally, disability verification forms are available to be completed by an appropriately qualified professional. All Documentation should meet the following guidelines:

A qualified professional should conduct the evaluation and provide name, title, professional credentials, including information about state licensure or certification number.
The evaluation should include the diagnosis and be dated. The document will include the original signature of the professional responsible for the assessment of functioning.
The evaluation must be current. Disabilities may change in severity over time and documentation should support current accommodation needs.
Recommendations and rationale for accommodations and/or assistive technology must be based on the analysis of the functional impact of the diagnosis.
Insufficient documentation may result in the delay of services and accommodations.
All documentation submissions are kept confidential. The documentation should be submitted to: Director of Disability Services, Founders, G-33, 914-323-7127

Grievance Procedure

ADA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Any student who believes that reasonable accommodations have been denied should first contact the Director of Disability Services, who will try to resolve the situation expeditiously. The Director is the student’s advocate. If a resolution cannot be reached, a written petition should be submitted to the Director, who will convene the ADA Committee to review the petition within 10 days. The Committee’s decision may be appealed to the Vice President of Student Affairs. Reasonable accommodations may, at the discretion of the Vice President be provided in the meantime.

ADA Committee

Manhattanville’s ADA Committee is comprised of administrators and faculty members. The ADA Committee meets regularly to review College policies and review grievances as needed.

Grievance Procedure

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Any student who believes that reasonable accommodations have been denied should first contact the Director of Disability Services, who will try to resolve the situation expeditiously. The Director is the student’s advocate. If a resolution cannot be reached, a written petition should be submitted to the Director, who will convene the ADA Committee to review the petition within 10 days. The Committee’s decision may be appealed to the Vice President of Student Life. Reasonable accommodations may, at the discretion of the Vice President be provided in the meantime.