Joint Agreement between the Office VESID and the Office of Higher and Professional Education (OHPE)

This Joint Agreement is predicated upon the principles that students with disabilities who are otherwise qualified should benefit from postsecondary education, and that institutions of higher education should encourage their increased participation in collegiate programs. The State Education Department continues to act on these principles through the development of initiatives in keeping with the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, Board of Regents Policies on Linking Services for Individuals with Disabilities, and recommendations from the Regents Select Commission on Disability.

Through this Joint Agreement, the two Offices will collaborate to assist higher education institutions to provide the necessary support services for students with disabilities who are otherwise qualified to access higher education institutions and succeed in their studies. Anticipated outcomes of the Joint Agreement are that more qualified individuals with disabilities will enter postsecondary programs and receive the support services and program accommodations necessary for them to complete their collegiate programs.

VESID and OHPE agree to:

Assist postsecondary institutions to provide necessary support services for qualified students with disabilities to access higher education institutions and to enter their academic programs.
1. Encourage colleges and universities to disseminate information regarding support services and program accommodations for students with disabilities available in formats that are accessible and appropriate to both enrolled and prospective students.
2. Collaborate to seek funding for various activities which will contribute to the academic success of college students with disabilities. Such activities could include the development of guidelines and standards for the provision of support services; the identification and dissemination of effective collegiate practices for access and program support; the identification and dissemination of collaborative models among institutions of higher education and community-based agencies, such as Independent Living Centers; the development and delivery of in-service training to faculty and staff at institutions of higher education; and the development of a formula to allocate funds to higher education institutions based on the number of students with disabilities and the nature of the disability.
3. Development by VESID, in collaboration with OHPE, of functional criteria for the referral of individuals with disabilities to adult service systems, and respective policies and procedures for referral, financial assistance, support and placement services.
Assist institutions of higher education in ensuring academic learning and success for college students with disabilities.
1. The Division of College and University Evaluation will continue to review all college programs to ensure compliance with Part 52 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education. These regulations contain a standard requiring postsecondary institutions to provide the instructional and other support services students need to complete their academic program. During site reviews of postsecondary programs, the Office of Higher and Professional Education examines the services provided by the institution for students with disabilities.
2. Compliance with Commissioner's Regulations is assured by the Department's oversight of all postsecondary degree programs. The Office of Higher and Professional Education will continue to offer technical assistance necessary for programs that need improvement in order to serve students with disabilities more effectively.
3. Collaborate to offer technical assistance for grant programs relating to services for students with disabilities administered by the Office of Higher and Professional Education.
4. Collaborate to provide technical assistance to postsecondary institutions to assist faculty in working effectively with students with disabilities.
5. Encourage postsecondary institutions to expand existing college summer programs to include students with disabilities.
6. Encourage postsecondary institutions to develop credit-based work experiences, such as summer employment and internships, for college students with disabilities.
7. Develop information and provide training for Department staff on educational issues and the application of State regulations for public and private colleges and universities relating to the needs of students with disabilities.
8. Conduct self-sustaining leadership training activities that will provide college faculty and administrators with opportunities to learn about ways by which information about disabilities can be integrated into various courses of study.
Encourage institutions of higher education to work with secondary schools in assisting qualified secondary students with disabilities to make the transition to college.
1. Collaborate with the Office of Elementary, Middle, and Secondary Education to assist colleges and universities to work with secondary schools in assisting qualified secondary students with disabilities to make the transition to college.
2. Encourage postsecondary institutions to develop linkages among college recruiters, high school teachers, guidance counselors, college advisors, VESID staff and staff of Independent Living Centers to increase access to information regarding support services, financial assistance and special programming for students with disabilities.
3. Encourage postsecondary institutions to participate in transition planning, as appropriate, for qualified students with disabilities.
4. Encourage the Department, school districts, and institutions of higher education to collaborate in efforts to transfer assistive technology or other supports for students with disabilities from secondary to collegiate programs with the individual student.
Develop systems for the evaluation of desired outcomes for postsecondary education students with disabilities.
1. Encourage postsecondary institutions to report on their support services for students with disabilities and collect information about employment outcomes for students with disabilities.
2. Continue to include data about college students with disabilities in the State data collection system.
3. Encourage research in the field of postsecondary education and services for students with disabilities to assist the Department in identifying effective practices for increasing student participation in postsecondary education.

The goal of this Joint Agreement between OHPE and VESID is to enhance the ability of students with disabilities to successfully participate in careers and community living through the successful completion of programs offered by institutions of higher education.

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