ADA Accommodations
Vernon College provides appropriate accommodations to qualified students in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) Act. Accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. Students with special needs are encouraged to contact the PASS Department Director/Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) Coordinator as early as possible. Early notice is required to prepare for and provide certain accommodations during the first week of class. All requests for special accommodations due to a disability must be accompanied by appropriate and acceptable documentation. It is the responsibility of the student to provide documentation that qualifies the student as an individual with a disability, as defined by law, and supports the requested accommodation. For more information about documentation guidelines, please visit www.vernoncollege.edu/documentation-guidelines. The student is also responsible for providing current and accurate contact information and for meeting with PASS Department personnel to sign paperwork. Special arrangements may be made for distance education students who never travel to one of the Vernon College locations. Students must complete the request process before any accommodations are made. More information may be obtained from the Vernon College website at www.vernoncollege.edu/ADA-home. Students may also email pass@vernoncollege.edu or call (940) 552-6291, ext. 2307.
ADA Grievance Procedure
If students feel they have not been served with reasonable accommodations as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act, they may file an ADA grievance by following the process outlined in the current Student Handbook and on the Vernon College ADA website at the following address: https://www.vernoncollege.edu/ada-grievance-procedure. ADA grievances must be initiated within three (3) weeks of the alleged occurrence, omission, or denial. The ADA Grievance Procedure is separate from all other college grievances.
Vernon College Policy regarding Parenting Students
As outlined in Texas House Bill 1361 enacted in 2024, Vernon College supports students who are parents of children under 18 years of age and thus identified as “parenting student”. Vernon College has designated the Director of Student Success as the “liaison officer” for such students. The Vernon College liaison officer will focus on the “College Readiness” of these students. As the liaison, the Director of Student Success will also ensure that parenting students are notified of resources including but not limited to:
• Medical and Behavioral Health coverage/referrals
• Public Benefit programs that include housing and food
• Parenting and Childcare Resources
• Employment Resources
• Transportation Resources
• Academic Success Strategies
• All other resources targeted at assisting Vernon College Students
Vernon College will NOT require or demand parenting or pregnant students who have issues relating to parenting or pregnancy to:
• Take a leave of absence or withdraw from a certificate or program
• Take a reduced load or limit class availability
• Participate in alternative programs
• Change the students major, degree, or certificate
• Refrain from joining or cease participating in any course, activity, or program
Vernon College will provide the student with all options available to them including dropping/withdrawing and deferred entrance in to a program.
Vernon College will provide reasonable accommodations to pregnant and parenting students through the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD). The OSD Coordinator will review relevant documentation provided by the student and determine accommodations that:
• Would be provided to a student with a temporary medical condition
• Are related to the health and safety of a student or the student’s unborn child including safe distances from substances and activities dangerous to the student or the student’s unborn child
• Excuse the student’s absences upon receipt of approved documentation
• Allow the student to make up missed work
• Allow the student extra time to complete work in line with other students who have a temporary medical condition
• Take a leave of absence and return to degree or certificate program without readmission if the student was in academic good standing at the time of the leave of absence
Any disagreement related to accommodations that cannot be resolved will adhere to the Vernon College OSD/Parenting Student Grievance Policy outlined in the Vernon College Student Handbook.
PASS Department Tutoring Centers
The PASS Department Tutoring Centers at the Vernon Campus and the Century City Center provide help in accessing face-to-face tutoring, online tutoring, and NetTutor services. The Tutoring Centers also provide free in-house essay tutoring, computer usage, including internet access, and a quiet place to study or read. In addition, tutoring service may be arranged at the Skills Training Center with advance notice. Students may request help at one of the following locations:
Vernon Campus: Room 217 (940) 552-6291, Ext 2309
Century City Center: Room 111 (940) 696-8752, Ext. 3257
Skills Training Center: Room 105 (940) 766-3369, Ext. 7100
Students may also e-mail pass@vernoncollege.edu to request online or remote help.
For more information, please visit www.vernoncollege.edu/tutoring-centers.