No. STAR serves three populations:
- Students with documented disabilities
- Students with limited English proficiency
- Students with technical and career majors
The student should contact STAR at extension 2230 or visit the office in A-1125 to make an appointment for an intake interview.
No. Students must have current documentation and must request accommodations. The documentation must indicate that the student's disability or health concerns affect a major life area such as walking, hearing, seeing, or learning.
STAR provides academic accommodations based on each student's educational needs as determined by the student's verification of his/her disability and information gathered during the intake process. '
Please refer to the Documentation Policy page for more information.
All new students are interviewed to determine eligibility and appropriate accommodations. Students may then request appropriate accommodations such as:
- Audio books / e-text (requires advanced notification.)
- Brailled material
- Extended testing times
- Full page and strip magnifiers for reading text
- Large key calculators
- Large-print dictionaries
- Large-print handouts
- Learning disabilities support
- Notetakers for lecture notes
- Orientation to STAR's services
- Reading tests
- Referrals to community service agencies
- Screen magnification software (ZoomText)
- Scribing tests
- Sign language interpreter (requires advanced notification)
- Software that reads printed materials (Kurzweil 3000 v12 Scan and Read Software)
- Stand alone text magnifiers
- Tape recorders and/or digital voice recorders
- Tutoring in subject content
- Tutoring to improve study habits
- Voice-activated computer software
- Tutoring support
- Use of Kurzweil 3000 v12 computer software reads print material and textbooks. This software has built-in dictionaries to aid the student and is multi-lingual
- Testing accommodations with the written permission from the student's instructor(s)
- Tutoring support for most CIOS classes
- Study skills including time management
- Use of Kurzweil 3000 v12 computer software
- Testing accommodations with written permission from the student's instructor(s)
- Test taking strategies
- Test anxiety coping strategies
Notetakers are volunteers (though they do receive a small stipend for the service), so STAR cannot always guarantee a notetaker! A notetaker is another student in the same class who volunteers to take notes using carbonless (NCR) paper and after each class session gives a copy to a student who is unable to take notes. Every effort is made to find a notetaker for students who qualify.
A student must make a request to the STAR Office. The StAR Office will request information from the volunteer as a stipend is provided for the service. Background checks are required for all applicants. The applicant must have a social security number and be able to work within the United States. The applicant must be willing to commit to regular attendance in the class, willing to participate in a training session/orientation. If the notetaker decides to drop the class he/she should notify the instructor so that another notetaker can be found for the StAR student.
Start taping your classes from the first day or ask your instructors for a copy of his or her notes. Contact StAR if it becomes difficult to get a notetaker.
Joliet Junior College does not have separate classes or "special classes" for students with disabilities. Students attend regular college level or developmental classes with appropriate academic support. Students with disabilities may enroll in any class they choose as long as they have met the class prerequisites. Students with disabilities must be prepared to meet the class objectives which are discussed at the beginning of the semester by the instructor and listed in the class syllabus.
Joliet Junior College does have special vocational education classes in several different fields. See the following link for more information: Food Service Vocational Skills Partnership (PDF) Vocational education classes are not accommodated through the StAR Department as they are special classes for students with special needs and are therefore accommodated.