Expanding Campus Resources

As students shuffle between classes, they carry textbooks on their backs while their hearts and minds carry the untapped potential of a generation. Some travel a clearly developed path and will seek the resources necessary to follow that path. Others meander along and will need to be guided toward the resources that can help them discover their best path forward.

In both cases, campus resources can transform the way students access support and opportunities on this journey to success. With innovative programs and a broad vision of accessibility for all, campus resources can serve to bridge cultural and social gaps as well as to open doors to creative learning strategies and appropriate individual skills development.

Expanding campus resources is not just about providing tools; it’s about creating opportunities for growth, discovery, and lifelong learning. The challenge involves thinking outside the box, and sometimes it’s adding a whole new box. The first step is knowing what resources already exist, and then taking the initiative to uncover what resources are missing.

For your Deaf students on campus, here are a few ideas for increasing the impact of your Campus Resources:

1. Increase Access to Interpreters: Ensure that qualified sign language interpreters are readily available for all classes, events, and meetings. Consider offering remote interpreting options for added flexibility.
2. Implement Captioning Services: Provide real-time captioning for lectures, videos, and online content. This can significantly enhance comprehension and inclusivity for deaf students.
3. Create Deaf Culture Awareness Programs: Develop workshops and training sessions for faculty and staff to promote understanding of deaf culture and communication styles. This fosters a more inclusive environment.
4. Enhance Study Spaces: Designate quiet study areas with visual aids, such as flashing lights for alerts or screens displaying important information, to create a conducive learning environment.
5. Establish Peer Support Networks: Form mentorship programs that connect Deaf students with peers or faculty who understand their needs. This can provide valuable academic and social support, helping to build a strong community.

All students deserve the full college experience from the day they arrive on campus to the day they graduate. Do your campus resources offer a full range of accommodations?

Create change based on feedback and student input. The outcomes can make such a positive difference, especially for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

Read More on Access & Accommodations

Student Satisfaction Surveys

As you consider new campus resources, one important tool to help with decision-making and information-gathering is the Student Satisfaction Survey. Conducting a student satisfaction survey can help uncover students’ needs, concerns, and experiences, providing insights that might not be visible otherwise.

This type of feedback can inform leadership about improvements needed to campus programs, facilities, and support services. What’s more, involving students in the feedback process fosters a sense of ownership and engagement, encouraging them to take an active role in shaping their educational environment.

Analysis of survey data can provide valuable evidence to guide decision-making and resource allocation, ensuring that changes align with student needs and priorities. And so a student satisfaction survey can be an essential tool for continuous improvement and creating a more supportive learning environment.

One example of such a Student Satisfaction Survey comes from Stephen F. Austin State University. This is a survey of the Disability Services on their campus, and the intake includes information about student priorities, experiences with services, equipment issues, and advocacy. Check it out as a sample of how you might create a similar survey for your Campus Resources.

Sample Student Satisfaction Survey

The Importance of Feedback

The process of gathering feedback from your Deaf students involves continuous outreach, deliberate action and proper planning. Feedback comes in many forms. The purpose is to help programs improve and services expand with the result of improving students’ lives.

Student feedback can help improve classroom experiences. Instructors and providers who gather feedback can match services with students to make sure all their needs are being met. Long term, this type of a feedback loop can improve student outcomes and even increase enrollment retention rates.

“The insights gathered from student feedback also extend to creating a more inclusive campus community outside of the classroom.” Empower your Deaf students by providing tools for them to express their concerns. Feedback can help shape the future of your campus resources for students of all abilities.

Learn more about the importance of feedback at the National Deaf Center website.