Transitions from High School to College:
Center on Disability
IEP
High School: An IEP is developed and reviewed automatically and services are
mandated.
College: Accommodations are not given automatically. Participation in the
Center on Disability (COD) is voluntary, if a student qualifies.
Utilizing services is voluntary. Accommodation plans are
developed with the COD staff. Students must be self-directed.
Role of the Parent/Spouse
HS: Parents can call and/or meet with teachers and staff.
College: Under the FERPA law, staff and faculty speak to the student only, unless written permission is granted. Students must be self-directed.
Class time
HS: The average time in class per week is 28-30 hours.
College: The average time in class per week is 10-12 hours.
Learning Content
HS: Students memorize facts and learn skills.
College: Students understand concepts, apply principles, and draw inferences.
Learning Format
HS: Students often depend on learning everything during the class.
College: Most learning comes from reading the textbook and writing papers at home.
Homework
HS: Homework repeats and reinforces class material. It is often graded.
College: Homework supplements the class material. It is often not graded.
Time management
HS: Most assignments are due the next day.
College: Deadlines for projects are long range. Planning and organization are important.
Teaching Style
HS: Teachers often check for class understanding and will repeat and review.
College: Material is presented at a quicker pace and there is no time for repetition. Students must utilize resources outside of the classroom for clarification and review. Students must be self-directed.
Testing
HS: Test preparation requires studying the night before. Test
accommodations are given automatically.
College: Test preparation requires at least one week of preparation, if not
more. Students must arrange for test accommodations well before
hand with the COD. Students must be self-directed.
Grades
HS: Students often get “points” for attendance, homework, class
participation, speaking in class and frequent quizzes.
College: There are fewer grading opportunities in college, so efforts must be
more extensive and intense.
Student Progress
HS: Students and/or parents often receive notification of absences,
missed work, deadlines for filing paperwork.
College: Students receive no notification of progress (other than the mid-
term progress report). Students receive no reminders to register for
classes or file and renew financial aid. Students must be self
directed.
Excuses
HS: Students can bring in notes to excuse absences and even work.
Home-study is even provided in some cases of long-term health
problems.
College: There are no excuses in college. Missing several weeks of
classes to care for a hospitalized child or parent is a difficult and
unfortunate situation. It will not excuse you from the completing the
requirements of the course.