[Dtb-talk] FW: Re-sending with correction in Commissioner Taeckens' title: Special Meeting of the MCB College Policy Review Team 12/2/09, and draft college policy

Tue Dec 1 21:20:28 UTC 2009

From: Michigan Comm for the Blind Vision 20/20 List
[mailto:MCB2020-L at LISTSERV.MICHIGAN.GOV] On Behalf Of Turney, Susan (DELEG)
Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 9:05 AM
To: MCB2020-L at LISTSERV.MICHIGAN.GOV
Subject: Re-sending with correction in Commissioner Taeckens' title: Special
Meeting of the MCB College Policy Review Team 12/2/09, and draft college
policy

The next meeting of the MCB College Policy Review Team will be Wednesday,
December 2, 2009, in Kalamazoo, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

The agenda for the December 2 meeting is below.  The draft College Policy
dated November 30, 2009, is attached and pasted below the agenda.  The
November 30 draft college policy is also online at this link: 

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/dleg/college_policy_review_draft_November_
30_2009_302591_7.doc 

Special Meeting of the MCB College Policy Review Team, Wednesday, December
2, 2009, in Kalamazoo 

Contact:  Sherry Gordon, MCB (269) 337-3276
MCB COLLEGE POLICY REVIEW TEAM
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2009
4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
MCB Training Center
1541 Oakland Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49008
Training Center Conference Room
Call-in number: (877) 873-8017
Passcode: 8101876

Agenda for the December 2, 2009, meeting: 

1.         College Policy Discussion, 4:30 – 6:15 p.m.
            Geri Taeckens, MCB Commissioner

            Crystal LaFleche, Consumer Involvement Council Chair
            Sherry Gordon, MCB Agency Representative

2.         Public Comment, 6:15 - 6:30 p.m. 

3.         Adjourn, 6:30 p.m. 

The meeting site is accessible.  Individuals attending the meeting are
requested to refrain from using heavily scented personal care products in
order to enhance accessibility for everyone.  People with disabilities
requiring additional accommodations (such as materials in alternative
format) in order to participate in the meeting should call Sherry Gordon at
269/337-3276. 

DRAFT 11/30/09

MCB COLLEGE AND OTHER POSTSECONDARY TRAINING 

The mission of the Michigan Commission for the Blind (MCB) is to provide
individuals who are blind and visually impaired the opportunity to achieve
employment and independence.  We believe in the capacity of each blind
person to achieve excellence, to be productive and independent, and to be
involved in the community.

We value each person as an individual and believe that everyone has a right
to be treated with dignity and respect.  We value activities that include,
empower and enable individuals to make their own choices, and we value
enabling technology that helps integrate consumers into all aspects of
society.

A positive, respectful and effective partnership between MCB, its consumers
and institutions of higher education is critical to help students achieve
their academic goals, consistent with their talent, skills, abilities,
hopes, and dreams.  The policies contained in this section on postsecondary
education are designed to assist students in achieving ultimate success in
their endeavors.  In some instances it may be possible for exceptions to the
policies, if approved by the Director of Consumer Services.  Students
needing clarification or adjustments in these policies are encouraged to
engage their counselors in constructive dialogue to most effectively meet
individual needs.  MCB encourages consumers to advocate for themselves and
through due process if there is

a disagreement between an MCB staff member and a consumer.

A.  Prerequisites for college and other post secondary training 

A student shall demonstrate his or her ability to participate in a college
or other postsecondary training program that will result in competitive
employment.

Procedure:

·        Prospective students will successfully complete MCB’s College
Assessment, with a minimum skill level of “meets expectation”, before MCB
sponsorship is considered. These skill areas may include technology,
communication skills, note-taking, traveling, and skills of independent
living.   Other skill areas may be deemed necessary by the individual and
their counselor or teacher. 

·        The student must present their MCB counselor with a letter of
acceptance to the educational institution along with a curriculum outlining
the program of study.

·        The student needs to research thoroughly his/her vocational goal in
order to ensure he/she is making a clear and informed choice.  This research
process is a collaborative effort between the consumer, counselor, and the
other support systems in the student’s life.  Examples of how to research a
vocational goal could be job shadowing, mentoring, labor market analysis,
volunteer or paid work experience, etc.

·        Once a vocational goal is chosen, an Individualized Plan for
Employment (IPE) will be written, which must be agreed upon by the consumer
and his/her MCB counselor.  At any point in the student’s college program
that the student chooses to change his/her vocational goal or college major,
the MCB counselor must be advised and a new IPE must be written before any
services may be provided to the student.  Necessary information to support
the change shall be provided for the IPE amendment needed for a vocational
goal or college major change.

B.  Accreditation

MCB will use only those colleges, universities, and other degree-granting
institutions, including correspondence, home study and vocational training
programs, accredited by a regional accrediting body recognized by the U.S.
Department of Education.  

Procedure:

·        Exceptions may be made where accreditation is pending or
conditional and the course of study is sufficiently unique to justify use of
the institution. 

·         MCB reserves the right to review and disapprove the use of a
college, university, or vocational training program that is not accredited.

C.  Duration of Training

MCB financial support for college and other postsecondary training may be
extended one year beyond the period identified by the institution as the
time it would take a full-time student to complete the program of study.
Full-time study is defined as a minimum of 12 credit hours for an
undergraduate degree.  

·        One school year of Michigan Commission for the Blind sponsorship,
generally during the months of September through April, does not routinely
include sponsorship for summer classes.  Summer school includes the months
of May through August.  Exceptions for summer school sponsorship must have
prior approval.  If approved, the conditions in the financial aid section
(section D) must be followed.

·        Students who are employed or who may have a life experience or a
circumstance that may effect their educational program    may be eligible to
request a reduced course load and/or to lengthen MCB’s participation to more
than five years for a bachelor’s degree program.  Exception requests to
lengthen the five year time line must be presented to the Director of
Consumer Services.  Students should ensure that they comply with the college
or university’s timelines in completing a degree.   

(okayed on 11/20/09):

·        Michigan Commission for the Blind financial participation will be
limited to one associate’s degree program or one bachelor's degree program.
An exception may be made if it can be shown that there are circumstances
that prevent the individual from accepting or continuing employment in
his/her chosen occupation.   Refer to the section related to advanced
degrees for further clarification.

(okayed on 11/20/09):

·        In the case when a student changes his/her major in college, the
limit on the maximum length of college sponsorship still applies.

(okayed 11/20/09 except for time frame):

·        MCB may provide financial support for up to 24 credit hours of
remedial study.  Remedial credits will not count toward the five-year
maximum MCB sponsorship to obtain a bachelor’s degree.  MCB may decline to
pay for developmental or remedial study if available at no cost or a lower
cost through another postsecondary institution or other resources.

(okayed 11/20/09):

·        The Michigan Commission for the Blind advocates attendance at a
community college through the end of the student’s sophomore year to promote
cost savings.   

D.  Financial Aid

For a student determined eligible for MCB postsecondary financial
sponsorship, financial support for college and other postsecondary training
will be provided only after all other financial resources and comparable
benefits have been exhausted.

Procedure:

·        Comparable services and benefits refer to any appropriate service,
financial benefit, or assistance available to a consumer to meet, in whole
or in part, the cost of vocational rehabilitation services.  Merit
scholarships specifically designated for a particular college cost must be
utilized for the intended cost. For the purposes of this definition,
comparable benefits do not include Social Security benefits, such as Social
Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI);
unrestricted awards; and unrestricted scholarships based on merit.  

·        All financial aid, grants, and stipends received by a student
administered through the student's college or university, employer benefits,
workers compensation, and similar public benefits will be applied to
tuition, books, supplies, and maintenance. All financial aid received by the
individual is to be used to reduce Michigan Commission for the Blind
financial participation. 

·        Students requesting college sponsorship must apply for federal
financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid
(FAFSA) and the DELEG/MCB Statement of Financial Need, Resources and
Authorization form.    Students requesting college sponsorship must present
their MCB counselor with a copy of their financial award letter and a signed
copy of the DELEG/MCB Statement of Financial Need, Resources and
Authorization form as soon as possible, but no later than July 1 before the
start of the fall semester, or no later than November 1 before the start of
the winter/spring semester beginning in January.  Consumers who are unable
to meet this deadline may be considered for college-level training starting
the following semester.  MCB counselor shall submit the signed copy of the
DELEG/MCB Statement of Financial Need, Resources and Authorization form to
the financial officer at the college or university.  The completed form
should be returned to the student’s MCB counselor.  The student’s MCB
counselor will share the information on the DELEG/MCB Statement of Financial
Need, Resources and Authorization form with the student and will offer the
student a copy of this document.  

·        Students should apply for scholarships and grants that might be
available to offset the cost of their college program. 

·        MCB contribution toward other college-related costs may include the
following:

1.    MCB sponsorship for tuition and fees will be limited to courses needed
for completion of the curriculum requirements, as outlined in the student’s
chosen program of study.

2.    MCB will pay for only required textbooks and required course
materials, as defined in the course syllabus, for an eligible college
student.  Consumers are expected to utilize cost-saving strategies, when
possible, in the purchase of textbooks and course materials by purchasing
used textbooks and selecting bookstores with the most competitive pricing.

3.    Any funds generated from the sale of used books should be utilized to
offset costs of textbooks and other course materials.

4.    MCB will provide rehabilitation technology services and equipment as
designated in the consumer’s IPE.  Refer to “Scope of Services”—letter R.
Rehabilitation Technology, in the MCB Policy Manual, for further detail.

·        The cost of college application fees and/or the required entrance
exams and testing fees will be the responsibility of the potential college
and other postsecondary training student.  MCB may pay for the cost of
preparation classes or materials for these exams, if determined appropriate
by the consumer and his/her MCB counselor.

·        MCB may assist with the cost of professional certification exams
and/or fees.

·        If a consumer is in default of a student loan, no financial aid,
including Pell, will be available to the consumer. MCB is prohibited from
paying for any training or related services at an institution of higher
education for an individual who owes a refund on a grant or is in default of
a student loan unless the individual makes maximum effort to resolve the
default. Maximum effort means that the consumer must work out a satisfactory
payment plan with the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), lending
institution, or grantor, and re-establish eligibility for financial aid.

·        Regarding out-of-state or private college attendance, MCB will
contribute to the payment of tuition for a comparable program in an amount
no greater than the highest tuition rate for Michigan residents attending a
state-supported college or university in Michigan.         

·        Training at an institution outside of the United States (study
abroad) may be funded if it is part of an approved course of study for an
in-state institution.  The agency may support the cost at the same rate as
if the program were provided at the student’s in-state educational
institution.

·        The Michigan Commission for the Blind and each state-sponsored
university or college in Michigan have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU),
which defines the responsibilities of the university or college and MCB.
MCB counselors and students should be made aware of contents of the MOU when
accommodations are needed in the college setting to determine which entity
should provide specific accommodations.  MCB counselors, along with the
Ombudsperson at the college or university, should be consulted if there are
questions related to the provision of these accommodations. 

E.  Academic Progress

All undergraduate students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point
average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale, or “C” average or higher, when required by
the academic program.  Grades must be reported to the student’s MCB
counselor within two weeks of the end of the semester.   

·        The student’s chosen curriculum has requirements, as determined by
the academic program and/or by the college or university.  These should be
followed by the student unless exceptions are approved by both the student’s
MCB counselor and the academic program. 

·        A student may be placed on MCB probationary status for any of the
reasons listed below.  Following the semester when any of the situations
below occur, the student will be given one semester to correct these
deficiencies.  The student should return to full-time status and maintain a
minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above to remain in good standing with MCB.
MCB support will resume when the student has reestablished this cumulative
GPA of 2.0.  These are the reasons for probationary status:

1.    Classes are dropped for a reason other than “good cause,” when MCB has
already paid for the cost of tuition and fees.

2.    Dropping a class puts the student at less than full-time status.

3.    A grade of “Incomplete” is taken in a class.  The student must resolve
the “Incomplete” grade during the next semester enrolled.

·        In the case when a student has failed or dropped a class and when
MCB has paid for the cost of this class, the student will be required to
contribute the amount that MCB paid for this class toward the cost of
his/her college program.   The student should make arrangements to pay this
amount toward the cost of his/her college program during the following
semester.

F.  Advanced Degrees/Graduate Degrees

MCB will sponsor a consumer in the pursuit of an advanced degree if:  

·        The degree is consistent with the vocational goal as stated on the
consumer’s IPE prior to the initiation of any postsecondary study that is
sponsored by MCB. 

·        The consumer has received a bachelor’s degree under the sponsorship
of MCB and has been unable to secure substantial gainful employment in
his/her chosen field or in a related field, after searching diligently for
employment for a period of one year. The consumer will demonstrate that
he/she has searched diligently for employment by submitting reasonable
written documentation to his/her vocational rehabilitation counselor.  Such
documentation may include, but is not limited to:  names and addresses of
employers contacted, dates and locations of job interviews, dates, locations
and employer contacts from job fairs attended, copies of job postings
responded to, cover letters and customized résumés sent by the consumer,
etc.  

In order to maintain MCB sponsorship of an advanced degree a consumer shall:

·        Be enrolled in his/her graduate program as a full-time student 

·        Maintain a GPA that meets the acceptable academic standard for
his/her program of study at the university attended.  If a consumer’s GPA
falls below the established standard, MCB sponsorship will be suspended
until the consumer is able to bring his/her cumulative GPA back to an
acceptable academic level, in accordance with his/her program of study at
the University attended.

G.  Employment Resources

The counselor and consumer will work together to develop a strategy to
obtain employment.

·        The following services should be explored as the student pursues
employment:

1.    College placement offices

2.    Existing employment services

3.    Headhunter agencies

·        Students should be encouraged to work during the summer if not
taking classes.  Work experience obtained during the summer should be
included on the student’s resume.

·        Students are encouraged to speak with a Work Incentives Protection
and Advocacy (WIPA) Specialist to explore how earned income may affect their
Social Security benefits.

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