[nfbmi-talk] College Policy

Fri May 21 16:31:08 UTC 2010

Hey Elizabeth, Thanks so much for all your hard work on the college policy. 
I have read it all and it sounds great. I was wondering if internships need 
to be addressed in the policy or would that just be handled on an individual 
basis? Again thanks and be blessed, Donna Posont
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Elizabeth" <lizmohnke at hotmail.com>
To: <nfbmi-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2010 4:54 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbmi-talk] College Policy

Hello List,

I have been informed that the attachment from my last message may not have 
gone through, so I am resending it as well as posting it at at the bottem of 
this message for those of you who did not receive it.

Elizabeth

----

MCB COLLEGE AND OTHER POSTSECONDARY TRAINING

A. Purpose

The mission of the Michigan Commission for the Blind (MCB) is to provide 
opportunities to individuals who are blind and visually impaired to achieve 
competitive employment and function independently. We believe that all blind 
and visually impaired individuals have the capacity to live up to their 
fullest potential and be active members of society.

The Michigan Commission for the blind believes rehabilitation is a 
cooperative venture between the agency and the individual, with the 
individual having primary responsibility for personal successes and 
failures, and each individual is different with different strengths, 
weaknesses, interests and aptitudes which require vocational rehabilitation 
counseling, planning and training specific to individual needs.

It is recommended that students keep an on-going dialog with their counselor 
to ensure that their individual needs are met throughout the rehabilitation 
process. Students are also encouraged to advocate for themselves through due 
process if they are not satisfied with any decision that is made by any 
member of the Michigan Commission for the Blind.

B. Provision for Services

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:

1. Students must participate in a college assessment to ensure that they 
have the skills necessary for college participation. Students must 
demonstrate competent skill levels in the areas of technology, 
communication, note taking, traveling, and independent living. If students 
cannot successfully demonstrate competent skill levels in these areas, they 
will work with their counselor to receive additional training at the 
Michigan Commission for the Blind Training center or another qualified 
vocational training center consistent with the individuals informed choice.

2. Students will be required to demonstrate their knowledge of their chosen 
vocational goal through a written report with the help and guidance of their 
counselor. Items in this report should include a description of the 
vocational goal, qualifications necessary to obtain the vocational goal, and 
reasons for choosing the vocational goal. Examples of research for this 
report include job shadowing, mentoring, labor market analysis, and 
volunteer or paid work experience.

3. Students must present their counselor with a letter of acceptance to an 
accredited institution recognized by the United States Department of 
Education along with a curriculum outlining their program of study. Students 
should consider the advantages and disadvantages of attending a four-year 
university, a community college, and a vocational training program or trade 
school when deciding on an institution of higher learning. However, the 
student’s final decision shall be honored by the Michigan Commission for the 
Blind.

4. 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 the Michigan 
Commission for the Blind. Prior to the student’s participation in any 
college program or Post-secondary training, the Michigan Commission for the 
Blind will explain the contents of the Memorandum of Understanding to 
determine which entity should provide the student with specific 
accommodations. When there is a dispute over which entity will provide the 
necessary accommodations, the Michigan Commission for the Blind will be 
responsible for providing the accommodation until the dispute is resolved. 
The student shall not be held responsible for failing or incomplete grades 
if either the Michigan Commission for the Blind or the educational 
institution fails to provide the accommodations necessary for the student to 
succeed.

C. Duration of Training

Students are encouraged to complete their college program or post-secondary 
training as a full time student as defined by the educational institution. 
However, individual time frames will be determined on a case-by-case basis 
between the student and his or her counselor.

Procedure:

1. Michigan Commission for the Blind financial participation will be limited 
to one associate's degree, one bachelor's degree, and one advanced degree. 
Students who complete an associate's degree may continue to pursue a 
bachelor's degree after completing their associate's degree. Students who 
complete a bachelor's degree may continue to pursue an advanced degree only 
if they are not able to achieve their vocational goal with a bachelor's 
degree.

2. The Michigan Commission for the Blind understands that in some cases it 
may not be possible for a student to take a full load of classes. Special 
consideration will be given to students who work part-time, have a secondary 
disability, or have some other special circumstance that prevents them from 
taking a full load of classes. However, it is important to ensure that time 
extensions do not interfere with the requirements of the student's 
educational program.

D. Financial Aid

The Michigan Commission for the Blind will provide financial assistance for 
college and other post-secondary training after all other financial 
resources and comparable benefits have been exhausted.

Procedure:

1. 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. 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); and unrestricted scholarships and awards 
based on merit. However, merit scholarships designated for a particular 
college cost must be used according to the guidelines of the scholarship.

2. All financial aid, grants, and stipends received by a student 
administered through the student's college or university, employer benefits, 
workers compensation, or similar public benefits will be applied to tuition, 
books, supplies, and maintenance.
3. Students requesting college sponsorship must apply for federal financial 
aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and 
submit a copy of their financial award letter to their counselor no later 
than one month before the beginning of the semester. Students who fail to 
meet this deadline will be considered for sponsorship the following 
semester.

4. If a consumer is in default of a student loan, no financial aid, 
including Pell Grants, will be available to the consumer. The Michigan 
Commission for the Blind 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 as defined under the 
guidelines of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

5. The Michigan Commission for the Blind will sponsor students at 
out-of-state and private institutions at the same rate of 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 the United States (study abroad) may be 
sponsored as a part of an approved course of study by an accredited 
educational institution. The rates for a study abroad program will not 
exceed the highest tuition rate for a comparable program sponsored by a 
state-supported college or university in Michigan.

6. Students will be encouraged to pay the cost of application fees and 
entrance exams. However, the Michigan Commission for the Blind may provide 
assistance for seeking alternative financial resources to help cover the 
cost of application fees and entrance exams. When appropriate, the Michigan 
Commission for the Blind will pay for the cost of preparation classes or 
materials for entrance exams. The Michigan Commission for the Blind will 
also assist with the cost of professional certification exams and fees.

7. The Michigan Commission for the Blind may provide rehabilitation 
technology and reader services as a part of a student’s Individualized Plan 
for Employment. The Michigan Commission for the Blind will be responsible 
for providing these services when they cannot be provided by the educational 
institution.

8. The Michigan Commission for the Blind will sponsor the costs associated 
with living on campus including meal plans and room and board based on 
double occupancy.  Students who do not choose to live in the housing 
provided by the college or university may receive assistance from the 
Michigan Commission for the Blind. This assistance shall not exceed the rate 
of the housing provided by the college or university, or the amount of the 
highest housing rate for Michigan residents attending a state-supported 
college or university in Michigan.

9. Students who require additional financial assistance will be encouraged 
to apply for Social Security benefits including Social Security Disability 
Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI. Students may also be 
eligible to receive maintenance from the Michigan Commission for the Blind 
to help cover the costs of participating in specific rehabilitation 
services. Students who wish to receive maintenance will be required to 
create a budget outlining the need for additional financial assistance.

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. In some cases, students may 
be required to maintain a higher grade point average depending on the 
academic program. In all cases, students must report their final grades to 
their counselor within two weeks after the end of each semester.

Procedures:

1. Students will follow the requirements of an academic curriculum approved 
by their educational institution unless exceptions are approved by both the 
academic program and the Michigan Commission for the Blind.

2. Students may be placed on probationary status if their grade point 
average falls below the 2.0 or “C” average, receive a failing or incomplete 
grade, or if they drop a class after the Michigan Commission for the Blind 
has already paid for the class. In the case of an incomplete grade, students 
must resolve the incomplete grade during the next semester. Following the 
semester when any of these situations occur, students will be given a grace 
period of one semester to correct these deficiencies. While students are on 
academic probation, the Michigan Commission for the Blind will assist 
students by exploring resources to help them retain or reestablish their 
sponsorship.

3. When a student has failed or dropped a class after the Michigan 
Commission for the Blind has paid for the class, the student will be 
required to contribute the amount paid by the Michigan Commission for the 
Blind. However, the student shall not be responsible for submitting this 
contribution if either the Michigan Commission for the Blind or the 
educational institution has failed to provide a necessary accommodation for 
the successful completion of the class. In the event that a student is 
required to pay this contribution, they must arrange to pay for the 
contribution before the beginning of the next semester.

F. Advanced Degrees

The sponsorship of an advanced degree by the Michigan Commission for the 
Blind will be limited to students who cannot obtain competitive employment 
with a bachelor's degree, or when they are included as a part of a student’s 
Individualized Plan for Employment before the completion of an undergraduate 
degree.

Procedure:

1. In addition to the procedures listed under the undergraduate degree 
sponsorship, students seeking an advanced degree must maintain an acceptable 
grade point average as defined under the standards for their academic 
program. If the student’s grade point average falls below this level, their 
sponsorship by the Michigan Commission for the Blind will be suspended until 
they are able to bring their cumulative grade point average back up to the 
standards set forth by the academic program.

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