It’s hard to believe that the end of the spring semester is quickly upon us! There are always many things to do before you leave at the end of the semester. Here are some reminders:
The semester is ending in a hurry. There are many things to complete. Make a check list for yourself and use your time management skills to complete ALL tasks that need to be done. Make this checklist visible and follow through to ensure that all tasks are complete. This will lessen stress and any uncertainty.
Try to complete your registration for fall before you leave campus, in case you run into any difficulty. If you need assistance, please check with CAAR. Remember, Sheila Milan will again be offering a section of CAHC 211, Career Planning and Decision Making, which will meet on MW, 2:00 - 3:15. Career Planning Placement Class, CAHC-211, has been instrumental in assisting students with focus and directions in career decision making as well as internship opportunities. Please call Sheila Milan, 753-9714, for more information and for a permit number. LTRE 190, College Reading and Study Skills, will also be available to CAAR students and will meet on MWF from 3:00 – 4:00. You may contact Garth Rubin, 753-9750 for more information or to request a permit for LTRE 190.
Stop in and see Laura to schedule final exams as soon as you know the dates. Return the yellow forms soon. ALL FORMS MUST BE IN THE OFFICE BY May 7th or 8th.
If you have any equipment, tapes, or materials that need to be returned to CAAR, you need to do so no later than noon on Friday, May 16. (Equipment includes items like Talking Caller ID, PowerPhones, amplified telephone handsets, braillers, tape recorders, assistive listening devices, etc.) If you need any items beyond that time, please contact a coordinator to make special arrangements. An encumbrance will be placed on your records if items are not returned.
If you have etext of a book published by Penguin Publishing, you are required to return the etext material after semester finals. You may return other etext if you will not need or use it again, or you may keep the etext if you feel you might need it in the future. Please remember that it is illegal to loan or give the e- text to anyone else.
Congratulations to all who are graduating. If you have questions or concerns about accessibility of your particular ceremony, please contact your CAAR coordinator as soon as possible. We will be happy to familiarize any student with the graduation procedure and site arrangement.
Students with medical, psychiatric or psychological disabilities should have updated documentation on file renewed on a yearly basis. Call Sheila Milan 753-9714 for additional information.
If you will be attending summer school and needing accommodations, you must talk to your coordinator before leaving after exams. Summer classes go by quickly and we need to get started on things now in order to have them in place for the beginning of the summer session. All books that need to be converted to e-text must be in before you leave, in order to have them ready for summer school!
NOW, is the time to begin developing your relationship with the faculty you will have for summer and fall classes. Many times, teachers who know that they need to make some sort of accommodation, if notified in advance, can do a much better job of providing the accommodations - they have time to think of creative ways to provide access to class materials, materials might be given to CAAR in time to have them ready for the first day of class, etc. Last minute notification can cause your teachers to panic, and start your relationship off on the wrong foot! If you can, contact your teachers before you leave for the semester. You may also contact them early in the summer, but remember, some faculty members are not on campus during the summer session. If you need assistance in learning how to discuss your needs with instructors, see your CAAR coordinator.
CAAR will soon be sending out interpreter and CART evaluations. When evaluations arrive in your mail box, please fill one out for each of your interpreters or CART providers. Let us know how we're doing and how we can improve! These evaluations are critical for our assessment process. Return completed evaluations to Luke.
It's time once again to nominate NIU faculty and/or staff who have been especially supportive and helpful to CAAR students and staff. Last year’s "University Friends" recognition program resulted in 110 NIU faculty and staff receiving certificates of recognition for their contribution to CAAR student success. Please consider nominating instructors, teaching assistants, counselors, advisors and any other NIU staff who have been particularly encouraging and supportive of you this school year. We will not be having a reception this year, but we still want to recognize these people with a letter and certificate of recognition. Please complete a separate nomination form for each person you wish to recognize. A form is included in this newsletter and you can pick up additional forms at the CAAR reception desk.
Actually, CAAR does not shut down and have a vacation, but NIU will be closed on Fridays during the summer. It is helpful to us, and especially to you, if we know of your needs for fall before you leave for summer, so we can get working on them during the summer. Please leave requests for route training, class schedules, etc. with us before you leave. If you are going to have a lab in the fall and need assistance, let us know ASAP. The more time we and teachers have to work out the modifications, the better your chances of having what you need when the semester begins!
This the time of the year to find out what books are required for the Fall and Summer semesters and request them from RFB&D, CAAR and/or the publishers. After completing priority registration, contact the instructor ASAP. Ask the instructor what the required texts are and submit the Alternative Format Request Form before the end of the semester. This will not guarantee your etext will be available when the semester starts, but it should improve the timeliness of receipt of the etext.
To search RFB&D's library of books on audio CD, go to their web site http://www.rfbd.org/catalog.htm or call them at 800-221-4792. If the required text is unavailable from RFB&D then you'll need to request it in electronic format by completing the Alternative Format Request Form found online at http://www.niu.edu/caar or come by the office. Each requested book needs a fully completed form (assistance is available to complete this form) and a copy of the book to be scanned. Requests for E-text should be completed now.
If you need books in alternative media for summer or fall, please come in and see your coordinator NOW! If you wait until school starts, or just before, you will not have books in time to study effectively, and it will be your fault, not ours!
Lastly - The CAAR staff would like to wish all of you “Good Luck” on your exams and wish you a very happy summer!