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UNF Faculty and Staff Information

Interested in OCT?

There are a number of opportunities for UNF faculty and staff to be involved with the OCT program. These include:

  • Volunteering with the Program
  • Serving on OCT Committees
  • Acquiring an OCT Intern
  • Having OCT students to help with special events

If you would like more information or are interested in helping please contact us at oct@arcjacksonville.org or (904) 620-3890.  

Faculty

One of the most prominent trademarks of an effective postsecondary transition program is the ability for young adults with intellectual disabilities or differences to audit college courses of their choosing. OCT students receive the following benefits from auditing courses: increased understanding of essential theories and field-related vocabulary, enhanced professional etiquette, improved critical thinking skills, enhanced time management skills, effective teamwork skills (if course has group activities), and self-determination.

Past and current professors have shared that the participation of OCT students within their courses have increased their understanding of diverse learning styles, expanded the technology used in the classroom, increased their understanding of all students with differences, and have begun incorporating universal design in how they teach future courses. In addition, professors have reported that matriculated students have received transformational learning experiences by having an OCT student as a peer in the classroom. UNF students have increased their acceptance of diversity, obtained greater understanding of their own learning styles and needs, expanded their circle of natural supports within the course, and are exposed unique perspectives during classroom discussions. OCT students are paired with an in-class academic mentor to assist the student in achieving course objectives.

The OCT has had over a hundred professors participate in the OCT since its inception. Audited courses vary from: Anthropology, Comparative Politics, Comparative Religion, Cultural Geography, Drawing I, Enjoyment of Music, Foundations of Business, Intergroup Dialogue for Diverse Populations, Introduction to American Government, Introduction to Education, Social Psychology, Sports Nutrition, Tennis and many other options. The OCT is always seeking new professors to participate each semester and to expand the array of courses offered.

Current OCT Professors 

Thank you so much for all you do for our students! Their lives will be forever changed by the time and effort you put into their experience. Below is a resource explaining some of the many types of differences. Please use this as a guide for any issues that may come up with a student.

Departments

Looking to give your students hands-on experience?

The OCT offers matriculated university students opportunities to utilize a science-practitioner perspective in working with this population through various means: social/academic mentoring, course projects, course field experiences, practicum, and internships. To date, UNF students from diverse majors (i.e., business, education, psychology, computers, counseling, communications, nutrition, etc.) have creatively found ways to apply their major to this underserved and growing population through volunteer and for-credit course projects.

Some possibilities for departmental involvement include:

  • Professors and UNF students can utilize OCT as a potential site for course projects, field experiences, practicum, and/or internships
  • Professors and UNF students can use or incorporate OCT as part of research studies
  • UNF students can conduct independent studies at OCT
  • UNF students can build resumes and leadership experience by volunteering in the OCT Mentoring Program
  • UNF students can utilize OCT to obtain credit toward their UNF Leadership Certificate

Needing interns/volunteers?

Federal studies have consistently demonstrated that the inclusion of persons with disabilities within the workplace significantly increase workplace morale, productivity, and positively transform organizational culture. The OCT has a pre-employment training component where OCT students are matched with UNF Departments to conduct internships and/or assist with special events. The OCT pairs OCT students with a job coach or work readiness mentor to provide additional training and to ensure supervisor satisfaction with OCT student performance.

To date, OCT students have acquired internships ranging from: Women’s Center, Golfplex, Physical Facilities, Intercultural Center, Arena, UNF Preschool, Career Services, Volunteer Center, Student Accessibility Services, and Student Health Services. In addition, OCT students have assisted in special department events as part of their service learning component (i.e., UNF Student Elections, Garbage on the Green, Homecoming events, etc.). 

FAQs Concerning OCT Students and Classes

This FAQ is for all UNF faculty and staff that have OCT students enrolled in their class. If you have any questions or need more information concerning this please contact us at (904) 620-3890 or oct@arcjacksonville.org.

  • What is the OCT student’s role?

    The OCT student will audit your class and thus, will not receive credit for the class. The student may not meet all of the class objectives you have developed for traditional students in your class.

    1. The OCT student will be required to complete assignments and projects with accommodations noted on the modified syllabi.
    2. If indicated on a student’s modified syllabus, the student will complete the exam in the OCT office with the assistance from mentors, advisors, notes, and text.
    3. The student may wish to take part in group projects, class discussions, or other in-class activities.
  • What is a modified syllabus and what is its purpose?
    Because students enrolled in the On Campus Transition program all vary in areas such as reading levels and other academic abilities, we modify the syllabus for each course to fit each student individually. When going through the syllabus with the students, we ask students to come up with several personal goals and ways they can stay prepared for class. Typically, syllabus items will stay the same, but some assignments may be shortened in length, presented in a different format, or students may be exempt altogether if we feel they may become overwhelmed or otherwise have difficulty completing the assignment. The On Campus Transition program will not fundamentally change the course requirements or course offerings, but instead work with the student and professor together on how best the student can learn and process the information in the course.
  • What is my role as professor?

    The role of you as a professor is identical to the role with any other matriculated student in the course. It is a personal choice for professors as to how involved they want to be with students. We have found that some professors have taken great joy of having OCT students in class, as it creates a unique makeup of the quality of students and facilitates indirect transformational learning opportunities for themselves and other students. Because OCT students are provided with support from staff and mentors, additional support from professors is up to that particular individual. In essence, professors should treat OCT students as they would matriculated students in all areas; classroom etiquette, behavior, and meeting modified objectives. The OCT program strives to create an environment that mirrors a typical college experience in the classroom.

  • What is the role of the academic mentor?

    The OCT students meet weekly with an academic mentor and the mentor’s role is as follows:

    1. At the beginning of each semester, assists OCT students in creating academic goals for each course.
    2. Modifies course syllabi according to OCT students’ goals.
    3. Ensures students keep up-to-date with their course assignments/objectives
    4. Facilitates hour-long advising sessions to evaluate students’ progress in attaining academic goals and provide strategies to enhance academic performance and offers assistance when needed
    5. Teaches students academic organizational and time management skills, such as how to maintain a daily planner to track due dates for academic assignments, exams, meetings with academic mentors, and how to incorporate study times.
    6. Helps students to be self-sufficient in actively checking their UNF Canvas (i.e. course updates, assignments, PowerPoint presentations, discussion boards, etc.) and their UNF email.
    7.  
    8. Provides guidance and training on how to engage in proper electronic, telephone, and face-to-face communications with professors and classmate peers (e.g., email and professional etiquette.)
  • What do I do if an OCT student displays inappropriate behaviors? (i.e. disruptive behavior, excessive absences, tardiness)

    The OCT student must comply with the UNF code of conduct, along with behavior expectations you have set forth in your class. If the student does not meet the behavioral or social expectations, please contact the Educational Coordinator at the OCT office (904) 620-3890.

    We encourage all professors to reach out to our office if they notice our students displaying any inappropriate behaviors, such as excessive absences or tardiness, using their cell phones during class, talking to other students or talking out without raising their hands, sleeping in class, etc. The students are aware that these behaviors are unacceptable in a classroom and we will work with them to create a plan for improvement.

    We also encourage professors to reach out to our office if they have any concerns about a student not respecting boundaries, having mental health concerns, etc

  • How are exams administered?

    Our students can make a decision about whether they would like to take the exams or not. The majority of our students who choose to take the exams prefer to take the exam here in the OCT office with a mentor or faculty member rather than in the classroom, to prevent any distraction and have the opportunity to utilize their notes/text for assistance.

    Because our students are auditing the class, you are not required to give a student a grade on the exam, or you may choose to grade them in any way you see fit.

    If our students choose to take the exam in our office, we are able to coordinate a time to pick up an exam from you, administer the exam in our office, and return it to you in a way that does not allow other students in your class to see a copy of the exam.

  • What do I do with assignments the student submits on Canvas?

    The student may submit assignments on your class’s Canvas page that do not fulfill the requirements or follow the rubric of the assignment, but instead are modified to be accessible to the student. When the student submits an assignment, you are not required to grade it or give the student any feedback. At the end of the semester, you do not need to give the student a grade, as they are auditing the class.

  • Do I provide the student with grades?

    As a student completes assignments for the class, they will add them to a career portfolio developed as part of the OCT program. You may assign a grade and/or offer feedback to the student if you believe it would be of help to the student. However, assigning grades/providing comments are not required. If a student is requesting grades or feedback and you would not like to give it, you can contact the Educational Coordinator, who can provide the student with feedback on their assignments.