STUDENT SERVICES AT ALPHACRUCIS COLLEGE

AC’s Student Engagement Team (SET) is a dedicated team focused on students. Whether you need academic advice, pastoral support, wellbeing or have queries about your enrolment, AC’s Student Services team is here to help.

Please contact the Student Engagement Team (SET) in Moodle, at studentservices@acnz.ac.nz or via phone 09-580-1500, 0800 GO AC GO (0800 462 246)

AC is a vibrant and faith-filled learning community with a variety of opportunities to challenge your taking, make new friends, serve in the community, and contribute your voice as a student representative.

Disability Support

We understand that not everyone who experiences disability requires assistance or the same type of assistance in the same way. We are available to meet with you, find out about your learning needs or any barriers you might experience, and help co-design strategies with you, your family / whānau and your support people if that's what you want.

We work in partnership with you and your Head of Studies to help you get what you need so you can participate in your studies and achieve your educational goals.

Who can access disability assistance?

If you experience deafness, a disability or mental illness, have a medical condition, temporary injury or impairment and experience barriers to learning and participating in your studies - you could be eligible for assistance.

What assistance can be provided?

Disability Services provide assistance and can help connect you with our services or any external community assistance which could be of help to you. For eligible students that could range from various services such as:

• Support and advice: Our friendly student support advisors are available to meet with you to help you work out what you need to engage, participate and complete your studies
• Referral - help to connect with any internal assistance or external agencies, government and community organisations, and resources you might be interested in
• Note-taking - captures class notes for eligible students
• Reading - have your text and learning materials read out-loud when they are not in an accessible format for you to read independently for eligible students
• Access assistance (educational) - assistance to help you participate in your learning activities. Examples include accessing physical library materials, physical class materials, equipment, and assistance to participate in educational activities if required
• Hearing assistance - referral to services for hearing advice and testing. Access to free batteries for enrolled students who use hearing aides and cochlear implants, along with other short-term interventions which may assist you
• Vision testing - referral for a free standard vision test
• Site orientation - our Student Support Advisors or Heads of Studies can help make arrangements for you and your support people to gain access to your campus ahead of time so you can assess and identify any barriers within the spaces you will be using.
• Mobility Parking – priority mobility parking available at campuses
• Adaptive equipment, technologies and accessibility resources - talk to our Student Support Advisors to discuss your needs
• Library Services - a range of library tools to assist with your reading and research requirements.

When should you contact Disability Services?

Make contact with us early, or as soon as you can - even if you don't need assistance right away.

It's important to make yourself known to us as soon as possible so we can work with you to:

• Understand your educational needs
• Identify any barriers to learning
• Help you identify what assistance you might need to get put in place
• Confirm your eligibility for specific disability assistance we can provide
• Make arrangements for any staffing and resources which you are eligible for
• Advise you of any learning strategies
• Let you know about any funding available to support you while you are studying
• Assist your support people to make the arrangements needed to support you in your studies

The AC Disability Services Handbook provides details regarding support programs and processes for students with a disability. The Assessment Policy also provides for students with a disability, medical condition or learning need to be granted extensions or make alternative arrangements for their assessments.

Students with a temporary injury, such as a broken limb, may also be eligible for assistance. You can enquire about potential adjustments or arrange an appointment by emailing: dso@acnz.ac.nz or phone 09 580 1500 Monday to Friday, 8am – 4.30pm.