Learning Differences

Our Mission

In order to assure equal access for students with disabilities, the Learning Differences Program provides reasonable accommodations to qualified students in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This program extends those services mandated by law to provide support for the cognitive, affective, and socio-cultural dimensions of learning.

Our mission is to identify and reduce physical, programmatic and attitudinal barriers and collaborate with faculty, staff, and administrators in addressing effective participation, learning needs, academic performance, and retention of students so that students’ opportunities for achievement may be equalized while supporting academic integrity.

About the Program

Helping those with special needs and attending to diverse learners is natural outgrowth of Mercyhurst College’s mission. Therefore in 1984, when parents of students with learning disabilities approached college officials and requested a program of special services for their children, the Learning Differences Program was begun at Mercyhurst College. Mercyhurst was one of nine colleges nationwide with such a program and was the first of its kind in Pennsylvania.

Dr. Barbara Weigert in conjunction with Sister Maura founded the program in 1986 and served as its director and mentor for 15 years. In 1990, responding to the changing needs of students with learning disabilities, two levels of service were established. The Learning Differences Program has been an evolving effort over the years and will continue to meet the changing needs of its learners. During the college’s almost twenty year commitment to students with learning disabilities, the broad range of academic accommodations have helped over 250 students to graduate.

Students in the Learning Differences program have completed studies in virtually every academic major on campus. Overall grade point averages of students in the Learning Differences Program are similar to those of non-disabled students on campus. Two students in recent history have been inducted into Alpha Phi Eta, student Freshmen honorary. One student has distinguished himself by becoming invited into both the History and Political Science honorary.

In addition, students from this program participate in many extracurricular clubs, activities. Four students are currently members of the prestigious Ambassadors Program. Three hold elected positions on the Student Government, and Campus Ministry. Seventeen students are scholarship athletes in varsity sports, including baseball, cross country, field hockey football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, and water polo

Program Components

Level One: In Level One, students are eligible to receive basic services free-of-charge as determined by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These services include:

• Notification to professors of student’s need for accommodations
• Test taking accommodations including extended time, test readers and scribes, in a quiet, alternate location. (All tests taken within the Learning Differences Program require a three day advance notice and completion of Alternative Testing Request form.)
• Auxiliary aids such as the Kurzweil Personal Reader, located in the Hammermill Library
• Referral to the Academic Support Program for peer tutors

Notification of professors and testing accommodations are provided by staff of the Learning Differences Program, with appropriate referral to other college services for instruction in use of Kurzweil Personal Reader and locating a tutor through the College’s tutoring program.

Level Two: The services provided at Level Two are available to learning disabled students who wish or need a more structured program. Students who are accepted into the college are invited to participate into the Level Two program. While no separate application is required, once students confirm their attendance to the college, a contract is mailed to students inviting them to choose the Level II program. Qualified applicants are accepted on a first come, first served basis. Students who are accepted into the College may be wait listed for the Level II Learning Differences Program. If the decision to attend Mercyhurst College is influenced by participation in Level II Learning Differences Program, early confirmation is recommended.

All services provided to Level I students will be provided to Level II students. In addition, Level Two services provided by the Learning Differences Program include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Individual assistance throughout the student’s college career
• Mediation with faculty and staff with attention to specific supervised study hall each weekday
• Assignment of carefully selected notetakers and tutors
• Summer Program that includes an opportunity to take a core class prior to the start of the academic year
• Coordinated efforts for appropriate testing accommodations that include extended testing time, readers and scribes in a quiet alternative location
• Supervised study available each weekday
• Resource center staffed by professionals
• Advocacy training
• Midterm progress reports
• Priority class registration
• Drop-in assistance
• Practical assistance to help students navigate curriculum pathways
• Writing Center assistance
• Participation in the Lending Directions Program, a unique mentoring program that matches Program students with youngsters diagnosed with learning disabilities who attend a local elementary school
• Social activities

Level Two students pay an extra fee for services which go beyond those required by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Students on main campus may move from Level One to Level Two services on a space available basis, by notifying the Director of the Learning Differences program. Level Two services are provided by the Program for Students with Learning Differences which is located on the fourth floor of the O’Neil Tower.

Lending Direction Program

A unique partnership has been formed between the fifth and sixth grade students at Erie’s Grover Cleveland School and 17 members of Mercyhurst College’s Learning Difference Program. Mercyhurst students have been volunteering at Grover Cleveland, providing both tutorial assistance in academic areas and encouragement for students with learning disabilities. The venture is mutually beneficial to college and middles school students alike as they share their experiences and frustrations in coping with a learning disability.

The name "Lending Direction" was suggested by sophomore program student Ryan Moton, who noted that the term "LD" can often have negative connotations. Ryan reminds all of us that the initials "LD" can also have positive consequences as well.

Contact

Dianne D. Rogers
Learning Differences Director
4th Floor Main
Office: (814) 824-2450
E-mail: drogers@mercyhurst.edu