Office of Academic Assistance
Director: Sharon Allen
The Office of Academic Assistance (OAA) and the Academic Resource Center (ARC), located on the lower level of the Library, provide a range of services to help students succeed academically. The ARC provides tutoring & academic mentoring support, and all students are encouraged to utilize these services. Thinking Storm is an online tutoring tool available to Belmont Abbey students each day of the year that offers one-on-one support in the following subject areas: writing, math, chemistry, physics, biology, accounting, finance, and economics. Students access Thinking Storm via their Canvas account. Additionally, In-person faculty and peer tutors are available in the ARC, to support students across the academic disciplines during the week. During Covid-19 restrictions, students will need to make an appointment through his/her BAC Canvas accounts, to receive face-to-face tutoring, until further notice.
The OAA offers individualized academic mentoring to help students develop the habits and abilities needed to be successful in college, including time management techniques and study skills. The Director of Academic Assistance works closely with the Academic Resource Center Staff to ensure that services are available to any student experiencing academic difficulty, including those who have been placed on academic probation. Through the OAA and the ARC, the College commits itself both to upholding high academic standards and to providing support to enable all diligent students to succeed. All students are encouraged to take advantage of the services offered by the OAA and the ARC.
Accessibility
The Accessibility Services Coordinator, located on the lower level of the Library within the Office of Academic Assistance, is the campus representative responsible for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and manages all student requests for special access accommodations due to disabilities. An applicant with a documented disability must satisfy the regular admission requirements. The nature or existence of an applicant’s disability will not affect whether he or she is admitted to the College.
Accommodation Policy: Once accepted to Belmont Abbey College, students who wish to receive reasonable accommodations must officially request those accommodations by completing and submitting the required Confidential Student Disclosure and Accommodations Request Form, which is accessible on the College website and/or by request from the Office of Academic Assistance. Along with this form, students must provide official supportive documentation of a recent medical assessment and/or psycho-educational evaluation, preferably completed in the last three (3) years. Documentation for a psychological disorder should be current within the last twelve (12) months. Documentation must define the disability according to professional standards, list the recommended accommodations, and explain the rationale for those accommodations with regard to the student’s specific disability. Upon submitting this documentation, and meeting with the Accessibility Services Coordinator, the student will be informed of the accommodations that the College can provide and the procedures for obtaining these accommodations on an annual basis.
Accommodations related to coursework and classroom environments are personalized and determined on a case-by-case basis. Common accommodations include extended time on tests, a reduced distraction testing environment, and minor modifications to methods of testing. Students with disabilities are expected to maintain the same academic standards as other students, and are expected to seek academic support if necessary.
The Accessibility Services Coordinator invites students with disabilities or those who suspect they have a disability to reach out at any time for consultation. All questions and concerns will be treated confidentially. Neither the Coordinator nor any other official of the College may discuss the student’s disability with the student’s parent(s), guardian(s), or instructors without the written consent of the student.
Disputes or grievances related to the College’s services for students with disabilities should be submitted to the Chief Academic Officer of the College.