Essential Abilities/ Technical Standards
Essential Abilities – English
The Grand Rapids Community College English Department faculty has specified essential abilities critical to the success of students in any GRCC English Department program. Students must demonstrate these essential abilities to succeed in their program of study. Qualified applicants are expected to meet all admission criteria, and matriculating students are expected to meet all progression criteria, as well as these essential abilities with or without reasonable accommodations. Each function and skill listed below is connected to a specific example that is typical of the general requirement.
1. Essential judgment skills to include: ability to identify, assess, and comprehend conditions and surrounding situations for the purpose of problem solving and coming to appropriate conclusions and/or course of actions.
A. Creative Problem Solving Abilities - Students are expected to respond appropriately to peers and negotiate group dynamics effectively.
B. Time-budgeting skills - Students are expected to handle classroom work and take-home assignments simultaneously.
C. Promptness and respect for deadlines - Students are expected to have all work completed by the due date.
E. Acceptance of rules - Students will be expected to be bound by the classroom rules provided by the faculty member.
F. Respect for classmates - Students will be expected to accept the differences of other classmates and work with others that have different values and beliefs.
G. Respect for authority - Students will be expected to respect the authority of the professor.
H. Adaptability and flexibility - Students must be willing to accept changes in the course schedule and adjust to new circumstances.
2. Essential physical/neurological functions to include: Behaviors that demonstrate essential neurological and physical functions include, but are not limited to observation, listening, understanding relationships, writing, and psychomotor abilities consistent with course and program expectations. Specific examples include:
A. Listening – Students must be able to listen attentively to faculty and their peers.
B. Concentration – Students must be able to maintain focus on class-related tasks.
C. Managing relationships – Students must be able to negotiate one-on-one, small group, and whole-class relationships.
D. Physical adaptability – Students must be able to negotiate the classroom space and adapt to changing classroom configurations.
E. Production of typewritten material – Students must be able to produce typewritten documents in a timely manner.
3. Essential communication skills to include: ability to communicate effectively with fellow students, faculty, and all members of the English department. Skills include verbal, written, and nonverbal abilities as well as information technology skills consistent with effective communication.
A. Communication skills – Students will be expected to speak, read, and write at a college level.
B. Interpersonal communication – Students are expected to respond appropriately to peers and negotiate group interactions.
C. Civility – Students are expected to communicate in ways that show respect to faculty, peers, and college staff..
D. Information technology – Students must be able to access and use technology to send and receive course communications and content.
4. Essential emotional coping skills: ability to manage potential stressors that accompany tasks necessary to meet English program and course expectations. This could include but is not limited to:
A. Willingness to work cooperatively in pairs or small groups.
B. Ability to work independently on classroom assignments and homework.
C. Motivation to complete academic goals.
D. Ability to manage stressful situation and deadlines.
E. Acceptance of feedback - the student must be willing to accept constructive feedback from instructors and peers.
F. Ability to ask questions and utilize available resources.
5. Essential intellectual/conceptual skills to include:
A. Reading skills – Students must be able to read and comprehend course material and written communications.
B. Writing skills – Students must be able to express their ideas and respond to what they read clearly and coherently.
C. Evaluation – Students will be able to evaluate research sources using a variety of criteria.
D. Suspending judgment – Students will be able to put aside personal biases and experiences to engage with new ideas and perspectives.
6. Other essential behavioral attributes: The student must demonstrate responsibility and accountability for actions as a student at GRCC. Students must come to the class and engage in behaviors consistent with safe practice without demonstrated behaviors of abuse or dependence on substances that impair behavior or judgment.
A. Students are expected to participate and engage with their faculty member and classmates.
B. Initiative - ability to work independently and solve problems on their own (yet must be able to recognize the need seek help).
C. Perseverance; willingness to work and stay at it despite (because of) failure.
D. Students are expected to be honest.
E. Students are expected to be civil.
Grand Rapids Community College strives to be more than ADA compliant. We strive to be accessible and welcoming to all students of all abilities. After reviewing the Essential Abilities/Technical Standards for this program; your responsibilities as a student entail determining if you can complete all associated coursework either:
- With Accommodation. I am otherwise qualified to meet the same academic standards as any other student entering the program. However, based on a medically documented condition or diagnosis, I would qualify for reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990). I will meet with Disability Support Services on campus to arrange those accommodations in an interactive process with the department of English.
- Without Accommodation. I am able to complete the program without need for reasonable accommodation or modification. In the event my medical documentation reveals otherwise or a condition manifests that would necessitate an accommodation; it is my responsibility to inform a responsible authority figure within the department of English and work with Disability Support Services to see if a reasonable accommodation or modification can be made.
If you have a medically documented condition or diagnosis, please contact the English department office, or contact Disability Support Services (DSS) atdisability@grcc.edu or by phone at 616.234.4140 to arrange accommodations through our interactive process.
Essential Abilities – English 102
The Grand Rapids Community College English Department faculty has specified essential abilities critical to the success of students in any GRCC English Department program. Students must demonstrate these essential abilities to succeed in their program of study. Qualified applicants are expected to meet all admission criteria, and matriculating students are expected to meet all progression criteria, as well as these essential abilities with or without reasonable accommodations. Each function and skill listed below is connected to a specific example that is typical of the general requirement.
1. Essential judgment skills to include: ability to identify, assess, and comprehend conditions and surrounding situations for the purpose of problem solving and coming to appropriate conclusions and/or course of actions.
A. Creative Problem Solving Abilities - Students are expected to respond appropriately to peers and negotiate group dynamics effectively.
B. Time-budgeting skills - Students are expected to handle classroom work and take-home assignments simultaneously.
C. Promptness and respect for deadlines - Students are expected to have all work completed by the due date.
D. Acceptance of rules - Students will be expected to be bound by the classroom rules provided by the faculty member.
E. Respect for classmates - Students will be expected to accept the differences of other classmates and work with others that have different values and beliefs.
F. Respect for authority - Students will be expected to respect the authority of the professor.
G. Adaptability and flexibility - Students must be willing to accept changes in the course schedule and adjust to new circumstances.
2. Essential physical/neurological functions to include: Behaviors that demonstrate essential neurological and physical functions include, but are not limited to observation, listening, understanding relationships, writing, and psychomotor abilities consistent with course and program expectations. Specific examples include:
A. Listening – Students must be able to listen attentively to faculty and their peers.
B. Concentration – Students must be able to maintain focus on class-related tasks.
C. Managing relationships – Students must be able to negotiate one-on-one, small group, and whole-class relationships.
D. Physical adaptability – Students must be able to negotiate the classroom space and adapt to changing classroom configurations.
E. Production of typewritten material – Students must be able to produce typewritten documents in a timely manner.
3. Essential communication skills to include: ability to communicate effectively with fellow students, faculty, and all members of the English department. Skills include verbal, written, and nonverbal abilities as well as information technology skills consistent with effective communication.
A. Communication skills – Students will be expected to speak, read, and write at a college level.
B. Interpersonal communication – Students are expected to respond appropriately to peers and negotiate group interactions.
C. Civility – Students are expected to communicate in ways that show respect to faculty, peers, and college staff..
D. Information technology – Students must be able to access and use technology to send and receive course communications and content.
4. Essential emotional coping skills: ability to manage potential stressors that accompany tasks necessary to meet English program and course expectations. This could include but is not limited to:
A. Willingness to work cooperatively in pairs or small groups.
B. Ability to work independently on classroom assignments and homework.
C. Motivation to complete academic goals.
D. Ability to manage stressful situation and deadlines.
E. Acceptance of feedback - the student must be willing to accept constructive feedback from instructors and peers.
F. Ability to ask questions and utilize available resources.
5. Essential intellectual/conceptual skills to include:
A. Reading skills – Students must be able to read and comprehend course material and written communications.
B. Writing skills – Students must be able to express their ideas and respond to what they read clearly and coherently.
C. Evaluation – Students will be able to evaluate research sources using a variety of criteria.
E. Suspending judgment – Students will be able to put aside personal biases and experiences to engage with new ideas and perspectives.
6. Other essential behavioral attributes: The student must demonstrate responsibility and accountability for actions as a student at GRCC. Students must come to the class and engage in behaviors consistent with safe practice without demonstrated behaviors of abuse or dependence on substances that impair behavior or judgment.
A. Students are expected to participate and engage with their faculty member and classmates.
B. Initiative - ability to work independently and solve problems on their own (yet must be able to recognize the need seek help).
C. Perseverance; willingness to work and stay at it despite (because of) failure.
D. Students are expected to be honest.
E. Students are expected to be civil.
Grand Rapids Community College strives to be more than ADA compliant. We strive to be accessible and welcoming to all students of all abilities. After reviewing the Essential Abilities/Technical Standards for this program; your responsibilities as a student entail determining if you can complete all associated coursework either:
- With Accommodation. I am otherwise qualified to meet the same academic standards as any other student entering the program. However, based on a medically documented condition or diagnosis, I would qualify for reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (1990). I will meet with Disability Support Services on campus to arrange those accommodations in an interactive process with the department of English.
- Without Accommodation. I am able to complete the program without need for reasonable accommodation or modification. In the event my medical documentation reveals otherwise or a condition manifests that would necessitate an accommodation; it is my responsibility to inform a responsible authority figure within the department of English and work with Disability Support Services to see if a reasonable accommodation or modification can be made.
If you have a medically documented condition or diagnosis, please contact the English department office, or contact Disability Support Services (DSS) atdisability@grcc.edu or by phone at 616.234.4140 to arrange accommodations through our interactive process.
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