Increasing numbers of high school graduates with learning disabilities are enrolling in colleges and universities each year. A learning disability may be manifested by deficits in the student’s reading ability (dyslexia), speech ability (dyspraxia), writing ability (dysgraphia) or math ability (dyscalculia). A student with a learning disability may also have difficulty with sustained attention, time management, and/or social skills. Some students think that when they transition to college they will “outgrow” their learning disabilities and be able to handle their studies on their own. Individuals do not outgrow a learning disability, although they may develop a host of strategies for compensating for the disability. Still, these students find that when they transition to college they continue to need academic accommodations.

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intrusive advising, first year students, academic support, learning disabilities, Leslie Hemphill, Wanda Hadley, Julie Morrison

As advisors and students meet this fall, advisors may notice an increase in the number of students who have received learning disability services in high school. Ironically, these same students may not have the documentation necessary to receive accommodation at the college level. This is the result of the 2004 revisions to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These revisions will also impact student accommodations for such professional tests as the Pre-Professional Skills Test (PPST), required for admission to some teacher education programs.

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academic support, at-risk students, preparedness, learning disabilities, referrals, underprepared students, Les Hemphill

When instructors and students contact academic advisors about a learning progress concern, advisors might be faced with the difficult task of helping students suspected of having a learning disability. The problem of identifying a disability becomes more complex if students speak English as their second language (ESL).

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academic support, cultural differences, learning disabilities, underprepared students, Aura Rios Erickson

What we believe is generally missing from the body of critical literature on academic advising and retention is the reference to the different issues in American-style education outside the borders of the United States. We have identified a host of issues specific to our student population which we believe must be addressed in order for us to best perform our roles as academic advisors.

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international, cultural differences, preparedness, learning disabilities, global university, Heba Mansour, Hala Al-Abdulrazzaq

Although the blended position is known by various names in different institutions, there is one underlying factor: the incumbents do more than academic advising, while building relationships towards student success.

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theory to practice, professional development, career advising, advisor training, role of advisor, academic support, admissions, learning disabilities, advising strategy, advising approaches, professionalism, Susan Imbeah

Since the mid-1990s, there has been a rise in the prevalence of students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder conditions. Interventions that offer continued support with social and educational skills may prove critical to improving success in college for students with autism.

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theory to practice, communication, advisor competencies, academic support, learning disabilities, advising strategy, advising approaches, Asperger's Syndrome, Shantalea Johns, Matthew Bumbalough, Amy Sosanko