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Wednesday, March 5, 2008
By Greta Myers
Staff Writer
Brad Hedrick, Director of the Office
of Disability Services at University of
Illinois at Champaign, will be on campus
to go over findings gleamed from
surveys to UIS’ students, faculty and
staff sent earlier in the spring semester.
The survey, which was distributed
through a campus-wide email, received
some 300 responses.
On March 17 and 18, Hedrick and
two assistants will check the quality of
services and support for disabled students
at UIS. Hedrick said that his arrival
is not due to a flap between some student groups and
the Office of Disability Services during the fall semester. “It
is broader in focus,” Hedrick said, “We are there
to identify the needs of students to make sure needs
are being met.”
Katelyn Murray, Vice President of Delta Sigma Omicron,
a rehabilitation service organization for students at
UIS, welcomes the visit.
“I hope the findings of the investigation will be openly
shared, not covered up,” said Murray, “I hope that they
take the opportunity to listen to the students this time
around and also the faculty and staff.”
Hedrick said that any recommendations he makes to
Chancellor Ringeisen are part of a “process of discovery.”
He also classifies his trip to UIS differently than
Murray.
“It is not an investigation. That has an ominous tone
to it. It is a site audit,” said Hedrick. “We are coming at
the request of the Chancellor.”
Suzy Woods, the Interim Director of the Office of Disability
Services, said that Hedrick’s arrival is positive in
that “it’s good to have outside eyes to see what we can’t.”
Woods, however, refers to UIC’s arrival in different terms
than Hedrick. “Well, it’s not exactly a site audit,” said
Woods, “We’re calling it a visit.”
The point of Hedrick’s trip, said
Woods, is “to see what’s good and what
could be better.”
Overall the relationship between students
and the Office of Disability Services
is fine, said Woods. “I only go by
the students who come down here, and
they seem relaxed,” she said. “If a student
needs help, we can’t hand it to them.
They have to come to us.”
An atmosphere where students and
faculty can be heard, and at times openly
criticize the administration, is what UIS
sometimes lacks, said Jason Pierceson,
Assistant Professor of Political and Legal
Studies and Co–Chair of the Campus Senate
at UIS. “We want a system that is open
and transparent,” said Pierceson. As for classifying the
arrival of Hedrick and his two assistants in mid-March,
Pierceson said, “I’m not sure what to call it.”
The visit is scheduled for March 17 and 18. Those students
wishing to meet with Brad Hedrick can come during
those days to the PAC conference room E. When asked
whether there are specific times for students to come
and meet with Hedrick, Suzy Woods stated, “Once we get
the schedule firmed up, we will get out that information to
all students... before spring break.”
