ADA & Section 504 Coordinator

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

“It is the purpose of this Act . . . to provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate for the elimination of discrimination against individuals with disabilities [and] to provide clear, strong, consistent, enforceable standards addressing discrimination against individuals with disabilities . . . .” 42 U.S.C. § 12101(b).

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq., prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in employment, state and local government, public accommodations, commercial facilities, transportation, and telecommunications. To be protected by the ADA, one must have a disability or have a relationship with an individual with a disability. An individual with a disability is defined by the ADA as someone who has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.

Section 504, Rehabilitation Act

“No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the United States . . . shall, solely by reason of his or her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance . . . .” 29 U.S.C. § 794(a).

The Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs receiving federal financial assistance and in the employment practices of federal contractors. Each federal agency has its own set of § 504 regulations but all include reasonable accommodation for employees with disabilities, program accessibility, effective communication for individuals who have hearing or vision disabilities, and accessible new construction.

Ms. Lisa Cucarese, College Registrar, serves as the 504 Coordinator for Bethany College. Any student, faculty, staff, or guest who requires special accommodations should contact Ms. Cucarese for medically necessary needs regarding classroom or special event locations. Ms. Cucarese can be reached at 304-829-7821 or by email: lcucarese@bethanywv.edu.

Dr. Chris Sampson, Director of the McCann Learning Center, will continue to serve as the coordinator for students who need special educational accommodation such as testing, note taking, or other educational support. To contact Dr. Sampson: csampson@bethanywv.edu

Bethany Title IX Website

In keeping with best practice, Bethany College’s Title IX Office, in conjunction with the Office of Communications, updated the Bethany College Website this past fall to include a web page for Title IX information. You can access the web page directly at http://www.bethanywv.edu/students/title-ix/

Accessible under the Campus Life page, the section contains the Title IX policy, information on mandatory reporting, and options for filing a complaint.

In addition, the new web page contains valuable information on resources available and helpful frequently-asked questions. Please familiarize yourself with the new content.

This important function reports directly to me. If you have any questions, please contact Malorie Porter at mporter@Bethanywv.edu or me.

Enjoyed speaking/moderating a panel discussion about executive search at the CIC Presidents Institute in San Diego. Pictured with Katherine Haley, Principal, Witt/Kieffer of Chicago, Cheryl Hyatt, Partner, Hyatt-Fennell Executive Search of Pittsburgh; and R. Stanton Hales, Senior Consultant, Academic Search, Inc., of Washington, D.C. I serve as Chair of the Board of Directors of Washington, D.C. – based Academic Search, Inc. The session was sponsored by Inside Higher Ed.

Professor Kenn Morgan and his January Term students send greetings from Italy: "Buon giorno from the Colosseum in Roma!"

Dr. Kelly Schuller named Director of the First Year Experience

Dr. Kelly Schuller has been appointed Director of the First Year Experience, replacing Dr. Katrina D’Aquin who was recently promoted to Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty.

Currently Assistant Professor of Psychology, Dr. Schuller was recently promoted to Associate Professor with tenure, effective July 1, 2015. She holds the B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from West Virginia University.

The First Year Experience is an important part of the College’s nationally-acclaimed program “The Bethany Plan.” It is designed to meet the following goals:

· Provide a small seminar of students with a faculty mentor/advisor who will help them to improve writing and thinking skills and familiarize them with the academic life of the College, while they study a specialized subject area

· Provide a bridge between the high school experience and the Bethany experience, designed to enable students to engage actively and successfully as they grow and learn inside the classroom and out

· Provide students with an intense, single-class, topic-driven learning experience designed to enhance college-level reading, writing and research skills

#2015PI: Enjoyable visit with William Salom, former President of Universidad InterAmericana of Costa Rica & Panama. William, Weezie Fennell @hyattfennell & I founded the InterAmerican Consortium in 1994.

Good to see Jerold Panas, CEO of a premier national development firm at #2015PI. Honored to be among 22 CEOs profiled in his new book. #2015PI

Bethany College President Dr. Scott D. Miller accepts an award recognizing his 15 years as Chair of the New Presidents Program of the Council of Independent Colleges, during the group's banquet Saturday evening in San Diego. The New Presidents Program (NPP) examines challenges and issues confronting new campus CEO's, and offers practical strategies for successful leadership. Pictured with Dr. Miller are, left, Dr. Richard Eckman, President of CIC, and Dr. Mary Pat Seurkamp, Director of the NPP.

Bethany College President Dr. Scott D. Miller finished his second term as the Chair of The Council of Colleges and Universities of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on Sunday. He is pictured with Dr. Kenneth R. Garren (President, Lynchburg College), new chair of the Council; Dr. Guy Waldrop (Director of TCUCC), and Chris Dorsey (President of the Higher Education and Leadership Ministry).

Dr. Mort Gamble, Executive Assistant to the President, and Dr. J. Daniel Draper, Professor of Chemistry Emeritus, visit in Sarasota, Fla., on Christmas Eve. Dr. Draper and Dr. Gamble share a love of circus history. Dr. Draper's daughter Barbara Stebbins '71 and her husband Ron Levere hosted Dr. Gamble and his wife M.E. Yancosek Gamble, Chair of the Business, Communications and Media Arts Department at Bethany.