Classroom and Lab Assistant Agreement

After enrolling in classes each term, students who have DRC accommodations that include Classroom and/or Assistant (CA or Classroom Assistant) must submit a service request through DRC Online. There is a helpful service request tutorial to guide you through the process. Students making these requests should do so at least two weeks in advance of the beginning of the term. Early requests ensure there is sufficient time to secure a CA for the first day of class, although every effort will be made to provide services for last-minute requests.

Classroom Assistants DO

  • Describe visual elements of videos shown in class as needed
  • Locate pertinent portions of textbooks and navigate to worksheets either on the computer or in paper format as needed
  • Act as a reader and/or a scribe for worksheets, activities and quizzes as needed
  • Manipulate objects or perform other manual tasks as directed by student during labs and other experiential learning environments

Classroom Assistants DO NOT

  • Instruct during lecture and other in-class activities. The classroom assistant is not akin to a teaching assistant or co-instructor. 
  • Answer the student’s questions about the content of material being presented, nor do they offer hints or suggestions about how to do the work. The student should direct their questions about the subject matter directly to the instructor. 
  • Answer an instructor’s questions on behalf of the student. In general, the classroom assistant should have very little to no interaction with the rest of the class and the instructor.
  • Become full-fledged participants in the class or in small group activities (if the student chooses to use their support during those activities). They are there solely to ensure the student can participate fully and independently with their group members. A classroom assistant should not be asked to contribute an opinion or input even if they have knowledge of the subject. For example, a Spanish-speaking classroom assistant should not be asked to contribute to the group or provide Spanish corrections to a group in which they are providing assistance to a student in a Spanish class.

Working With A Classroom Assistant

  • Classroom Assistants will primarily attend in the same format in which you are planning to attend (in-person or remotely). 
  • If you are in an Attend Anywhere course, select a primary attendance format so that the DRC can arrange for your Classroom Assistant to attend. 
  • If your attendance format changes, update the DRC as soon as possible and notify your Classroom Assistant via email and phone, if available. Classroom Assistants will prioritize transitioning to your new class format within 48 hours, although there may be situations where this change is not possible.
  • Early notice ensures there is sufficient time for a Classroom Assistant to adjust your service plan, although every effort will be made to provide services for last-minute requests as well.
  • The DRC will email to introduce your Classroom Assistant and explain their role to your instructor prior to the start of services. In this email, the DRC will also request that the instructor add the Classroom Assistant to the Canvas and/or Zoom, if applicable.
  • You are responsible for preparing yourself for class so that you will understand the information being presented. 
  • If the course is fully online (asynchronous) or hybrid with only a few synchronous meetings, you may make an appointment directly with the Classroom Assistant. The Classroom Assistant will notify their supervisor at the DRC to track their hours. Generally, students may work with their Classroom Assistant (either remotely or in-person) for up to the number of course credit hours of the course, per week. 
    • For example, if it is a fully online 4-credit course, the student could meet with the Classroom Assistant via Zoom for 4 hours per week, focused on access services related to that course. 
    • If additional time is needed, please make the request to the Lead Classroom Assistant or Classroom Assistant Supervisor.
  • Discuss concerns regarding communication and/or services as soon as they come up. This is critical to maintaining a good ongoing relationship with your Classroom Assistant and to ensuring that your needs are met. If concerns persist, make an appointment with a DRC professional

Students Working With A Classroom Assistant Agree To The Following

Communication

  • Discuss with the Classroom Assistant your preferred mode of communication.
  • For remote courses, please coordinate with your Classroom Assistant and determine if you would like to communicate with them over the phone while logged into Zoom (with your Zoom microphone off) so that the Classroom Assistant can talk with you directly, without addressing the class. Please let the Classroom Assistant know if you are comfortable with them putting “Classroom Assistant” as their name for the class Zoom sessions, to indicate that they are not a student or instructor. 

Late to Class

  • It is your responsibility to arrive at all classes on time. Classroom Assistants are held to this same standard.
  • Classroom Assistants will wait 15 - 20 minutes for you to arrive, before leaving for the remainder of the class.
  • The wait time is determined by the length of the class.

Class Absences

  • Cancel services at least 24 hours in advance or as soon as you know you will be absent. 
  • In case of an absence, contact your Classroom Assistant and inform The DRC drc@pdx.edu and the Lead Classroom Assistant drcassistant@pdx.edu.
  • The DRC expects Classroom Assistants to report a student’s absence by emailing drcassistant@pdx.edu
  • If at any point during the term you miss a total of three or more classes, someone from the DRC will reach out to you to check in and offer support.
  • Keep in mind that, if you accrue three consecutive “No Show Days” in one course without communication with Classroom Assistants or the DRC, the DRC may suspend your Classroom Assistant services for the course in question.
  • If services are suspended, you would need to make an appointment] with a DRC Access Counselor & Consultant before services would be reinstated.

You will be asked to e-sign that you have read and understand this agreement every term when you log in to DRC Online to enter your service requests. On occasion, you may be asked to provide a signed copy of this agreement. If requested, print this page and sign as directed below, then return the signed document to the person who requested the signed copy.

Print Name:

Signature:

Date:


If you have questions about the information on this page, please contact the Disability Resource Center.

Email: drcassistant@pdx.edu
Phone: 503-725-4150

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