2014-2015 Parents, Teachers, and Counselors Booklet (Gallaudet University)

WASHINGTON, D.C.

The Gallaudet Advantage for Parents, Teachers, and Counselors

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The Advantage of a

Four-year Degree With a Purpose An undergraduate education at Gallaudet features a unique mix of interdisciplinary courses, extracurricular activities, and study abroad and internship opportunities tailored to prepare your student for a wide range of graduate and professional programs and careers. High academic expectations are paired with direct access and support services specifically designed to ensure your student will graduate with a fully accredited four-year college degree and the acumen and versatility to become the most desirable job candidate.

More than Resume-Building Gallaudet offers a level playing field. Academic expectations are high, opportunities frequent, and barriers unheard of. Direct access to faculty, peers, and staff fosters the development of your student’s professional skill set.

Gallaudet features rigorous learning environments in and out of the classroom, warm and caring faculty and staff passionate about your student’s success, and a community situated in a bustling, multicultural city.

General Studies Requirements Undergraduate study at Gallaudet is planned with the University’s liberal arts philosophy in mind and includes a focus on interdisciplinary courses in which your student is exposed to multiple perspectives and strategies for tackling real-life challenges.

8:1

student-faculty ratio

13

average class size

Honors Program If your student qualifies and is especially driven, he or she may apply to the Honors Program. The Honors curriculum features interdisciplinary courses and research apprenticeships designed by select faculty to fuel rigorous investigations of ideas, rhetoric, and philosophies. Merit-based scholarships are available, as is funding for conference proposals, research trips, and internships.

Study in a College Town The 14-member Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area combines the resources of the region’s best academic institutions.

The Consortium includes institutions that are public, private, federal, historically black, religious, secular, and/or devoted to the arts, offering Gallaudet students a wide range of courses and experiences to choose from.

Your student can take statistics at The George Washington University or political science at Georgetown University for no additional cost—without losing the advantages of the barrier-free learning environment at Gallaudet.

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Study Beyond Borders Employers consider job applicants who have studied in unconventional environments to be self-motivated, independent, adaptable, and more prepared to tackle unexpected scenarios. Our students are encouraged to seek knowledge outside the classroom from day one. Your student will have numerous opportunities to investigate cultural differences and connections, including deaf-friendly study abroad opportunities. These study abroad experiences and internships have included countries such as Argentina, China, Germany, India, Italy, Kenya, South Africa, and Argentina.

“

My internship provided many opportunities to develop my creative skills in a focused way, and the company enabled me to build a network of professional contacts who will help me in the early stages of my theater career.�

Trisha Waddell English and theatre arts major Interned at Deafinitely Theatre, London 3

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The Advantage of a

Barrier-free Education Combining unlimited educational opportunities with exceptional support and removing barriers equals success for your student. Gallaudet is committed to ensuring nothing stands in the way of students completing their degrees.

Supporting Academic Success While your student is preparing for his or her future, completing graduation requirements is critical. Gallaudet faculty and staff care deeply about ensuring your student has all the resources needed to achieve academic success.

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The Office for Students with Disabilities encourages student autonomy by providing accommodations for students with disabilities, as well as self-advocacy training.

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Tutoring services in all subject areas are available, either as a supplemental instruction service taught by peers or coordinated through Tutorial and Instructional Programs.

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An eLearning team provides technological support for online portions of classes, including training and media equipment loan programs.

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Friendly librarians facilitate lending among Gallaudet and seven area universities. The librarians are also accessible to students via text messaging, instant messaging, videophone, and email.

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The Office of International Programs and Services can help your student apply to study abroad or for an overseas internship.

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The Office of Diversity and Equity for Students fosters a welcoming and diverse environment and sponsors programming for students of color, LGBTQA, and multicultural populations.

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The Bilingual Immersion Experience Gallaudet students come from 47 states, the District of Columbia, and 28 countries. They are as diverse in background and socioeconomic status as their hometowns. Students’ communication preferences are equally varied.

In adherence to our commitment to accessibility and the University's bilingual philosophy, all courses are taught in American Sign Language and English. All student services are fully accessible, including the cafeteria, health center, and library. To ensure a fully accessible environment for students with less signing experience than others, Gallaudet provides services to ensure your student won’t miss a thing.

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JumpStart ASL is an immersion experience that begins before your student’s first semester and includes a crash course in ASL and the opportunity to get to know the campus ahead of time.

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Gallaudet Interpreting Service provides American Sign Language− English interpretation in the classroom and at campus events.

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Real-time Captioning Service is provided as needed in the classroom and at campus events.

The Hearing and Speech Center The Hearing and Speech Center (HSC) is one of the largest of its kind in the Washington, D.C., area and provides the campus community with exceptional professional expertise as well as a range of services and equipment.

Located in the Sorenson Language and Communication Center, just steps away from residential halls and academic buildings, the HSC is fully staffed and equipped. Services and equipment include audiological testing, hearing aid evaluation and dispensing, assistive devices, speech-language evaluation and therapy, and aural rehabilitation services that include specialized rehabilitation and other services for students with cochlear implants.

HSC staff know American Sign Language and are experienced with meeting the needs of deaf and hard of hearing clients. The HSC accepts Blue Cross/ Blue Shield, Medicaid, Medicare, UnitedHealthcare and TRICARE. It also accepts Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) support to pay for services instead of health insurance third-party payments.

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Customized Preparation for Future Professionals The Academic Advising office and Career Center provide a wide range of services to students. Academic advisors help students plan their course schedules and guide them toward selecting their majors, using tools including individualized career interest assessments. Career consultants maintain relationships with employers and internship sites around the world and educate them about the value of hiring Gallaudet students. Career consultants also advise students about current trends in the workforce as well as provide graduate school advising and testing, host specialized job fairs, and offer resume-writing and interview training sessions.

This support has helped students earn careers with federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Education, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Smithsonian Institution. Gallaudet alumni are also charting their paths in the private and nonprofit sectors with employers such as Booz Allen Hamilton, Merrill Lynch, IBM, Wells Fargo, WorldTeach, and the Peace Corps. Entrepreneurial graduates also have launched successful private ventures in multimedia design, grant-writing services, hospitality and restaurant management, and educational consulting.

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The Advantage of a

Career-boosting Internship Gallaudet offers students exceptional access to internship opportunities around Washington, D.C., and the nation.

Students have interned at: Government • • • • • • • •

Department of the Interior Internal Revenue Service Federal Bureau of Investigation Library of Congress NASA National Public Radio Smithsonian Institution The White House

United States Congress • • • • • •

Rep. Kevin Yoder, R-Kansas Rep. Mark Takano, D-California Rep. Steve Stockman, R-Texas Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Michigan Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii

Private and Nonprofit • • • • • • • • • • • •

AmeriCorps DC Prep Public Charter School Discovery Channel International Rescue Committee Kennedy Krieger Institute Merrill Lynch National Association of the Deaf National Law Center for Homelessness and Poverty Octagon Peace Corps Sidwell Friends School Volkswagen of America

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From this experience, “I learned to never be afraid to ask questions, because I get good feedback and become more resourceful.”

Brandon Williams Government, ’14 Interned at the Washington, D.C., City Council and National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty

Brandon Williams worked with Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie on tackling issues in Ward Five, including rental assistance, economic security, homelessness, education, and crime. His extensive research on crime statistics helped the Metropolitan Police Department identify specific neighborhoods to more closely monitor for crime control. Williams also presented his research to D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray.

83%

of full-time students held an internship before graduation.

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People listened to my “vision and statements with interest.”

Rita Torres International studies, ’14 Interned at the Peace Corps

Rita Torres interned as an administrative assistant at the Peace Corps office headquarters in Washington, D.C. At the Peace Corps, Torres learned how to manage projects, plan events, and recruit interns, volunteers, and employees.

She educated staff about Deaf Culture and accessibility issues that could be resolved in order to recruit more deaf volunteers. She focused on the deaf community’s abilities, strengths, and desire to create positive global impact.

98%

of alumni who responded to a recent survey are working or pursuing a graduate degree.

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The Advantage of

The Nation's Capital Life after high school is a time filled with new experiences, and where better than Washington, D.C., to supplement a college education with prime internships and volunteer opportunities combined with the ability to explore diverse cultures, foods, and art and history ... all with exceptional communication access?

Everything at Your Fingertips With a Metro station just blocks away and a Capital Bikeshare rack right on campus, taking in attractions—such as museums, national parks, farmers markets, and restaurants—in and around the nation's capital will be easy for your student.

Exceptional Access and Networking Washington, D.C., is also home to a large deaf community, and all the benefits that come with it. This means unparalleled access to a wide range of venues and events, ranging from interpreted and captioned stage performances to open-captioned sporting events and movie showings.

Evening events also give students valuable opportunities to network with deaf professionals who offer advice and tips about workplace access and climbing the career ladder after graduation.

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Campus Services Cater to Your Student Residence halls at Gallaudet are designed with your student's unique needs in mind, including visual alerts and alarms. DeafSpace architectural principles foster community building and visual language and create bright, open spaces to study and relax. Residence Life staff members are trained to handle a variety of communication preferences, giving your student access any hour of the day or night.

Bon Appétit services students’ dining needs at the Plaza Dining Hall, Rathskellar, Marketplace, and Java Corner. Its locally sourced and madefrom-scratch philosophy ensures your student is well nourished and has energy to learn. Care packages are available for purchase and are delivered to your student through the “Thinking of You” program for birthdays, during midterm exams, or just because!

Department of Public Safety officers and student workers are fluent in sign language and are accessible to students via text message, TTY, phone, videophone, and email. A Deaf and Hard of Hearing Liaison Unit within the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department focuses specifically on the public safety needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community.

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Outside the Classroom Whether your student lives on or off campus, Gallaudet offers a variety of activities to broaden the college experience.

Extracurricular activities are a vital part of preparing your student to become a well-rounded citizen.

Your student can join one of many student-led organizations or play an intramural sport, write for the student newspaper, participate in student government, and leave a mark on the campus community by becoming a leader.

Students also take advantage of a vibrant arts and theatre community on campus. They act in, direct, and manage stage performances; create and contribute pieces for art shows; compose dance performances; and produce shorts for the University's television channel.

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Private Urban Institution Value at a Bargain The cost of tuition and fees per semester at Gallaudet for 2013-2014 was 38% lower1 than the national average for out-of-state tuition and fees at public four-year institutions in the same year. Gallaudet's tuition and fees are the same for in-state and out-of-state students. Given the uniquely supportive environment, expectations, and opportunities on campus, a Gallaudet degree is a steal.

Financial aid staff members are ready to help you find the right funding. We can help determine a student's eligibility for different types of aid or provide more information about the following: • • •

Merit-based scholarships Federal financial aid Vocational rehabilitation

Visit financialaid.gallaudet.edu for more details.

2013-2014 tuition and fees per semester (Room and board not included)

$20,000 $15,000

$15,639 $11,101

$10,000

$6,900

$5,000 0

Average for Out-of-State Public Four-Year Institutions2

D.C.-area Colleges and Universities 2012-20133

Gallaudet

1. This does not include the optional Health Insurance Fee. If you do not have your own insurance, you will not be able to waive this fee. However, even with the inclusion of the optional health insurance fee, Gallaudet's tuition and fees amount is still 14% lower than the national average!

2. Source: College Board (trends.collegeboard.org) 3. Includes other members of the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area

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The Gallaudet Advantage Here at Gallaudet, we have what’s known as “The Gallaudet Advantage”—an experience students will get at no other place in the world at any other time in their life. Gallaudet is a unique

community that is built around providing a bilingual living and learning experience that promotes individuality, academic engagement, and community dialogue.

Gallaudet students experience a true barrier-free collegiate experience. Turn the page to see how Gallaudet engages your student in ways the average state university cannot.

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...including a fully staffed and equipped Hearing and Speech Center familiar with deaf and hard of hearing clients.

...that always considers your student the norm: no need to send an interpreter request for that special guest lecture.

...designed to help your student transition into a visual environment that ensures he or she misses nothing.

Academic access and support services…

...with built-in accommodations that enable your student to fully participate in and benefit from class discussions.

...championed by faculty members with high expectations based on your student’s performance rather than preconceived notions about the capabilities of deaf and hard of hearing people.

...with direct access to faculty, classmates, and class materials, whether in the classroom or while discussing an assignment over coffee.

Challenging and rigorous academic programs…

Benefits Gallaudet

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State University

The Gallaudet Advantage

...across the globe with study abroad experiences — interpreters provided!

...within a deaf-friendly community that offers accessible experiences like the Smithsonian Institution, "open mic" night at local hotspot Busboys and Poets, and open-captioning at every Washington Redskins game.

...that are easy to get to, thanks to Gallaudet’s free shuttle bus, its proximity to the NOMA-Gallaudet Metro station, and an on-campus Capital Bikeshare rack.

...at a university located less than two miles from the U.S. Capitol and within easy reach of some of the region’s largest employers.

Networking opportunities…

...including barrier-free tryouts for roles in theatre productions and on athletic teams.

...based solely on your student’s merit and potential, rather than the success of his or her accommodations.

Leadership and community engagement opportunities…

...including access to a database of local, national, and international employers and internship sites.

...that facilitate the job search process between potential employers and deaf and hard of hearing employees.

Customized career development resources…

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800 Florida Avenue, NE Washington, DC 20002 Undergraduate Admissions Edward Miner Gallaudet Building 800-995-0550 (TTY, voice) 202-250-2474 (videophone) 202-651-5744 (fax) admissions.office@gallaudet.edu facebook.com/gallaudet1864 twitter.com/gallaudetu youtube.com/gallaudetvideo Publisher Office of Communications and Public Relations Executive Director: Catherine Murphy Publications Coordinator: Teresa Ezzell, '81 Designer and Photo Editor: Danielle Peterson Writer: Tara Congdon, E-‘05 Design Manager: Zhou Fang, ‘97 Printer: MOSAIC © 2014 Office of Communications and Public Relations, Gallaudet University

Undergraduate Open House Fall 2014 Monday, October 13

Spring 2015 Monday, March 9

No ACT

ACT administered on Sunday, March 8

ACT administered on Sunday, November 9

ACT administered on Sunday, April 12

Monday, November 10

Monday, April 13