:: Information for Instructors

Support Services provides information regarding services to qualified students under the Special Populations and Disabilities Program.

Special Populations

• Professional Development for Faculty and Staff
• Personal Development Workshops for Students
• Referring Students to Support Services

Professional Development for Faculty and Staff

Support Services offers professional development workshops for faculty and staff during the month of March in recognition of National Women's History Month.  For more information on presentations offered, please contact the Gender Equity Advocate.

Personal Development Workshops for Students

Personal Development workshops are available to students for self-enhancement purposes. During the Fall and Spring semesters Mini-Institutes will be offered on a variety of themes.  Examples include Healthy Lifestyle and Social Responsibility. Mini-Institutes are not offered during the Summer semesters, instead workshops will be facilitated on different personal development topics. Examples inlcude: Anger Management, Green Economy, Money Management, Nutrition, and Self-Esteem.

Support Services also facilitates various events throuhgout the year to promote gender equity, and non-traditional programs of study. Examples include:

• TECHquity - Year Round
• Domestic Violence Awareness Month - October
  • Candlelight Vigil
• Community Resource Fair - October
• National Women's History Month
  • Gender Equity Presentations
• Ready to Work Program  - Year Round
• Sexual Assault Awareness Month - April
  • Sexual Assault Awareness Gathering
• Take Your Child  To Work Day - April

Students are encouraged to attend and become informed regarding various issues pertaining to self-esteem, anger management, time management, and other personal development subjects.

For more information, please contact the Gender Equity Advocate at 956.364.4520 or email to anna.cortez@harlingen.tstc.edu.

Referring Student to Support Services

• Refer all potential Non-Traditional, Single Parent, and Displaced Homemaker students to the Gender Equity Advocate.
• Faculty and staff are encouraged to send an email to the Gender Equity Advocate, anna.cortez@harlingen.tstc.edu, to indicate a referral has been made.

 Disabilities Program

• Accommodation Statement
• Testing Accommodation Form
• Trainings for Faculty and Staff
• Referring Students to Support Services

Accommodation Statement

The Accommodation Statement must be included in all course syllabi:

"If you have a documented disability which will make it difficult for you to carry out the work as the instructor has outlined and/or if you need special accommodations due to a disability, please contact (956) 364-4520 or  visit Support Services located in the Tech Prep Bldg. P as soon as possible to make appropriate arrangements."

Testing Accommodation Form

Instructors must use the Testing Accommodation Form when sending a test to Support Services. This form provides Support Services with any special instructions for the student when taking the test.

You may pick up the form at the Support Services Office or download it on the web.

Training for Faculty and Staff

• ADA Training is generally provided at the New Employee Orientation.  It provides basic knowledge of your role as a faculty or staff member and understanding of the Americans with Disabilities Act.  This training is mandatory for all faculty and staff. 

• disAbilities Perspective are trainings offered periodically to the faculty or staff to help heighten awareness pertaining to students with disabilities.  These trainings cover specialized topics in which instructors can learn how students can or are impacted by the classroom environment; instructional delivery systems; or activities.  These trainings will afford faculty and staff the opportunity to learn how to actively engage in the accommodation process.

Referring Students to the Support Services Office

• Refer students self disclosing a disability or requesting accommodations to the Disability Accommodation Specialist.
• Staff/Faculty are encourage to send an email to the Disability Accommodation Specialist to support.services@harlingen.tstc.edu  to indicate a referral has been made.

Note: It is not recommended that faculty and staff discuss a student's disability or inquire if a student has a disability. Support Services recommends to allow the student to decide on their own to visit our office.

Meet the Support Services Staff

• Edda M. Urrea, Director of Support Services, 956.364.4522 
• Corina De La Rosa, Coordinator of Disabilities Program, 956.364.4521
• Anna Cortez, Gender Equity Advocate, 956.364.4524
• Patty Leal, Disability Accommodation Specialist, 956.364.4525
• Delia Salazar, Staff Assistant, 956.364.4523