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Prospective Students
Office for Students with Special Needs (OSSN)
Welcome to the Office for Students with Special Needs at Okaloosa-Walton College. We hope the information you find on this page will assist you in your future academic endeavors.
The requirements for admissions for students with special needs are no different from any other person applying to Okaloosa-Walton College. The College does not discriminate on the basis of disability in admission or access to any of its programs or activities; therefore, the admission process is the same for all students.
Step-by-Step Guide to Starting College at OWC
- Complete the Application for Admission and the Residency forms which are available at all six OWC locations or download the forms from the OWC website at www.owc.edu/Admissions/ . On-line submission of the forms is also available. There is no cost to apply for admissions to OWC. Submit the completed forms in person to any OWC site, or by mail or fax. Fax #: (850) 729-5323. Mail: OWC Admissions, 100 College Boulevard, Niceville, FL 32578-1295.
- Request Official Transcripts – Request appropriate official transcripts and have these sent to OWC. Depending on your educational background, these may include: high school transcript, GED diploma, Home Educated Affidavit, official college and/or university transcripts from any previous college attended, and official score reports from CLEP, DANTES, AP or IB. Official transcripts should be sent to: Admissions Office, Okaloosa-Walton College, 100 College Boulevard, Niceville, FL 32578.
- Take a Placement Test – First-time-in-college students (those with no prior college credit) must take the Florida College Placement Test (FCPT). Test scores assist OWC to place students in appropriate level classes based on their academic skills. Scores are not used to determine admission. The FCPT if offered at all OWC locations and is free of charge. Call any site for a testing appointment. Should you need accommodations for the FCPT, you need to contact the Coordinator for Students with Special Needs at 729-6079. Test scores from the ACT, SAT or other approved placement tests may be accepted in place of the FCPT if the scores are no more than two years old and meet the established cut-offs. Those student who have a bachelor’s degree or transfer students who have satisfactorily completed college English, Humanities, and Math courses are not required to take the placement test and must have official college transcripts on file at OWC. For more information and a study guide for the placement testing, go to the testing website at www.owc.edu/Testing/
- Complete an Orientation – New Student Orientation is required, whether you are new to college or a transfer student. You may meet this requirement by participating in a computerized New Student Orientation, which is available at any OWC location or through on-line at the college website at www.owc.edu/orientation.
- Meet with an OWC Advisor - All new students who test into one or more preparatory courses are required to meet with an educational advisor/counselor before they can register for classes. To schedule an appointment with an OWC advisor contact OWC in Niceville (729-6922, Fort Walton 863-6508, Eglin AFB 678-1717, Hurlburt Field 884-6296, Crestview 689-7911, or DeFuniak Springs 892-8100.
- Register for Classes and Pay Fees.
Step-by-Step Guide for Self-identifying at OWC
- Schedule an intake appointment with the Coordinator of Students with Special Needs – (850) 729-6922 to discuss available support services and the process for requesting accommodations for the classroom. At this meeting you will complete and sign an Application for Special Support Services Form.
- Bring written documentation of your disability with you to the appointment. The written report must be current and provided by a qualified professional such as a physician, audiologist, psychologist, psychiatrist, learning disability specialist, VA counselor or counselor for the Division of Blind Services. This information will assist the college in determining adequate, appropriate and reasonable accommodations.
- The documentation must state:
- Diagnosis with specific evidence of a disability and suggested accommodations to validate the request for academic and co-curricular accommodations
- Test scores which support a cognitive or learning disability
- Medications and any adverse side effects
- Recommendations regarding necessary accommodations
- Provisional accommodations might be offered in the interim, but a final determination of accommodations will not be complete until your documentation is complete.
Step-by-Step Guide for Receiving Accommodations in the Classroom
- If you wish to receive support services in one or all of your classes, complete the Request for Accommodations form each term in which services are needed and submit it to the OSSN. These forms are located in the Student Services area of each OWC site and on this website under Forms. Remember that the accommodations must be appropriate for the disability.
- It is important that at least five (5) working days are allowed for the special arrangements to be made.
- Contact the OSSN Coordinator prior to the beginning of each term in order to discuss any necessary changes in your schedule or your accommodations.
- In the event you encounter any difficulty or other concern regarding your accommodations, contact the OSSN Coordinator immediately.
- Once the Request for Accommodations has been received, a memorandum will be sent to your professors to let them that you have documentation on file and they are to provide you with the accommodations that are listed in the memorandum.