:: Services for Qualified Students

Support Services provides several services.

• Non Traditional
• Single Parent / Displaced Homemaker
• Textbook Assistance
• Lending Library
• Childcare
• Disabilities Services

:: Non Traditional

Choosing a career or occupation can be overwhelming, however, it is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Today's employment is becoming more dependent on an individual's technical and mental capabilities, and is no longer dependent on physical capabilities but rather on gender equality. Non Traditional careers in the high technology or health related fields offer higher wages than most traditional careers for one's gender.

Non Traditional occupations for males and females is defined as "a field of study in which either gender comprises less than 25% of the current enrollment."

The following services are available for qualified Non Traditional students:

• Child Care Services
• Textbook Assistance
• Personal Development Workshops
• Community Refferals 

These services are funded through the Carl D. Perkins Vocational & Applied Technology Education Act and are contingent upon the availability of funds and adherence to program policies.

Non Traditional Programs at TSTC Harlingen include:

:: Single Parent/Displaced Homemaker Services

Support Services assists Single Parents, Displaced Homemakers, and Single Expectant Mothers that are enrolled full time in a declared program of study leading to an Associate of Applied Science Degree or a Certificate of completion at Texas State Technical College Harlingen.

A Single Parent in this context is defined as "an individual, male or female who is unmarried or legally separated from a spouse, and who is the custodial parent of the child or children under the age of 18."

A Single Expectant Mother in this context is defined as "a female who is pregnant and unmarried or legally separated from a spouse."

A Displaced Homemaker is defined as "an adult individual, male or female who has worked primarily without pay to care for home and family, and for this reason has diminished skills for entering the labor force."

The following services are available to qualified students:

• Child Care Services
• Textbook Assistance
• Personal Development Workshops
• Community Referrals
• Gas Stipends

These services are funded through the Carl D. Perkins Vocational & Applied Technology Education Act and are contingent upon the availability of funds and adherence to program policies.

:: Textbook Assistance

In addition to the Lending Library, Support Services assists qualifying Single Parents, Displaced Homemakers and Non Traditional students with Textbook Assistance.

To be eligible for Textbook Assistance, qualifying students must meet the following guidelines:

1. Be enrolled full time in a program of study that can be completed at Texas State Technical College Harlingen;
2. Complete a Textbook Assistance Application for Single Parent/Displaced Homemaker Services, or Non Traditional Services at the Support Services Office located in the Auxiliary Services Building; and,
3. Attend a Textbook Assistance Orientation in order to learn about textbook assistance agreement guidelines and policy. (Textbook Assistance Orientations will be held at the beginning of every semester. Scheduled times and dates will be announced accordingly).

Textbook Assistance Orientation is a training session to assist students in becoming familiar with forms and processes for obtaining assistance with textbook purchasing. They are scheduled as needed at the beginning of each semester.

This service is funded through the Carl D. Perkins Vocational & Applied Technology Act and is contingent upon the availability of funds during the pertinent semester, and adherence to program policies. Textbook Assistance is provided on a first come first serve basis.

:: Lending Library

Support Services maintains a Lending Library that is comprised of many commonly used textbooks which students are allowed to use on a semester basis. The Lending Library is available for use after the first week of classes TO STUDENTS WHO DO NOT QUALIFY for -

• Non Traditional;
• Single Parent; or
• Displaced Homemaker Services.

To apply for the Lending Library, students must meet all five(5) of the following guidelines:

1. Be enrolled at TSTC Harlingen;
2. Complete a Lending Library Application for Traditional Students at the Support Services Office located in the Auxiliary Services Building;
3. Agree to return the textbook(s) at the end of the semester;
4. Agree to return the textbooks which are state property in the condition in which they were borrowed; and,
5. Agree to replace textbook(s) which have been lost, damaged, or unreturned.

:: Child Care Services

Support Services provides students at Texas State Technical College Harlingen with child care referrals. Referrals are made to the following providers:

1. TSTC Early Childhood Center (0 - 3 years)
2. TSTC NINO'S Head Start (3 - 5 years, child must be 3 yrs. prior to Sept. 1st)
3. Cameron County Childcare Management Services (Cameron County residents)
4. Workforce Solutions Child Care Services (Hidalgo & Willacy County residents)

TSTC Harlingen Support Services also assists a limited number of qualifying Single Parent, Displaced Homemaker, Single Expectant Mothers, and Non Traditional students pursuing a non-traditional program of study with subsidized child care. A student must complete an application at the Support Services Office every semester and selections are made on the basis of need.

These services are funded through the Carl D. Perkins Vocational & Applied Technology Education Act and are contingent upon the availability of funds and adherence to program policies.

:: Services for Students with Disabilities

Reasonable accommodations are provided for qualified disabled students with documented disabilities, such as, but not limited to:

• physical;
• learning; and/or
• psychological.

Qualified students with disabilities who request accommodations and/or auxiliary aids are required to apply for services through Support Services and must provide proof of disability(s) from qualified professionals.

Students are assessed to determine "reasonable" accommodations only after all appropriate documentation is submitted.

Reasonable accommodations are provided on a case by case basis. Accommodations may include, but are not limited to:

• tape recorders
• extended test time
• alternate testing sites
• scribes
• interpreters
• note takers
• adaptive equipment

TSTC and Support Services assume no responsibility for personal attendants necessary for independent living nor specialized medical care.

Support Services serves as a liaison with instructors, staff, and appropriate federal and state agencies to ensure that reasonable accommodations are provided.

Students are encouraged to contact Support Services one month prior to the beginning of each semester to allow sufficient time for processing classroom accommodation requests.

Support Services has outlined a process for students seeking accommodations. The student is responsible for meeting all of the following guidelines:

First Phase, Student Must:

1. Self disclose with Support Services if student requires equal access to classroom environment.
2. Meet with Director or Coordinator to discuss accommodations and documentation needed to be submitted by student.
3. Director or Coordinator will review submitted information. Student will need to follow up with Support Services Office within two(2) days of submission of documentation to follow up with accommodation request.

Second Phase, Student Must, upon registering each semester:

1. Follow up with Support Services and provide a copy of his/her schedule with names of instructors for registered courses. Student will be informed of approved accommodations.
2. Obtain a "Request for Course Accommodations" letter for each class for which an accommodation has been requested.

Third Phase, Student will:

1. Meet individually with each class instructor to discuss the accommodations approved by Support Services.
2. Have the instructor sign and keep white copy of the "letter".
3. Return the pink copy of the "letter" once it has been signed by the instructor to Support Services so that Support Services is aware the instructors have been officially informed of the need for accommodations.
4. Keep "yellow" copy of letter for his/her records and inform Support Services of any changes or concerns regarding accommodations in classroom.

Accommodations do not transfer from semester to semester. Student is responsible for requesting accommodations in a timely manner prior to each semester enrolled.

Questions and concerns regarding an instructor's implementation of an accommodation(s) or if needed accommodation(s) are not provided, should be directed to Support Services staff immediately.

Support Services works closely with Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) clients who are attending TSTC to reach their educational objectives. Through the support of DARS, eligible students with disabilities may receive a variety of services based upon individual agreements with each client. Financial assistance available through these agencies may include:

• tuition
• room and board
• transportation
• textbooks/tools
• tutoring.

Disclaimer: This Web site provides links to other Web sites, both public and private, for the convenience and informational purposes of World Wide Web users. TSTC makes no representations, guarantees, endorsement or warranties as to the accuracy, completeness, currency, availability or suitability for any purpose of the information provided on these external sites. TSTC specifically disclaims any and all liability and responsibility for any claims or damage that may arise as a result of TSTC providing the Web site or the information it contains, or that may arise in any way with respect to any Web sites maintained by third parties and  linked to the TSTC site.  TSTC makes no effort to independently verify, and does not exert editorial control over, information on pages outside ".tstc.edu" domains.  TSTC advises site visitors to read the privacy policies of any third-party sites accessed through this site.

TSTC does not endorse any of the products, vendors, consultants, or documentation referenced in this Web site.  Any mention of vendors products, or services is for informational purposes only.  Further, TSTC is not a "user" of these linked sites for any purpose.  Only individuals who access these sites for advice or service become users.