A view from inside Colgate’s new Accommodated Testing Center. (Photo by Mark DiOrio)
A new Accommodated Testing Center and Colgate University’s first-ever Disability Cultural Center are now open in a newly remodeled area on the garden level in McGregory Hall.
This new testing space, which replaces an outdated and small area previously in Gate House, is designed to support students with a variety of learning differences and federally recognized disabilities and is managed by the University’s Office of Student Disability Services (OSDS). Outside of testing hours, the Disability Cultural Center will provide a dynamic and flexible space for studying, programming, and celebration of the contributions of the disability community and its allies.
“This Accommodated Testing Center has been intentionally designed for our students with various disabilities to test in a more optimal environment. I look forward to witnessing how this Disability Cultural Center will add another opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to create community and experience belonging in a dedicated space that celebrates neurological and physical diversity,” said Vice President for Equity and Inclusion Renee Madison.
In conjunction with the University’s core values and overall mission, the purpose of the OSDS is to support equitable access for all students. In addition to assisting students with testing, the OSDS coordinates academic accommodations and adjustments; accessibility resources for housing and campus navigation; individualized case management; training for faculty, staff, and students; and grievance and complaint resolution.
This new quiet testing area is designed to accommodate 35 students at a time and includes thoughtfully designed lighting, seating, and walls adorned with a regular rotation of artwork from artists with disabilities.
“It has been a huge gift to our students and our campus as a whole,” said Assistant Director of Disability Services Molly Mendolia, who worked alongside her colleagues in the Office of Equity and Diversity for more than a year to research and plan for the eventual construction. “I believe that we’ve designed a welcoming space for our students’ diverse, curious minds, one which we hope to become the gold standard for higher education testing centers.”
The Colgate community was invited to get a look at the new Accommodated Testing Center and Disability Cultural Center at a special open house on March 31.