New Name, Same Quality Assistance

St. Ambrose University will continue to serve students with challenges, physical and otherwise, through the newly named Accessibility Resource Center. 

The former Office of Student Disability Services has been renamed to better reflect its commitment to social justice and serving all students. The center will build on the long-standing level of dedicated service that recently earned a ranking among the 50 best such college resource centers in the nation.

Paul Koch, PhD, provost and vice president for Academic and Student Affairs, said by removing "disability" from the name, St. Ambrose is making an effort to remove or reduce the stigma that comes with the term, as well as reach out to an additional population of students who may not otherwise choose to use services, such as veterans or athletes.

"By adding the word ‘accessibility' we are better able to promote our obligation to adhere to federal laws that prohibit discrimination and provide access to reasonable accommodations and appropriate academic adjustments and modifications to qualified individuals," he said.

"Finally, by adding the word ‘resource,' St. Ambrose identifies this office as a resource for students with and without documented disabilities as well as for the faculty and staff working directly with this student population," Koch added.

St. Ambrose University Accessibility Resource Center provides such remarkable services that collegechoice.net has ranked it as one of the 50 Best Disability Friendly Colleges and Universities in the U.S. 

The Accessibility Resource Center and its staff, led by director Ryan Saddler, go beyond federal law to provide strong programming and support services. The goal of Saddler's office and the university, as always, is student success.

Collegechoice.net noted St. Ambrose – and the other 49 universities and colleges included in the ranking – excels in committing the resources, funding, and programming to ensure our students meet their goals in the classroom and community. St. Ambrose was ranked 26th among the top 50.

Read more about the rankings by collegechoice.net