The remodel of the Academic Advising office was intended to provide visitors with more privacy but ended up causing problems for students with disabilities.
When the remodel was completed during the summer session, Robert Beasey, a USF St. Petersburg student who uses a motorized chair, noted the lack of space in the waiting area, which only provides six seats.
The cramped quarters create a problem for Beasey.
“Sometimes I don’t know how to sit or put my chair so I am not in the way,” Beasey said. The only place his chair could fit is by the office assistants’ new window.
He also noted that the door to the office was not automatic, creating another accessibility issue.
Cyndie Collins, the director of Academic Advising, was unaware of Beasey’s accessibility concerns prior to speaking with The Crow’s Nest. She said that during the remodel, the physical plan worked to adhere to the standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Collins said they “deliberately took a countertop height that would be appropriate for someone in a wheelchair.”
Immediately following her interview with The Crow’s Nest, Collins contacted Barry McDowell, director of Student Disability Services, seeking to correct the accessibility issues.
As of Aug. 23, McDowell said Academic Advising resolved Beasey’s concerns by agreeing to greet and escort any student in a wheelchair or scooter directly into the office area. These students will not have to stay in the waiting area.
McDowell noted that the door to the offices is intended for advisors to walk out and greet the students. Since students with disabilities will be escorted, the door does not need to be automatic.
A new wall in Academic Advising was constructed between the waiting room and the advising offices to ensure student privacy. Collins said that Advising “wanted to protect the confidentiality of students who are talking to advisors.” She noted that there was often an “overflow” of students into the hallway of the offices, causing a lack of confidentiality.
Collins said Academic Advising always wants feedback. Those wishing to give feedback regarding the new facility can fill out a survey found at usfsp.edu/advising.
