Fresno City College was forced to pivot during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving FCC students without critical tutoring programs within the Disabled Students Programs and Services — better known as DSPS. According to multiple sources within it, the longstanding program is back in full swing and revamped for the fall semester.
DSPS services are located in the library, Room 148, and the fall tutoring hours are Mondays and Wednesdays from 2 to 7 p.m., Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“DSPS did have tutoring, dedicated tutoring, and then COVID happened and of course everything went wild and that went away,” DSPS tutoring coordinator Jeanne Perez said.
Perez further explained DSPS offers tutoring services that are tailored toward students who have a learning disability. Additional services include note taking assistance, adaptive computer equipment, rooms with reduced distractions, extended time on testing, and having a tutorial center specific to DSPS located on campus.
“It’s not just tutoring. We are offering computer usage and student printing as well. If a student needs to print, if they just need a quiet place to come, do their homework and maybe decompress from the day, they can come in for that. If you’re stressed, come decompress,” Perez said.
According to FCC’s website, one has to apply to the DSPS program and submit specific learning disability verification in order to utilize it. The verification needed may include the most current high school individualized education program (IEP), a 504 plan, and/or any medical or mental health verification that is related to an eligible disabilit.
Another element to DSPS mentioned on the website are the developmental services courses also known as DEVSER. These courses are designed for students with disabilities and with a goal in mind to address “the educational limitations of students with disabilities.” Students can also earn a certificate upon completion of the required courses.
Some DEVSER courses offered this semester are adapted fitness, horticulture, reading comprehension, and career awareness. Counselor guidance is required for these courses, but they are open to all FCC students dependent on space, and availability.
“So anyone in school prior to college, prior to higher education, if they had a 504 or an IEP, they can pursue these services in higher education, and it’s amazing how many students don’t know this,” Perez said.
Perez continued her perspective by saying some students slip through the cracks and never realize the DSPS services are even there, despite attending FCC for years. Perez confirmed the total enrollment for DSPS this semester is approximately 1,379 students.
“There’s been students here for years who say, I didn’t know that. I didn’t know there was this office, and it’s kind of heartbreaking. You know, because you go from all these years of having a team of people helping you go to college and then you have to basically fend for yourself,” Perez said.
An ongoing study by the National Center for Education Statistics, states the total number of children with verified disabilities went from 3.6 million in the 1970s, to 7.5 million in the 2022-2023 school year. The upward trend in the data indicates an increased need for departments such as DSPS in the United States.
“I know our team at the DSPS center, they really reach out. They’re advocating in high schools. They’re reaching out, connecting and really trying to get students signed up,” Perez said.
Eleazar Ruiz is a FCC student in his third semester studying construction, and he’s been utilizing DSPS services since the fall semester began.
“This has helped me a lot. Very well needed, because now I could just come in real quick, log onto a computer, sign in, and then get all my work done. I stay on top of my classes. That’s what I’m happy about,” Ruiz said.
In the future, DSPS will be hosting events on campus for students, according to tutoring coordinator Rhemah Andrews.
The first event is called the “midterm survival kit,” and it’s designed to help their students prepare for the upcoming midterms and finals. According to Andrews, the “survival kit” will consist of scantron pencils, snacks and a stress ball to reduce anxiety.
“So if they wanna come in and they need a place to unwind and maybe just do their homework, they can come in. We have free snacks available; we also have water bottles,” Andrews said.
