Office of Academic Affairs

The Office of Academic Affairs is a team of professional advisors/counselors who help students set individual learning goals and who provide accurate information and guidance about academic programs, services, and college expectations as a means of achieving those goals.

We provide initial advising for all new students through analysis of their academic record, recommendations for first-semester classes, and assistance with long-range planning based on their choice of major. We are equally committed to advising returning students, under-prepared students, undeclared majors, and students in academic difficulty.

Disability Services

St. John Fisher College is committed to assisting students with documented disabilities who are otherwise qualified for admission to the College, in compliance with Section 504 of the 1973 Federal Rehabilitation Act and Title III of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, as amended). Students with documented disabilities (physical, learning and/or psychological) who may need academic accommodations are advised to refer to the disability services information at https://www.sjfc.edu/student-life/disability-services/. For additional information, students may call or make an appointment with the coordinator of disability services, Kearney 300, at (585) 385-5252.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Requests for accommodations must be made in a timely manner, be supported by appropriate documentation/diagnosis, and be determined reasonable by St. John Fisher College. Students with disabilities must meet the standard academic requirements to be considered for admission and must also attain the same competencies in all courses as all other students. The objective is to accommodate the functional limitations of the student’s disability while maintaining the integrity of the College’s courses and programs. Disability information provided to the College is shared only with College personnel who work together in a cooperative effort to provide reasonable accommodations to students with documented disabilities. Final determination for providing reasonable accommodations rests with St. John Fisher College, based on the relevant documentation/diagnosis information submitted by the student.

In the event that a student wishes to appeal a College decision in response to a request for a reasonable accommodation, the student must submit a written appeal to the Office of Academic Affairs indicating the basis for the appeal within 20 calendar days of notification of the initial decision. The appeal will be forwarded to the appropriate College officer (the appropriate school dean for academic-related requests; the vice president for student affairs for non-academic-related requests). The Office of Academic Affairs will forward to the College officer receiving the appeal all documentation and related information submitted to the College in support of the request. The officer hearing the appeal may request additional information from the student, as well as seek expert opinion from sources outside the College. The student must cooperate if the opinion of an additional expert is sought. The officer hearing the appeal will meet with the student to discuss the request and may interview other individuals who have information relevant to the request. After reviewing the documentation and meeting with the student, the officer hearing the appeal may modify or sustain the original decision regarding the request for accommodation. The decision regarding the appeal will be made within 30 calendar days of receipt of the appeal.

Additional information about the College’s policy and procedures for compliance with Section 504 of the 1973 Federal Rehabilitation Act and Title III of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, as amended) can be obtained from the Disability Services Office in Kearney Hall.

International Student Advising

International students are advised to contact the Office of Academic Affairs for matters relating to their immigration status, academic, social, and personal adjustments to a new culture, and practical matters related to their stay at Fisher. All international students are required to report to the Office of Academic Affairs when arriving at Fisher and must bring along their I-20, passport, visa, and I-94 card. For additional information, please contact the Office of Academic Affairs at (585) 385-8034.

Study Skills and Tutoring

Students needing assistance with study skills such as note-taking, exam preparation, and time management may meet with any of the counselors. Peer tutoring in most introductory (100- and 200-level) courses is available at no charge.