Personal Care Attendant Policies and Procedures
A student who is limited in performing self-care functions may require a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) to participate in the college’s activities, services, or programs.
A personal care attendant's function is to address the student’s disability-related personal care needs (e.g., toileting, mobility assistance, dispensing medications, etc.). Students who require a personal care attendant (PCA) are responsible for recruiting, hiring, and paying for their personal caregiving services. Pomona College does not assume coordination or financial responsibilities for personal care attendant services.
Pomona College makes every reasonable effort to accommodate students with disabilities. In alignment with our commitment to accommodate students with disabilities, a PCA will be allowed entrance into the classroom and residence hall to support the specific student as an approved accommodation.
Responsibilities
Student Responsibilities
The student must give timely notification to the ARS office if requesting that an aide accompany them in class or in the residence hall so that ARS is able to consider the request and, if approved, notify faculty, housing, and facilities in advance. The student (and aide) must complete the Student Request for Personal Care Attendant form each semester prior to entering the classroom or residence hall.
It is the student’s responsibility to:
- Submit appropriate disability documentation to ARS. The verified disability and resulting functional limitations must support the necessity of having a personal aide accompany the student in the classroom or in the residence halls.
- Ensure that PCA registers with ARS and signs the Personal Care Attendant Agreement Form each academic term before the first day of classes. PCAs will not be allowed to enter the classroom or housing environment without the appropriate forms on file.
- Ensure that if personnel changes occur during the term, the new personal aide registers with ARS and signs a new PCA Agreement Form within 48 hours of personnel changes.
- If approved for a PCA as an accommodation, students should secure a PCA prior to attending any college-related activity, i.e. orientation, placement testing, registration, and class attendance. (The College will not be responsible for providing a PCA on an interim basis).
- Employ and arrange payment for all PCA services.
- Have a backup or alternative plan of action should the regular PCA not be available to work with the student on a particular day or in a particular class.
- Have a clear understanding of the role and duties of the PCA, by contract, with a copy given to ARS.
- Direct the activities of the PCA while at the College (limited to non-academic activities)
- Ensure that the PCA abides by all applicable College policies, rules, codes, regulations and procedures and abide by the student code of conduct/ handbook and academic catalog.
Personal Care Attendant's (PCA) Responsibilities
The following information provides clarification on the responsibilities of the PCA.
The PCA is expected to:
- Adhere to Pomona College Student Conduct and Housing Contract Terms as well as all other College policies, rules, regulations, and procedures.
- Conduct him/herself in a courteous and professional manner while on campus.
- Not discuss any confidential information about the student with faculty, staff, or students.
- Allow the student to take responsibility for his/her own progress and/or behavior.
- Refrain from contact with or asking questions of faculty, staff, or others on behalf of the student.
- Refrain from intervening in conversations between the student and faculty, staff, or other students.
- Refrain from working on or completing any of the student's academic assignments.
- Complete and sign the Personal Care Agreement form each semester and adhere to the requirements within.
- Depart the campus when the student is away from campus (e.g., during holiday and semester breaks).
ARS Responsibilities
ARS will review and process requests for a PCA accommodation in a timely manner. In addition, ARS will notify the faculty of approved PCA attendance in the in-class learning environment. ARS will coordinate with facilities and housing to ensure there is an extra seat for the PCA in the classroom or in the residence halls, as specified by the student’s request. ARS is available to facilitate discussions between faculty, housing, and students regarding PCA questions or concerns.
Personal Care Agreement
Any PCA who fails to abide by the above policies and procedures and/or those outlined on the PCA Agreement Form may be subject to removal from the residence halls, expulsion from the college campus, loss of all privileges and/or any other action the College considers appropriate in the event the College determines that the PCA has acted in a manner inconsistent with our policies and/or these procedures.
Background Screening
It is the responsibility of the student and/or PCA to obtain and submit a copy of a background screening conducted by the personal care attendant's employing agency. If the PCA is registered as an In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) provider, please submit the provider name, provider number, as well as the county registered in.
Please print and complete the following document(s):
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a PCA and a classroom/lab assistant?
A PCA provides personal care to the student in the classroom, such as repositioning of the student, removing materials from a backpack, assisting the student with communication, and attending to the students’ personal needs. A classroom/lab assistant performs only tasks that are associated with making academic activities accessible to the student (scribing, measuring, utilization of a calculator, etc.). Upon approval, ARS will provide information in advance to the faculty regarding whether a PCA or lab assistant will be present in their class.
How do I know if it is the student or the PCA who is answering a question in my class?
If the student’s disability affects communication, the student will choose an effective way to communicate. This may include technology such as a voice box, communication board, typing on a computer, etc. This could also include the PCA verbalizing the students’ comments as long as it is clear it is not the PCA’s own comments. Prior to attending class the PCA and the student will have established a non-disruptive mode of communication between themselves. For example, the student may use a communication board and the PCA will read out loud the students’ comment or question. This could include classroom, lab, fieldtrip, and testing environments.
Who employs the PCA or classroom assistant?
The PCA is employed by the student to attend to services of a personal nature. A classroom/lab assistant is employed by ARS to attend to students needing academic related services.
If I have any questions or concerns regarding the behavior of a PCA in my classroom, who should I talk to?
PCA’s are held to the same standard of conduct that every Pomona College student is held to. If you have concerns regarding a PCA’s behavior, a discussion with the student in a timely manner is recommended. If your concerns are not resolved after this discussion, please contact ARS.