Media Production and Communication Senior Capstone Project
As a part of my Media Production and Communication Senior Project, I wanted to produce a piece showing all sides of The University of Olivet's accessibility in terms of ADA compliance, and the complications that come with doing that on a historic campus. Below contains written background, statements from university staff and faculty, and a video showing what it's like to get around campus using a mobility aid.
ADA in Olivet
That was Ryan Shockey, The University of Olivet's vice president and chief of staff, talking about the two sides of the issue that is accessibility on the university's campus.
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In 2010, the American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA) was updated from the 1990 version of the law to give people guidelines that would help make various places accessible. The ADA includes sections for public spaces, businesses, commercial properties, and more.
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When talking about The University of Olivet, Title III of the ADA would apply in terms of making the campus accessible. According to the ADA website, this section includes any institution offering classes, and does include issues such as housing and other buildings to ensure equal access for anyone wishing to attend. However, this can be complicated when it comes to an older institution like The University of Olivet.
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Since the university was founded in 1844, many of the buildings on campus were built before the original ADA guidelines from 1990. Due to this being the case, there is a common misconception that there is a “Grandfather Clause” that exempts historic buildings from needing to comply with ADA guidelines. While you may hear this term used while discussing what can be done in terms of accessibility on campus, it is important to note that there is no legal basis for buildings not being accessible unless there is something within the structure of the building that prevents it from being updated.
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Michael Sailor, director of facilities management, and KayDee Perry, associate provost for student development both shared their thoughts on what this means for campus. Listen to those here:
When looking at The University of Olivet, there are four primary spaces that should be looked at in terms of where students and faculty need to have access to. These include academic buildings, housing, the dining hall, as well as newer facilities like the Cutler Student Center which houses Campus Safety, the mail room, an assortment of conference rooms, and more.
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The C.S. Mott Academic Building is a four floor building with classrooms, offices, and labs that are utilized by students, faculty, and staff. This building has two entrances that are technically accessible on two floors, and has an elevator to be able to access the upper floors. However, since this building was built prior to ADA, there are still some complications.
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The Director of Student Support and Academic Accommodations, Joey Shepherd's office is located in Mott, and as the person in charge of making sure students are being supported, he is aware of the issues with this building. Listen to his thoughts on this area of campus below.
The University of Olivet has three main dorm buildings and three apartment buildings available for students to live in. Among these dorms are Dole Hall, which also functions as the admissions building, Shipherd Hall, and Blair Hall. Like the Mott Academic Building, all of these were built before ADA was put into place, thus creating complications for people with disabilities who live in these areas of campus.
Jake Schuler, assistant dean of student life and residential experience, works with residents to make sure their needs are met. Listen to his thoughts on Blair Hall and what can be done to make living spaces more accessible here:
Schuler, Shockey, and Sailor also gave their thoughts about potential solutions for instituting accessible housing on campus. Listen here:
The Kirk Center dining hall has two floors that are accessible to students, but through separate entrances. The main dining area on the upper floor is accessible through a ramp located on the side of the building, and the basement which houses the campus radio station, a classroom, and a few meeting spaces is accessible via a ramp around the back of the building. Listen below to Shepherd's thoughts in relation to this building.
The newest building on campus is the Cutler Student Center, which began construction in 2023, and was opened in the spring of this year. Due to it being so recent, it is required to be up to ADA guidelines, and does have ramps both inside and outside the building, as well as providing access to the mail room, school store, and Campus Safety. Sailor, Shockey, and Perry all give their thoughts on this area of campus below:
Other areas of campus that could be a concern to people with mobility issues are the sidewalks, walkways, and ramps around campus. This, however, becomes difficult on a campus that is also a part of a larger community, which Sailor recognizes as a challenge. Listen to his thoughts here:
As The University of Olivet grows and changes, issues with accessibility will likely come to light, but as far as campus planning goes, any new buildings will be up to ADA standards, and the current buildings could still benefit from some improvements. Listen below to Shockey's thoughts on the potential future of the university environment.
Schuler also voiced his appreciation for Joey Shepherd in his role of helping students receive any help they may need. Listen to that here:
The University of Olivet being a historic institution brings it's set of complications, but The University of Olivet has been committed to diversity and inclusion since it was founded. Shockey reflected this in his own statement, which you can listen to here:
For a demonstration of what it's like navigating the campus of The University of Olivet in a wheelchair, watch the video below!