Transferring to a Four Year College to Get a Bachelors Degree in American Sign Language

(ASL)


Submitted by The Power Rangers

Team Members:
Jonathan Camacho
Calie Gober
Allyson Jenkins
Brian Lolohea
Andy Martinez
Asha McDonnell

Salt Lake Community College COMM 1010-16
Instructor: Shirene McKay
April 3, 2012
















Table of Contents

Executive Summary.3

Project Description..3

Methods3

Problem Question4

Analyzing the Problem4

Setting Criteria.7

Brainstorming Solutions..7

Analyzing the Solution7

Implementing the Solution.......................... ....7

Conclusion.....10

Works Cited...11

Appendix 1: Power Rangers Team Contract.12

Appendix 2: Solution Analysis Chart14




















Executive Summary

The following report will show how our team was able to take the case at hand and solve the
problem. Initially the problem was a student transferring into a four year college, as a group we
decided to use someone from our team as an example. We used this students own experience in
this situation as well as their personal interest in wanting to transfer to a four year college that
offered a bachelors degree in the field of American Sign Language (ASL). We wanted to pick
one that would fit all the criteria of the student so that it would be optimal.

The Power Rangers were able to get together each class period and discuss our findings. With
much research from different schools and seeing which schools would allow transfers we
brainstormed to come to the best decision. Because the field of transfer was so narrow there was
not too much debate. Our team worked great together to find out what school would be the best.

The solution that will best serve any student that wishes to transfer from Salt Lake Community
College to a credible four year college, which offers the ability to get a degree in ASL, would be
to transfer to UVU. Upon the criteria we decided it to be the best choice since it is the only four
year college that has a bachelors program in the stated field of study that falls within the two
state boundary the student set up, among other reasons like being able to stay close to home, and
keep their current job.

Project Description

As a group we are deciding the best way for a student pursuing a bachelors degree in American
Sign Language to transfer from SLCC, to a university. Along with the college having to offer a
bachelors degree in American Sign Language, there were other criteria it had to include. It had
to be no more than two states away; all credits need to be transferable, and have affordable
housing on or near campus.

Our group, The Power Rangers, consists of six students. As a group we chose task #12 because
we will be in a similar situation when we each decide to transfer. Members of the group have
been given individual tasks to find a university that best meets the criteria. We bring the
information that we have found to our class meetings. This allows us to brainstorm the ideas and
come up with the best possible solution.

Methods

There are many college students who have a hard time transferring from a community college to
a university that provides the right programs. Our group has come up with ways to make this
process easier. There is a lot of research that a student should do while trying to decide on the
right academic institution. Although the steps we took in our problem were geared towards
specifically getting a bachelors degree in the ASL field, the same steps and processes can be
done in order to find out about colleges offering studies in other fields. Additionally, the criteria
portion can help a student make a decision more wisely by breaking down their needs and
concerns. We decided to name our group The Power Rangers because it symbolizes victory
and triumph over life changing decisions. Like the Power Rangers we all came together to tackle

our issue head on to find a solution. During every group meeting we all brainstormed and
worked hard on the issue together. We used the time in class effectively staying on topic and
tackling the problem straight away. Every one of us completed our parts and turned them in on
time which gave us no problems. Because of everyone's rigorous schedules we have often
communicated by e-mail which worked out perfectly for all of us. We will describe next how we
were able to solve our problem as a group.

Part I: Problem Question

What University would be best to pursue a four year degree in American Sign Language? We
decided to stick with an open ended question in trying to find a school with a specific
educational program. While seeking out the answer for what college would be the best choice,
we decided that not only would the main question get answered, also all the other questions that
either arose in the process or were already on our minds.

Part II: Analysis of Your Problem:

Characteristics:

There are both negative and positive aspects to this situation which need to be addressed so a
smart decision can be made. A negative aspect of transferring to a different college in this
situation is finding a four year college that offers an American Sign Language (ASL) program.
Since ASL is not a field of study most colleges offer a bachelors degree for, it can prove
difficult for a student to find a college close to home that offers the desired program. There are
certain colleges that have this program available, but it may not be the college most favorable by
the student. After selecting the ideal college, enough funds would have to be raised to pay for
tuition, room and board, books, and extra essentials. Another negative aspect of transferring is
the possibility of living far from home, family, and friends. Having positive support would be
essential and living so far away from social networks that provide that kind of support, a student
might become discouraged in their studies. However, living away from home opens the door for
new experiences. The student would have the opportunity to live in a new place, make new
friends, and most importantly being able to study what they are passionate about. All of this
makes the sacrifice worthwhile. Depending on your college choice many doors can be opened
into a successful future.

Stakeholders:

In deciding what college to go to a student will affect a number of groups. Family, friends, and a
significant other will be affected on a social level, as a schedule can become more hectic with
another college's work load, and it could be even more greatly impacted if the student has to
move out of state in order to get the degree they wish to obtain. A place of employment could be
affected because they might have a new schedule to work around in order to keep an employee
who is already trained in what job they have to do. If an employee moves away the business will
have to hire someone new, and train them to do the job just as effectively. The college will be
affected because they will have a new student trying to get a degree at their place of study. An
out of state college must provide living accommodations on campus which means having another

body living on campus. Depending on which area of study the student decides to go into they can
impact the deaf community in a number of ways, so their future employers and who they work
with will also be affected.

History

The field of American Sign Language has become larger with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
One of the things that this act required was that all public establishments provide services to
people with disabilities. This means all people who are either deaf, blind, physically impaired,
with mental illness, etc. Throughout the years sign language was used frequently but usually only
by people who were in close relationships with deaf people. Interpreters were rarely around and
not a lot of people really studied the deaf. In this section of the Rehabilitation Act of 1992, it
shows how the need for expansion in an entire field of service:

The regulations are needed to implement changes made to the program for training of
interpreters for individuals who are deaf or individuals who are deaf-blind by the Rehabilitation
Act Amendments of 1992. The purpose of this discretionary grant program is to assist in
providing a sufficient number of skilled interpreters throughout the
country for employment in public and private agencies, schools, and other service-providing
institutions to meet the communication needs of individuals who are deaf and individuals who
are deaf-blind by (1) training manual, tactile, oral, and cued speech interpreters; (2) ensuring the
maintenance of the skills of interpreters engaged in programs serving individuals who are deaf
and individuals who are deaf-blind; and (3) providing opportunities for interpreters to raise their
level of competence (Federal Register, Volume 59 Issue 198).

It is from this, that an entire field of service was born. However, many colleges did wind up
starting deaf studies program and also implemented courses of ASL into the curriculum. SLCC is
a premier school for Sign Language interpretation and this program has been in existence for
more than 15 years. The ASL program itself is only one year old. After learning ASL, one goes
on to learn interpreting. Interpreting is different from speaking the actual language, when you are
interpreting for someone you are trying to convey a concept, not just words. After learning to
sign language, all ASL majors take courses on interpreting and continue this work even after
they graduate. All Utah colleges have some sort of deaf studies program, some more than others.
When an ASL major from SLCC is picking a college to transfer to after graduation they usually
pick Utah Valley University because it has a deaf studies program, an ASL major, and an
interpreting minor. Other Utah colleges do not offer the ability to get a bachelors degree in this
field of study. A small number of ASL majors go to the University of Utah, Utah State, and
Weber State University.

Policies and Politics

A major policy that needs to be considered when transferring to a four year university is the
prerequisites and general education classes that need to be completed before enrolling into an
ASL program. Consideration needs to be given to what type of ASL degree that is being pursued,
because different degrees require different prerequisites. The time frame of when the transfer is
going to occur needs to coincide with the start of a program, i.e.; waiting list, starts in spring or

fall. Guidelines need to be laid out as to what type of learning environment the student would
want to be involved in. This includes political stance, religious and moral views, and the overall
feel of the campus. For instance, BYU has a honor code that states: As a matter of personal
commitment, faculty, administration, staff, and students of Brigham Young University, Brigham
Young UniversityHawaii, Brigham Young UniversityIdaho, and LDS Business College
seek to demonstrate in daily living on and off campus those moral virtues encompassed in the
gospel of Jesus Christ, and will be honest, live a chaste and virtuous life, obey the law and all
campus policies, use clean language, respect others abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco,
tea, coffee, and substance abuse, participate regularly in church services, observe the Dress and
Grooming Standards, and encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code
(Under Graduate Catalogue). A student that is not LDS may find these dietary, dress, and other
restrictions unsuitable for their life style. The type of job pursued after graduating will have an
effect on the decision of the school and degree. Dealing with close stakeholders involved in the
transfer will also affect the decision. Family will play a large role in the final decision, and
friends have the ability to help guide someone in one direction or another. The aspirations
someone has for their self, and the desires of others close to the person must be taken into
consideration when making the choice.

Resources

Colleges offer an array of resources available to students both on and off campus. On campus
there are advisors that would be more than happy to help a student make the decision on which
four year school would be best to transfer to with the desired field of study. For instance, Connie
Spanton-Jex, an academic advisor at Salt Lake Community college, suggested that a student
trying to get a bachelors degree in ASL should look into UVU since it may be the only option
that they would have here in the state of Utah to help them accomplish their goal. Connie also
provided a link that will give listings of the schools that offer a bachelors degree in ASL
(http://www.universities.com/edu/Bachelor_degrees_in_American_Sign_Language). Aside from
having academic advisors who will aid in making decisions as far as what classes need to be
taken, and which colleges offer the specified area of study, there are also financial aid offices
that can help a student find out their eligibility for financial aid, scholarships, and grants.
Financial services are can also be found online at sites such as; www.fastweb.com which is a site
that provides free scholarship searches, and www.fafsa.ed.gov that allows a student to apply for
financial aid. If a student has a difficult time in scheduling in to meet with an academic advisor
they can find email addresses as well as phone numbers on a colleges website. This can prove
invaluable for someone whose schedule does not allow them the time to have a face to face
meeting. Additionally, the text book, SLCC COMM 1010 provides excellent advice in planning
for an interview. With the principles it lays out through pages 161 to 164 it can help someone
define their goals and outline what they consider as requirements. A successful interview begins
before the parties face each other. Whether you are the interviewer or the respondent,
background work can mean the difference between success and disappointment (Adler and
Elmhorst 161). Knowing what questions need to be answered is beneficial to both parties also
arranging questions so that they are asked and answered smoothly. This pattern of an interview
process works equally well in face to face meetings, phone calls, or emails.



Part III: Criteria

Our solution needs to fit certain criteria in order for it to be realistic for the student.

Our Solution will.
1) Apply principles of effective communication that we are learning in class.
2) Be achievable within our four week time frame.
3) Cost absolutely nothing to find the solution.
4) The college needs to be within two states.
5) Must have a good ASL program.
6) Cannot be more than $4,000 a semester.
7) The credits need to be transferable.
8) Need to live on campus or close by within 25 miles.
9) Must offer a bachelors degree.
10) Must offer scholarships or grants.
Part IV: Brainstorming Possible Solutions.

Some possible solutions we came up with:

1) A student could go to UVU, it allows the student to stay within the state and offers a
bachelors degree in ASL.
2) Gallaudet University, a prestigious school that was the first to offer in depth courses in
deaf studies and ASL. It requires the student to move to Washington, and it also would be
more expensive than other options.
3) Life print an online database of ASL that can help someone either practice their sign
language or get a certificate in ASL.
4) South Christian School would allow the student to get a bachelors in ASL, but like
Gallaudet it would require the student to move.
5) A sign service mission would help a student practice their sign language in real life
situations.
6) Get a certificate that is available through SLCC.

Part V: Solution Analysis

A. List of possible solutions:
1) UVU
2) Gallaudet
3) Life print
4) South Christian School
5) Sign service mission
6) Get a certificate




B. Chart

A chart was made to weigh the pros and cons of each possible solution against the criteria. The
ranking system goes from 0-5, 0 being the lowest possible score and 5 being the highest.
Through this process it became abundantly clear what choice was the best.

C. Final Solution

The final solution was made to go to the UVU. It best fits all the areas of the criteria. It allows
the student to stay within the state, so they are close to home. It is also affordable and offers the
ability to get a bachelors degree in ASL.

Part VI: Implementations of Solution

For this section of the paper everyone was given a particular area to look into after the concrete
decision to go the UVU was made.

Applying at the UVU

In order to apply to the UVU the student needs follow these steps

1. Complete and turn in an Admissions application. This can be online or paper.

2. There is a fee of $35 that is not refundable.

3. An Official High School transcript must be turned in.

4. An Official ACT/SAT score report.

The University of Valley Utah suggests that some information be kept handy, as a student would
be asked to provide. In adherence with the UVU site, prospective students, who are 23 yrs old or
younger, must provide their, Social Security number, drivers license number, mailing address,
high school and college information and SAT/ACT scores(Application Information) . There is a
48-hour processing period and should any questions arise, simply call the Admissions Office
801.863.8466 or visit them in person at Room BA-115. Online applications can be turned in at:
https://uvaps.uvu.edu/pls/prod/bwskalog.P_disploginnew

Campus Tour

The best way to tour the UVU campus is to go to their website, www.uvu.com/futurestudents,
and click on the tour link. From there someone would need to sign up for a tour including
selecting a date and time for the tour. The tour lasts about 45 minutes and there will be assigned
a mentor for each group that will show you around campus. The tour also includes a free tee-shirt
as well as other fun goodies. Tours are given Monday-Friday from 10:00am to 2:00pm. There
are tours given for Spanish speakers as well. For group tours or special accommodations needed
you can call: Whitney Olsen at 801-863-6182.


Payment

Looking into available grants and scholarships as well as financial aid for students should be the
first steps for payment. With fiscal assistance available, a student should take advantage of it as
much as possible. There are sites a student can look into i.e. www.fastweb.com, and
www.fafsa.ed.gov. Additionally, there should be someone on the college campus that can talk to
the student about available grants and scholarships offered. Student loans are another means of
paying for college, but the student should take into account that even though it is not coming out
of their pay now, they will have to pay it back in the future and there will be interest on the total
sum that was loaned. With whatever method the student decides to do they should make sure that
their classes are paid for by the deadline for tuition payments.

Speaking with an Advisor

In order to speak with an advisor a quick phone call should be made to their office. Phone
numbers are usually available online. While speaking with someone directly on the phone the
student should be sure to tell them the specific reasons why they are in need of meeting. More
likely than not they will tell you when the best times to drop by their office for a face to face
meeting, and may be able to schedule you in via phone call.

Transportation

Reliable Transportation options to UVU
1. UTA student bus pass: $58.75 a month, 1:45 trip time each way.
2. Drive own vehicle: $180 a month gas (based on 25mpg, 60mile round-trip, 20 days of
school a month, and $3.75 per gallon of gas), approximately $50 a year parking pass and
$275 a month for car payment and insurance. Trip time is roughly 30-45 minutes each
way.
3. Carpool (cost unknown, trip time unknown)
4. Walk (would depend on distance from housing to UVU) Trip time varies on living
proximity to school.
5. Bike (same variables as walking, with shorter travel time).
The cheapest by far would be the bus pass. Taking the bus has many downsides to it including,
travel time, flexibility, and includes some walking. Driving a personal vehicle has the highest
cost but the most upside, i.e. very flexible, self reliant, and most inconvenient. Also, the cost of
fuel, payment, and insurance can go down depending on the vehicle and the driver. The best
scenario would be to carpool and split the cost with other students. This solution also gives the
most flexibility to have either own car or not.

Setting up a class schedule


Finding out what college classes need to be taken and setting up the school schedule with classes
that are necessary, and then to set up the 40 hours with the current employer as well as inform
them of the new school schedule.

Conclusion:

This journey to find a solution to our problem has been a rather successful one. Beginning with
more questions than we had answers, we went from feeling alone in this journey to discovering
tools and people who are there to help students who are in similar situations. With their help, we
were able to decide what the best solution is.

In closing, the university of choice is Utah Valley University. The UVU is ideal because the
school met all of the criterias that were set. It offers a Bachelors Degree in American Sign
Language (ASL). They have a good program and it costs less than $4,000 per semester. The
credits obtained from SLCC are transferrable. The University is conveniently located within 2
states and there is housing within 25 miles from campus. The best place in Utah is Utah Valley
University (Spanton-Jex). So gladly, Utah Valley University is the school of choice.

































Works Cited


Adler, Ronald B. and Jeanne Marquardt Elmhorst, Salt Lake Community College COMM 1010,
New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print.

Spanton-Jex, Connni. Personal interview, 27 March 2012.

"Application Information." Utah Valley University Homepage. Web. 24 Apr. 2012.
<http://www.uvu.edu/admissions/transfer/appl_info/index.html>.

"Federal Register, Volume 59 Issue 198 (Friday, October 14, 1994)." U.S. Government Printing
Office Home Page. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. <http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-1994-10-
14/html/94-25362.htm>.

"Undergraduate Catalog." 2011. Web. 11 Apr. 2012. <http://saas.byu.edu/catalog/2011-
2012ucat/GeneralInfo/HonorCode.php>.




























Appendix 1: The Power Rangers Team Contract

Comm 1010-16
Spring 2012
March 8, 2012

The Power Rangers

Location: Classroom, Face-to-Face

Team Members in Attendance
Allyson Brian
Andy Calie
Asha Jonathan

Team Norms
Relational Norms
No arguing, be respectful
No whining
Stay on task
Be prepared with your assigned task
Close with clarification of tasks assigned to team members
Task Norms
1. Text short info, email long info
2. Be appropriate with language and actions
3. Get as much done in class as possible.
Consequences of Breaking Norms
1. Team members will lower the individuals score.
Team Member Roles
Task Roles:
Leader: Allyson
Recorder: Andy
Editor: Calie
Power Point Expert: Asha

Relational Roles
Listener: Calie
Keep it together-er: Andy

Problem Defined: What University would be best to pursue a four year degree in American
Sign Language?

Problem Analysis Assigned

Characteristics-Asha
Stakeholders-Calie/Allyson
History-Jonathan
Policies and Politics-Andy
Resources-Brian
Other-to be assigned as needed


































Appendix 2: Solution Analysis Chart


UVU Gallaudet Life Print SCS Sign
mission
Certificate
No more 5 0 4 0 0 5

than two
states away
No more
than $4000 a
Semester
5 0 5 3 5 5
Accumulated
credits from
SLCC are
transferable
5 5 0 5 0 0
Housing
within 25
miles to
campus
5 0 5 0 0 5
Offers a
bachelors
degree in
ASL
5 5 0 5 0 0
Offers
financial aid,
grants
and/or
scholarships
5 5 0 5 0 5
Has a good
ASL
program
5 5 5 5 5 5
Totals: 50 35 34 38 25 40





















This assignment illustrates the growth, change, and progress I made through the duration of this
class. It does so, because prior to this class I was unaware of my usage of foul language. One of
the task norms was that people use appropriate language. It really made me watch what I say,
and how I said things. Unless there are people who are older or younger than I am, I tend not to
pay attention to whether or not I am using swear words. I have become comfortable using such
words around people who are close to the same age as me, and it never occurred to me that it can
be construed as offensive since everyone I know uses this kind of language. I became abundantly
aware of how much I tend too; thankfully I was able to catch myself before I said any
profanities. It also showed me how colleagues use email in order to communicate. I have never
had to use back and forth email in order to communicate to a group on a somewhat of a business
level. I was accustomed to group work that stayed in school, and no work was necessary outside
the class room or it was solitary. As well as fast responses from texts messages, since emails do
tend to take longer. However, this project shows a more realistic view on how people in a
business atmosphere tend to work together. Aside from that it too, showed me how professional I
can carry myself, and how serious I can be about things. I believe this project demonstrated that,
it also showed me how language can play a part in how people view you, and made me change
my vocabulary habits.

I will definitely apply the lack of vulgarities and colloquialisms in my vocabulary. By doing so I
can demonstrate myself, as a more professional and well-mannered individual. It is something
that will unquestioningly improve my chances of getting hired at a number of places. Since
employers are not seeking people who use heaps of slang, and other foul words in the work
place. I will also use the method we learned for interviews, as much a person should want to get
an interview from someone they should also keep in mind that interviewing a possible employer
might be a useful way of getting their foot in the door. And sending a thank you letter to a place
that has seen my application might help my name stick out from the crowd. I learned a lot in this
class, from the assignments we had to do, and how to be more of an effective speaker when it
comes to presentations.