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Interpreting Services

General Overview

Once your class schedule for the semester is in place, sign language interpreting agencies are used to provide interpreting services for your classes. Securing an interpreter for a course usually takes a month or more; therefore, advance notice is essential. Our policy is to hire qualified interpreters only.

The following interpreting agencies are often used to secure interpreters for classes and University events:

• Graham Staffing
• Sign Language Associates
• Signing Hands

Academic Resource Center Role

At Georgetown University, the interpreter's role is to provide access to communication between deaf and hearing members of the community.

The Academic Resource Center will work with interpreting agencies to assign specific interpreters requested by the student to the job. When this is not possible, all efforts will be made to provide another qualified interpreter. If the student is not satisfied with the interpreter, efforts will be made to find a replacement immediately. The Academic Resource Center will attempt to assign an interpreter to a job whenever the student informs the Academic Resource Center of the need. Because of the high demand for interpreters in the DC area, one month's notice for a semester-long job is critical; however, it is not required. The Academic Resource Center will attempt to locate interpreters when a request is made in a timely fashion.

If interpreters cannot be located, the Academic Resource Center will try to hire a real-time captionist to act as a substitute for the interpreter. If a captionist is not available, the Academic Resource Center will provide the student with a tape recorder for the professor to tape the classroom discussion. Tapes will be transcribed by the Academic Resource Center within two working days.

Students are required to request interpreters by meeting a staff member of the Academic Resource Center or by e-mail or relay telephone. Once the request is made, the Academic Resource Center attempts to fill the request by drawing on the local agencies. If special skills are required, all attempts are made to fill the request.

Policies and Procedures for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

In the Washington metropolitan area, sign language interpreters are in high demand. That is why we ask that students contact the Academic Resource Center at least four weeks in advance when requesting interpreters for a semester class. Advance notice allows time to find the most qualified and appropriate interpreters for each situation. Each student must e-mail interpreter requests in order to receive interpreters for the semester.

For other interpreting requests, such as class projects or meetings with academic advisors, the Academic Resource Center should be notified at least two weeks in advance. If notified less than two weeks prior to the event, the Academic Resource Center will attempt to obtain an interpreter, but cannot guarantee finding one at the last minute. Requests for interpreters are considered for appropriate University related events only. It is the student's responsibility to keep the Academic Resource Center informed of his/her interpreting needs. All interpreter requests must be approved in advance by the Academic Resource Center.

Requests may also be made by phone or by e-mail, as long as all required information is given and the deadlines for notification are met.

It is the student's responsibility to notify the Academic Resource Center and their interpreters immediately if they will be late to class. The interpreters are expected to stay 20 minutes for each hour of class (1 hour for a 3 hour class). If the student still has not arrived within the specified time frame, the interpreters are free to leave.

If the interpreter(s) has not arrived by the time class begins, please notify the Academic Resource Center as soon as possible. During evening hours, please leave a message on the answering machine using the relay service. In the event that the interpreter(s) fails to appear for an assignment, the Academic Resource Center will make copies of class notes. The Academic Resource Center has tape recorders available for students to sign out for the semester. If an interpreter fails to appear, the professor and student can work together to tape the class lecture or discussion. The Academic Resource Center will transcribe the tape within two working days.

It is the student's responsibility to notify the Academic Resource Center and their interpreters immediately if s/he is not going to class. If the student has three absences without prior notice, the Academic Resource Center reserves the right to terminate interpreting services.