Student Resources

Child Care Center Services

Child care centers are located at Downtown Campus, Kent Campus, North Campus, and South Campus. Students also have discounted access to the Chappell Schools at Deerwood, located at 8400 Baycenter Road. All centers are open Monday through Friday during the day. Ages one to five years are accepted at each FSCJ Campus location. Deerwood accepts babies from six weeks to children up to five years of age. Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) is offered at Downtown Campus, North Campus and South Campus locations. Camps are available during Winter Break, Spring Break, and Summer Term. FSCJ students are eligible for discounted fees for childcare services at each of these locations.

To enroll your child, email contact@chappellschools.com or contact your local Chappell preschool.

• Downtown Campus: (904) 632-3122

• Kent Campus: (904) 381-3445

• North Campus: (904) 713-6010

• South Campus: (904) 646-2225

• Deerwood: (904) 409-1100

For more information, please visit the Child Care webpage.

Vision Education & Rehabilitation Center

The Vision Education & Rehabilitation Center (VERC) is a community-based rehabilitation program for adults and high school students with blindness or low vision. The mission of the Vision Education & Rehabilitation Center is to empower individuals who are blind or visually impaired by providing a comprehensive program of rehabilitation training, serving as a resource for families and employers, and enhancing public awareness and understanding regarding vision loss.

Funding for this program is made available from the State of Florida Department of Education Division of Blind Services and Florida State College at Jacksonville. Since 1977, VERC has provided a steadily growing continuum of services to individuals with vision loss residing in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, and St. Johns Counties. Through specialized training provided by a staff of certified professionals, students acquire the necessary skills to gain or retain independence and confidence in the home, workplace, and community.

The Vision Education and Rehabilitation Center operates on three primary contracts with the Department of Education Division of Blind Services.

• Vocational Rehabilitation Services are intended to enable individuals to prepare for, attain, maintain and advance in competitive integrated employment.

• Transition Services are available to students from the ages of 14 through 22 who are being served by the school system under an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan due to vision loss. The program activities are designed to enhance core competencies necessary for successful community integration, career development and employment readiness.

• The Adult and Older Blind Programs focus on enabling individuals to gain, attain, and retain the skills necessary to live in their homes and communities with an optimal level of independence.

Specific Service Options:

• Adjustment to Blindness Counseling

  • Individual counseling and support group sessions

• Assistive Technology

  • Keyboarding and computer operations

  • Adaptive software including screen magnification and screen reader

  • Mainstream business applications and Internet navigation

  • Smart home automation

  • Mobile device accessibility and apps

  • 3D printing and additive manufacturing technologies

• Communications, Optical, and Non-Optical Devices

  • Lighting and glare filters

  • Magnifiers and electronic aids

  • Braille instruction

• Independent Living Skills

  • Home and personal management

  • Personal and household safety

• Orientation and Mobility

  • Sighted guide and support aids

  • White cane skills and navigation

  • Community travel options

• Job Readiness

  • Job seeking and interview competence

  • Resume building

  • ADA accommodations and laws

Located at the Downtown Campus since 1982, the Vision Education & Rehabilitation Center is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER). VERC is an active member of the Agencies Serving the Blind (ASB), a collaborative interagency community, to facilitate collaborative training practices. VERC provides public education for groups and individuals, offers in-services for related professionals, and actively participates in health fairs, awareness activities, and vision seminars. VERC serves as an observation and training site for several college programs. VERC serves over 400 students annually. For additional information, please call (904) 633-8220 or visit the VERC webpage.

Student Support Services

Florida State College at Jacksonville recognizes the importance of assisting and encouraging all students to reach their full potential. The College ensures that its admission requirements are uniformly applied, and that its services, activities, facilities, and academic programs are accessible to and usable by all qualified students. The Student Support Services Office implements and coordinates reasonable accommodations and disability-related services to promote the full participation of individuals with disabilities in all aspects of college life. Additionally, we serve as a resource for students who are experiencing financial, legal, or personal situations that are creating barriers to their academic success. The student support coordinator will meet with the student individually to assess their situation and provide referrals to college and community resources to support student success.

Contact Information

Associate Director of Student Support Services: (904) 361-6216

Student Support Coordinators:

• Deerwood Center: (904) 997-2689

• Downtown Campus: (904) 633-8488

• Kent Campus/Cecil Center: (904) 381-3500

• North Campus/Nassau Center: (904) 766-6784

• South Campus: (904) 646-2191

For additional information and resources, email accommodateme@fscj.edu or visit the Student Support Services webpage.

Student Assistance Program

Florida State College at Jacksonville has created the Student Assistance Program to provide students with the resources they need to cope with college-related, personal, legal, or financial issues that may be affecting their studies and their ability to be their best. Services are free and confidential and are available in-person, online or by phone (855) 384-1800 (toll-free). For additional information, visit the Student Assistance Program webpage.

Ombudsman

The Ombudsman is a designated neutral or impartial conflict resolution practitioner who provides confidential and informal assistance to students on a variety of issues and concerns.

The Office of the Ombudsman offers students a safe and private environment to discuss escalated complaints, concerns or problems related to College policies, processes and appeals. The Ombudsman assists students in navigating College policies and procedures and understanding students’ rights and responsibilities. When appropriate, the Ombudsman may initiate an informal intervention. The Office of the Ombudsman functions independently; interactions with the Ombudsman can supplement, but do not replace, formal College processes relating to students with Florida State College at Jacksonville. The Office of the Ombudsman strives for fairness of process and healthy campus conflict resolution.

Students can express a complaint or concern electronically, verbally or in writing. All proceedings in individual complaints will be held confidential by the Ombudsman unless authorized by the complainant or otherwise required by applicable law, including without limitation, (Chapter 119, Florida Statutes).

The office of the Ombudsman can be reached by email at ombuds@fscj.edu.