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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.

Students are required to request interpreters for classes by meeting with the Learning Skills Specialist in the Academic Resource Center as soon as their class schedule has been made for the upcoming semester. Once the request is made, the Academic Resource Center attempts to fill the request by drawing on local interpreting agencies. If special skills are required, all attempts are made to fill the request.

The Academic Resource Center will work with interpreting agencies to assign the most qualified interpreters for events requested by the student. If the student is not satisfied with an assigned interpreter, the student should contact the Learning Skills Specialist to discuss one’s concerns. Efforts will be made to find a replacement for the next event or ensure that the same interpreter is not scheduled for future events. The Academic Resource Center will make a good faith effort 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, if there is a last minute schedule change or addition, the student should alert the Academic Resource Center immediately of the change or addition so that the interpreting agency may be notified of the change. When there is a request for an interpreter that is made with less than two week’s notice, the Academic Resource Center cannot guarantee that an interpreter will be made available. 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 attempt to hire a real-time captionist to act as a substitute for the interpreter. In case an interpreter or captionist is not available for class, 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 and the transcript will be provided to the student.

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 the Academic Resource Center asks 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. A student must meet with the Learning Skills Specialist and provide documentation of his/her condition. During this meeting, reasonable accommodations will be discussed.

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 a relay telephone call or by e-mail (arc@georgetown.edu), 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 send an email to arc@georgetown.edu. 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.