Interpreting / CART Services

Brandi Hubert, Interpreting Services
brandi.hubert@hccs.edu 
713-718-6333

• Please make sure the interpreter is aware of your communication needs. For example, if you prefer more mouthing of English, or more ASL, it is your responsibility to inform or discuss this with the interpreter at the beginning of the semester. Informing the Interpreting Services office will ensure continued services and the ability to provide accurate information to substitute interpreters when necessary. It is YOUR responsibility to request an interpreter for all classes and events. Please do not assume that someone else will request an interpreter for you or that someone else will turn in your class schedule.
• All HCC interpreters are certified and bound by RID’s Code of Professional Conduct.
• In order to provide for effective scheduling of interpreters for classes, schedules must be submitted thirty days before the first day of class. For students registering after that time period, alternative communicative methods may be necessary until an interpreter can be scheduled.
• If you have an outside activity to attend and you need an interpreter, you can fill out an Interpreter/CART Request Form online or contact the Interpreting Services office. The request needs to be made at least 72 hours (3 days) in advance. If given less than 3 days, we cannot guarantee interpreting services. We do understand that there may be times when advanced notice is not possible. Please be aware that although every effort will be made to fulfill emergency requests, it may not be possible to do so.
• It is YOUR responsibility to inform the Interpreting Services office of any changes to your class. For example:
  
  • Class cancelled by instructor
  • Room number change
  • Start or end time of class change
  • Field trips
  • Tests
• The interpreter will voice everything you sign and sign everything that the instructor says. It is important to not “visit” or “chat” with the interpreter during class. If you want to talk to them, do so before or after class.
• Interpreters will NOT answer questions, tutor, interpret exams or interpret computer lab activities.
• If you take your exam in the Testing Center, you will not have access to an interpreter. Because the instructor is not there to ask questions, an interpreter will also not be present.
• If you are going to be late to class, you need to contact the Interpreting Services office. Otherwise, the interpreter will wait 15 minutes for every hour of class.
• If you are not going to be in class, you need to contact the Interpreting Services office. If you miss class 3 times in a row without contacting the office to cancel services, interpreting services will be suspended. Every effort will be made to contact the student before services are cancelled.
• If interpreter services are suspended, you will need to meet with your counselor or contact the Interpreting Services office in order to have services reinstated.
• If you have a problem with an interpreter, the first step is to try to discuss it with the interpreter before involving the Interpreting Services office. The interpreter needs to know what language preferences you have (do you prefer more English, less English, more ASL, more facial expressions, etc.). If you continue to experience problems, contact the Interpreting Services office.
• Interpreters are instructed to arrive 5 minutes before the start of an assignment. However, circumstances beyond their control may prevent early arrival. Please wait 10 minutes before assuming an interpreter will not arrive. If an interpreter does not arrive or is late, the student is responsible for notifying the Interpreting Services office. The student must decide with the instructor whether to stay or leave the class. In the event that the interpreter does not show, the student is still responsible for assignments and/or missed notes.
• The instructor is not allowed to dismiss an interpreter without your consent.

Brandi Hubert, Interpreting Services
brandi.hubert@hccs.edu 
713-718-6333

• It is YOUR responsibility to request a CART writer. Please do not assume that someone else will make the request for you or that someone else will turn in your class schedule.
• In order to provide for effective scheduling of captionists for classes, schedules must be submitted thirty days before the first day of class. For students registering after that time period, alternative communicative methods may be necessary until an interpreter can be scheduled.
• It is YOUR responsibility to inform the Interpreting Services office of any changes to your class. For example:
  
  • Class cancelled by instructor
  • Room number change
  • Start or end time of class change
  • Field trips
  • Tests

• If you have an outside activity to attend and you need a captionist, you can fill out an Interpreter/CART Request Form online or contact the Interpreting Services office. The request needs to be made at least 72 hours (3 days) in advance. If given less than 3 days, we cannot guarantee interpreting services. We do understand that there may be times when advanced notice is not possible. Please be aware that although every effort will be made to fulfill emergency requests, it may not be possible to.
• Captionists will NOT answer questions, tutor, interpret exams or interpret computer lab activities.
• If you take your exam in the Testing Center, you will not have access to a captionist. Because the instructor is not there to ask questions, a captionist will also not be present.
• If you are going to be late to class, you need to contact the Interpreting Services office. Otherwise, the captionist will wait 15 minutes for every hour of class.
• If you are not going to be in class, you need to contact the Interpreting Services office. If you miss class 3 times in a row without contacting the office to cancel services, captioning services will be suspended. Every effort will be made to contact the student before services are cancelled.
• If services are suspended, you will need to meet with your counselor or contact the Interpreting Services office in order to have services reinstated.
• If you have a problem with a captionist, the first step is to try to discuss it with the captionist before involving the Interpreting Services office. If you continue to experience problems, contact the Interpreting Services office.
• Captionists are instructed to arrive 15 minutes before the start of an assignment. However, circumstances beyond their control may prevent early arrival. If a captionist does not arrive or is late, the student is responsible for notifying the Interpreting Services office. The student must decide with the instructor whether to stay or leave the class. In the event that the captionist does not show, the student is still responsible for assignments and/or missed notes.
• The instructor is not allowed to dismiss a captionist without your consent.

I understand that if I am provided with interpreting/captioning services at Houston Community College, I accept the following responsibilities:

1. Timely Requests for Services: It is my responsibility to request interpreting/captioning services for classes a minimum of 30 days before the semester begins. I will contact the Interpreting Services office via email at brandi.hubert@hccs.edu or phone 713-718-6333. I will provide my name and student ID number.
   
   
2. Adds, Drops, Swaps, Room Changes or Other Class Changes: I will inform the Interpreting Services office immediately of ANY changes to my class schedule. I will notify the Interpreting Services office of room changes, changes in meeting time and/or duration through either email: brandi.hubert@hccs.edu or by phone 713-718-6333.
   
   
3. Provide Notification of Absences: If I am going to be absent from class, I will contact the Interpreting Services office at least 24 hours before the class starts via email at brandi.hubert@hccs.edu or phone at 713-718-6333. If I do not give a 24-hour advance notice, I will be considered a “no-show.” I understand that my second “no show” will result in the Interpreting Services office notifying the ADA Counselor at the College I am attending. I understand that my third “no show” will result in services being suspended for the remainder of the semester for the class I have missed. Services will remain suspended until the student contacts the Interpreting Services office to reinstate services. Reinstatement will require the student to explain his/her actions and communicate a renewed commitment to attending classes as expected. Please note that the College is charged for any cancellation of interpreting/captioning services that is not made 24 hours in advance.
   
   
4. Tardiness: I will make my best effort to be on time for class. I understand that if I am late, the Interpreter/Captionist will leave after waiting 15 minutes per hour of class. If I do not show up before the end of the grace period, the Interpreter/Captionist will file a “Student No-Show” report with the Interpreting Services office. If I am late and the Interpreter/Captionist has already left, I should go to the Ability Services office at the College I am attending (during office hours) to see if I can get an Interpreter/Captionist or contact the Interpreting Services office via email at brandi.hubert@hccs.edu or phone at 713-718-6333. I understand that it is better to return to class without an Interpreter/Captionist than to miss the whole class.
   
   
5. Final Exams/Field Trips/Outside of Class Activities: If I need interpreting/captioning services for final exams or activities outside of class (ex: a meeting with an Instructor, a club meeting, a field trip, meeting with a Counselor or Advisor), I will request an Interpreter/Captionist by filling out a request form online at (http://it.hccs.edu/interpreter/), or contacting the Interpreting Services office via email at brandi.hubert@hccs.edu or phone at 713-718-6333 no later than three days before the service is needed.
   
   
6. Complaints: If I have any issues with the Interpreter or Captionist, I will first discuss it with the service provider, if possible. If there is still a problem, I will discuss it with the Interpreting Services office.

Request form