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Personal Care Attendant

Pepperdine University understands that Personal Care Attendants (PCAs) may be necessary to address the personal needs of a student with a disability in order for that student to fully participate in the classrooms, programs, and student life. A student requesting accommodations that include a Personal Care Attendant should submit their requests at least one month before the school semester begins.

The Student's Responsibility

An otherwise qualified student who requires personal attendant services is responsible for making arrangements to provide for his/her own personal attendant service. Pepperdine does not assume coordination or financial responsibilities for personal attendant services. Students are encouraged to hire an impartial PCA, who is not a family member or close friend.

It is the student's responsibility to:

  • Submit appropriate medical documentation to the Office of Student Accessibility (OSA) to support the necessity of a PCA.
  • Secure a PCA prior to attending any college-related activity, i.e. orientation, placement testing, registration, and class attendance. (The University will not be responsible for providing a PCA on an interim basis.)
  • Pay for all PCA services.
  • Sign the Personal Care Attendant Agreement & ID Request form each semester.
  • Ensure that each PCA applies with the OSA and signs the Personal Care Attendant Agreement & ID Request each semester.
  • Ensure that if PCA personnel changes occur during the semester, the student and the new PCA will apply with the Office of Student Accessibility and sign a PCA Agreement & ID Request.
  • Ensure that all PCA ID cards and/or residence hall keys are immediately returned to Housing and Residence Life in the event a PCA's employment with the student is terminated.
  • Direct the activities of the PCA while at the University.
  • Have a backup or alternative plan of action should the regular PCA not be available to work with the student on a particular day or in a particular class.
  • Have written plans in place for emergency school closures.
  • Have a clear understanding of the role and duties of the PCA, by contract, with a copy given to OSA.
  • Follow all applicable University policies, rules, codes, regulations and procedures and abide by the Student Code of Conduct and/or Academic Catalog.

 

The Personal Care Attendant's Responsibility

The PCA is expected to:

  • Adhere to Pepperdine University's Code of Conduct and Housing Contract Terms and Conditions as well as any and all other University policies, rules, regulations, and procedures.
  • Conduct him/herself in a courteous and professional manner while on campus.
  • Not discuss any confidential information about the student with faculty, staff, or students.
  • Allow the student to take responsibility for his/her own progress and/or behavior.
  • Refrain from contact with or asking questions of faculty, staff, or others on behalf of the student.
  • Refrain from intervening in conversations between the student and faculty, staff or other students.
  • Refrain from working on or completing any of the student's academic assignments.
  • Complete and sign the Personal Care Agreement and ID Request form each semester and adhere to the requirements within.
  • Depart the campus when the student is away from campus (e.g., during holiday and semester breaks).

 

Personal Care Agreement and ID Request

For the PCA to obtain the required University ID, the student is responsible for downloading a copy of the Personal Care Attendant Agreement & ID Request form and making an appointment with the Director of the Office of Student Accessibility to discuss the form. Both the student and PCA should attend this appointment.
Any PCA who fails to abide by the above policies and procedures and/or those outlined on the Personal Care Attendant Agreement and ID Request form may be subject to removal from the residence halls, expulsion from the University campus, loss of all privileges and/or any other action the University considers appropriate in the event the University determines that the PCA has acted in a manner inconsistent with University policies and/or these procedures.

 

Background Screening

It is the responsibility of the student and/or PCA to obtain and submit a copy of a background screening conducted by the personal care attendant's employing agency, in accordance with University Policy Manual section 2.4.
In the event of a private employment relationship between the PCA and the student, the PCA will be registered as a Person of Interest and subject to a background screening coordinated by the University prior to reporting to work at a Pepperdine campus. The current cost of a background screening is approximately $100-$130 and will be the responsibility of the student.

 

The Office of Student Accessibility Responsibility

It is the OSA's responsibility to:

OSA will complete a Person of Interest form. Persons of Interest (POI) include dependents, contractors, consultants, vendors, and others who require University access, but are not employees or students. All POIs must be sponsored by a Pepperdine employee, who is responsible for their affiliation with the University, requesting access, and notifying Human Resources when their association with the University ends. Additionally, sponsors are responsible to inform and make available University policies and procedures related to the POI's affiliation and relationship with Pepperdine University.

For PCAs under contract with an OSA student, the Person of Interest Human Resources form is completed by an OSA employee.

 

Please print and complete the following document:

Personal Care Attendant Agreement