Assessment Services

Many women have entered Mount Holyoke College with some history of learning issues but, due to their ability to accommodate with their other strengths or possibly even discrimination blocking assessment, they were not able to investigate the nature of their learning difficulties.

One third of the students who have identified themselves as having a learning disability or attention deficit disorder have been diagnosed for the first time while studying here at MHC. This is a significant number and warranted a commitment from the College to support students through a lengthy and expensive evaluation. Therefore, MHC has been committed to providing low cost assessment for issues related to learning disabilities and attention deficit disorder.

If you think you may have an LD or ADD, you should contact the associate dean for learning skills to go through an intake interview. Sometimes the interview is preceded by a screening test in foreign language aptitude or reading skills. Anyone can seek outside assessment for an LD or ADD. However, to be eligible for testing through Mount Holyoke College, you must meet with the dean and, if appropriate, receive a referral from him.

Assessment for a learning disability at Mount Holyoke College consists of a comprehensive battery of tests to investigate the student's learning strengths and challenges, as well as the presence of a learning disability. The testing is administered by the staff at the Office of Learning Skills. There is a fee for the assessment: a maximum of $650, or if the student receives financial aid, the fee is based on 5% of the student's family contribution, calculated on her financial aid form. You may want to check with Student Financial Services to check the amount. The student will be billed through her general bill.

Assessment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is covered under the student health plan. If the student has full coverage, the plan covers 80% of the reasonable and customary charge incurred up to $750 per policy year. A referral is required by the associate dean of learning skills to a professional affiliated with the health plan.