Disability Support Services
Course Substitutions
The premise behind reasonable accommodation is to allow students to
pursue a typical course of study, albeit with certain modifications
and/or adjustments, that terminates in a desired degree or certificate. Therefore,
in determining if course substitution is a reasonable accommodation,
the University has a responsibility to consider whether a course is
essential to the student's curriculum and whether making a substitution
would represent a substantial change to that curriculum. This applies
to requests for course substitutions from entering and matriculated
students.
Before the University considers a request for course substitution,
DSS will collaborate with faculty and the department of Registration
and Records to determine if:
--The course in question is required for graduation
--The course in question is a general education requirement or a required
course in the major
--The student has received appropriate course placement
--Accommodations have been offered that allow the student to participate
in the usual/typical course of study that leads to academic program completion. If accommodation will not
permit full and fair participation, the following steps will
apply:
Procedure:
(1) Students must present requests for course substitutions
in writing to DSS. Students should give a semester's notice for the
University to examine related information and respond to course substitution
requests.
(2) Decisions regarding course substitution requests will
be made by a committee with representation by DSS, the pertinent program
coordinator and the student's academic advisor. DSS is best prepared
to determine if the request is justified by the student's disability. Faculty
are best prepared to suggest whether the requested substitution would
represent a substantial change in an essential element of the student's
curriculum. If a course substitution is granted, the program coordinator
will determine an alternative course that gives meaningful access to
the student's degree or certificate program.
(3) The following is required/critical for the University's
determination of a course substitution request:
--disability documentation
--evidence of need for course substitution
--determination of the request as reasonable
--additional supporting documentation, if determined necessary
(4) Students will be notified in writing of the committee's decision
prior to advisement /pre-registration for the ensuing semester.
(5) If the request is denied, individual students may file an appeal
of the decision in writing to the Dean of Academics Office (DB campus/EC campus)
|
