Disability Support Services
Reduced Course Loads/Full Time Status
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 defines extended
time to complete a degree program or course of study as an appropriate,
disability-related, academic modification.
Typically, extended time for degree completion results from the
legitimate need for reduced course loads. For
some students, reducing the number of credit hours attempted in a
given semester is an accommodation that gives them the "equal
access" guaranteed by the law. There
are many reasons why students with disabilities may need to request
a reduced course load---a limited list includes:
--Students with physical/medical
disabilities may have to devote an unusual amount of time or effort
toward the activities of daily living and may request a reduced course
load to have adequate time for studying, projects, term papers, etc.
--Students with chronic medical disabilities may request a lower
credit hour load in order to conserve energy for their studies.
--Students with sensory impairments may rely on alternate media
for processing their assignments and thus will require additional
time to complete course requirements.
--Students who have learning disabilities,
traumatic brain injury or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder may need to enroll in fewer courses so they can focus their energies
and attention and work with tutors on coursework that directly impacts their particular disability.
Not all students with disabilities need reduced credit hour loads,
nor do they necessarily require these reductions every semester. There is no reason to grant an academic load
below the usual number of credit hours to qualify for full-time status
if a students disability does not impact his/her academic courses.
An important consideration with regard to course load reductions
is that of eligibility for benefits. Full-time
students are eligible, by virtue of the number of credit hours in
which they enroll, for all of the University's programs, privileges
and extracurricular activities. Their
status does not make them more qualified as students, just eligible
for these benefits. Therefore,
students with disabilities who are granted full-time status while
carrying less then the usual course load must be eligible to have
access to and participate in the full complement of the University's
programs and activities.
Requests for Reduced Course Loads/Full Time Status
The authority for making decisions on behalf of the University
regarding reduced course loads/full-time status for student with
disabilities rests with the office of Disability Support Services.
Procedure:
(1) Requests for reduced course loads/full-time status should be submitted,
in writing, to DSS. The student
must present diagnostic documentation from an appropriate professional
to support the request. The
documentation must be recent enough to confirm the current impact
of the disability on the students management of a full-time course
load.
(2) The student's DSS provider will inform the student of the potential
consequences of the reduced course load in terms of program completion/graduation,
financial aid, and potential costs involved in extended time toward
degree completion. Please
note: Eligibility for certain
financial aid programs is based on the number of credit hours, not
full time status. Also, for many international students, funding
by government sponsors is predicated on a pre-determined credit hour
load rather than full-time status.
(3) The student's DSS provider will evaluate the student's request
in terms of the impact
of the disability and the demands of the student's degree program
and proposed academic schedule. The
DSS provider may need to consult with faculty department and program
chairpersons or academic administration in order to make an equitable
determination.
The student and DSS provider will sign the Approved Reduced Course Load form with copies forwarded to:
--Dean of Academics/Dean of Graduate Studies
--Registration & Records
--Financial Aid
--Student's academic advisor
The form will
indicate that the approved reduction to a specified number of credit
hours will be the minimum number of credit hours for the student
to qualify for full-time status during that particular semester. The
student may not drop below that level without jeopardizing full-time
status The above form will
clearly indicate that the student is to be considered as full-time
and eligible for all the benefits, services and privileges of that
status.
(5) If the student's
request is denied, the student may appeal the decision via the regular
appeals/grievance procedures outlined for DSS clients.
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