Policies and Procedures
Program Accommodations
| Program accommodations are modifications or aids to a program of study that are not specifically related to a particular course, or exam, such as course substitutions, priority registration, extended degree, or reduced course load without loss of full time status. | Foreign Language Substitutions |
Foreign Language Substitutions
Recognizing that the nature and severity of the documented specific learning disability may preclude learning a foreign language even with reasonable accommodations, the University has a process by which substitution can be made. It is noted that the only College at the University of Rhode Island requiring a foreign language is the College of Arts and Sciences. Therefore, petitions for substitutions are relevant only to that College.
The following procedures must be followed if a student with a documented learning disability is seeking a substitution for the Foreign Language requirement:
1. The petition process should begin as soon as there is strong objective evidence (e.g., previous documented difficulties) that the student will be unable to fulfill the requirement.
2. The student should contact Disability Services for Students with comprehensive diagnostic data before completing an accommodation request form. (See Documentation Section - Learning Disability for a description of required documentation). This documentation must substantiate the disability and its specific impact upon the student's ability in the area of foreign language learning. The DSS counselor will discuss the student's concerns and difficulties.
3. A complete case history is required to document the student's history of problems in language learning from high school to the date of the petition. This case history should include: a) a personal statement by the student indicating the reasons for the request including prior experiences with the subject matter; and b) the names of courses attempted and grades received attesting to the student's efforts and diligence in attempting to master the subject matter.
The supporting evidence will be reviewed by the Assistant Director of Student Life responsible for Disability Services for Students. The Assistant Director will make a decision based on the documentation as to whether there is sufficient evidence substantiating that the student will be unable to fulfill the requirement due to his/her learning disability. If the Assistant Director finds sufficient evidence, a petition will be forwarded to the Academic Standing Committee of the College of Arts & Sciences for decision and recommendation. The College of A&S will forward their decision directly to the student with a copy to Disability Services.
Any student who receives approval for substitution is expected to fulfill the University's Foreign Language requirements according to the guidelines for selecting alternative courses. In this case, two courses must be selected from one of the foreign culture clusters. Students who select this option should take the two courses in consecutive semesters, if possible. Courses in the culture clusters may appear as approved courses in other areas as well, but they may be used in only one General Education area. Students are urged to seek academic advisement and refer to the General Education requirements outlined in the Undergraduate Bulletin for the year in which they matriculated at the University. Students returning after an absence of more than eight years must follow the current General Education requirements.
The University may make a substitution for the General Education Math requirement ONLY IN PROGRAMS WHERE MATHEMATICS IS NOT CENTRAL TO PROGRAM TRAINING AND/OR ACCREDITATION. The Dean and Academic Standing Committee of the involved College will make final determination on all requests for Math Substitutions. Math related specific learning disabilities are very rare and difficult to document; recommendations for substitution will be made only when the documentation clearly demonstrates math-specific disability severe enough to preclude learning in the quantitative area even with reasonable accommodations. Math specific learning disabilities are distinct from language-based learning disabilities; language-based learning disabilities may interfere with math learning, but do not warrant a substitution of the math requirement.
The following procedures must be followed if a student with a documented learning disability is seeking a modification for Math requirement:
1. The petition process should begin as soon as there is strong objective evidence (e.g., previous documented difficulties) that the student will be unable to fulfill the requirement.
2. The student should contact Disability Services for Students with comprehensive diagnostic data before completing an accommodation request form. (See Documentation Section - Learning Disability for a description of required documentation). This documentation must substantiate the disability and its specific impact upon the student's ability in the area of mathematics. The DSS Counselor will discuss the student's concerns and difficulties.
3. A complete case history is required to document the student's history of problems in mathematics learning from high school to the date of the petition. This case history should include: a) a personal statement by the student indicating the reasons for the request including prior experiences with the subject matter; and b) the names of courses attempted and grades received attesting to the student's efforts and diligence in attempting to master the subject matter.
Upon the completion of these steps, the documentation and the supporting evidence will be reviewed by the Assistant Director of Student Life responsible for Disability Services for Students. The Assistant Director will make a decision based on the documentation as to whether there is sufficient evidence that the student will be unable to fulfill the requirement due to his/her learning disability. If the Assistant Director finds sufficient evidence, the student will be advised to petition for a waiver/substitution. Petition forms are obtained from the student's college. The petition will be forwarded to the Academic Standing Committee of the appropriate college for decision and recommendation. The response will then forwarded in a timely manner to the student.
Any student who receives an exemption is expected to fulfill the substitution requirements according to the guidelines established by the granting college.
Students with proper complete documentation on file will be eligible for priority registration.
Disability Services for Students works closely with the Office of Enrollment Services to provide priority registration as a disability-related accommodation.
Procedures governing priority registration are as follows:
- Students are required to meet with a staff member of Disability Services for Students during each semester in which they wish priority registration (i.e. registration for Fall courses occurs the previous Spring).
- Valid documentation of disability must be on file in the DSS office.
- An accommodation request form will be completed by the student and the staff member.
- Disability Services will then arrange for the student to be included in the group of students who will be eligible for priority registration.
- Eligible students will then be able to access the e-campus enrollment system starting on the designated date, generally one day before the publicized first registration date.
- Students may see their enrollment appointments by logging in to e-campus http://www.uri.edu/ecampus
Accessible Classroom/Room Change
In certain cases, a course may be scheduled in a building which is not fully accessible. When a student with a documented disability is in such a course, Disability Services for Students will work with the Office of the Registrar to relocate the course to an acceptable and accessible space. In this way, each program remains accessible, even when a building is not fully accessible. In addition, Disability Services for Students will prepare for the registrar a regularly updated list of students who require accessible classroom space. The registrar will be able to work in advance of each semester to ensure reasonable access to classroom space within each student's schedule.
Under certain circumstances, students with disabilities pursuing advanced degrees may be eligible for a time extension(s) related to the completion of the program. On a case-by-case basis, Disability Services for Students will make recommendations to the Graduate School, when the documentation clearly justifies a need for extended time. However, the final decision rests with the Graduate School and/or program of study, which will make determination about the essential nature of time to the validity of the degree.
Reduced Course Load with Full-Time Status:
Students may have documentation that warrants a reduced course load while maintaining full-time status. The DSS office will authorize such reduction by review of the documentation and discussion with the student. Students are encouraged to discuss full-time course load requirements with an academic advisor for their respective program. DSS will communicate the appropriate information to the Office of the Registrar and/or the Financial Aid Office as required.
Federal law requires that Pell Grant funds be prorated based on the number of credits taken, and that the student financial aid budget also be reduced accordingly. A financial aid counselor can determine how student aid under the Federal Stafford Loan Program will be affected by a reduction. To have a previous loan deferred, the student must take at least six credits. Students whose disabilities warrant the adjustment of carrying less than a full-time load per semester, however, can be determined eligible for student financial aid status. In such a case, these procedures must be followed:
1. Student must provide appropriate documentation regarding his/her disability to the Disability Services for Students Office.
2. If a student is registered at the beginning of a semester for less than a full-time credit load as an accommodation for a disability, this must be verified by the Disability Services for Students Office for this verification NO LATER THAN the last day of the University's ADD/DROP period.
3. If a student registers at the beginning of a semester for full-time courseload but drops to a reduced courseload by properly withdrawing from a course, he/she must discuss this situation with the Disability Services for Students staff NO LATER THAN the last day of the drop period for classes.
4. The Disability Services for Students staff will notify the Registrar each semester regarding students with disabilities carrying fewer than a full-time courseload who are eligible for Financial Aid consideration under these procedures. Undergraduate students whose disabilities warrant the adjustment of carrying fewer than a full-time courseload per semester can be determined eligible for Dean's List status. In such a case, the procedures for Eligibility for Financial Aid must be followed each semester.
