EMPLOYEE AND STUDENT RIGHTS

 

Policy 80100

 

Accommodations for Students with Learning Disabilities

 

 

1.  Purpose.  This policy establishes criteria and procedures for petition and approval of accommodations for students attending Germanna Community College who have learning disabilities.

 

2.  Policy.   The policies of Germanna Community College and the Virginia Community College System are designed to ensure efficient administration of all educational programs and services.  Such policies are rarely, if ever, waived.  These policies include admission standards, placement testing, and developmental and curriculum requirements for completion of academic programs.  Students with documented learning disabilities may request appropriate academic accommodations or modifications to ensure equal opportunity to complete these requirements.

 

a.  Requirements That All Students Must Meet:

 

1.      Evidence of high school or equivalent preparation as indicated by the curriculum, grade point average, and standardized placement test scores.  Such evidence indicates readiness to study, and profit from such study, at the post-secondary level.

 

2.      Developmental skills necessary to assure successful participation in college study.

 

3.      Evidence of competency in appropriate curriculum and mastery of general educational requirements.

 

4.      Conduct and attendance policies that apply to all students.

 

b.  Requirements That Are Eligible For Accommodation:

 

1.      In addition to meeting all of the requirements established above, students must meet all technical standards established for their program of study.  Students who have disabilities may be eligible for academic or physical accommodations to meet some of a program’s technical standards.

 

2.      In cases where a student has a learning disability so profound that it precludes him or her from completing the mathematics requirement, the student may petition for a course substitution.  Based on careful deliberation, Germanna Community College will only consider requests for Mathematics substitutions in the General Studies and Liberal Arts programs.  Mathematics and the concepts learned in mathematics are considered essential components of all other programs of study.  Therefore, petitions for substitution will not be considered in other programs.

 

3.  Procedures. 

 

a.  Petitioning for Substitution of the Mathematics Requirement in General Studies or Liberal Arts. 

 

  1. To request a substitution of the mathematics requirement in General Studies or Liberal Arts a student must first have acceptable documentation of a learning disability on file with the Coordinator of Disability Services. The documentation must satisfy Germanna Community College’s criteria for evaluations of learning disabilities.  The documentation must also show that the student has a disability that impacts mathematics learning.  A listing of the criteria is available from the Coordinator of Disability Services.

 

2.   Once acceptable documentation has been provided, a student may then complete a Mathematics Course Substitution Application and submit it to the Coordinator of Disability Services.  The application should be submitted no later than the last day of early registration for the semester when the student wants to make the substitution.  Mathematics Course Substitution Applications are available from the Coordinator of Disability Services. 

 

  1. After an application is submitted, the Coordinator of Disability Services may use any of the following methods to determine if a student may be considered for a substitution of the Mathematics requirement:

 

a.         Evaluation of the student’s documentation (the student’s standardized achievement test results should fall at least one standard deviation below the student’s intellectual abilities)

 

      b.         Consultation with the student’s licensed clinical or school psychologist

 

c.         Review of student’s grades received in previously attempted Math courses (High School and College)

 

      d.         Consultation with the student’s former Mathematics instructors

 

      e.         Gather input from the requesting student

 

4.   When the need for a math substitution is established, the Coordinator of Disability Services consults with the student’s licensed clinical or school psychologist as to which courses are appropriate substitutions for the math requirement from the courses listed below.  The Coordinator indicates the suggested courses on the application and signs it.

 

  1. If the Coordinator of Disability Services cannot establish the need for a math substitution, the Coordinator notes it on the application and signs it.  Although a student’s petition may be denied, the student may remain eligible for appropriate accommodations (extended time, use of a calculator, etc.) while enrolled in Mathematics courses.

 

  1. If the petition is approved, the Coordinator of Disability Services indicates the suggested course substitutions on the application.  The application is then sent to the Director of Instructional Services at the student’s home campus.  The Director reviews the application and approves it, makes recommendations for changes, or rejects it.  If the application is not approved, copies with the Director of Instruction’s comments are sent to the Coordinator of Disability Services and the student.

 

  1. If approved, the Director will forward the petition to the Dean of Instruction for final approval.

 

  1. The Dean of Instruction reviews the application for final approval.  He/She may consult with the student, the Coordinator of Disability Services, and/or the Director of Instructional Services prior to making a final decision.  Approved applications are sent to the Coordinator of Disability Services, the student, and the Registrar.  If the application is denied, copies with the Dean of Instruction’s comments are sent to the Coordinator of Disability Services and the student.

 

  1. Students approved for a substitution of the mathematics requirement must still complete the 62 credit hours required for a General Studies or Liberal Arts degree.

 

4.  Point of Contact:   Mark Haines

Coordinator of Disability Services

(540) 710-2019

 

5.  Approval and Revision Dates

 

            Approved – April 1, 2002, by President’s Council

            Reviewed – N/A

            Revised – N/A