REDUCED COURSE LOAD/EXTENDED GRADUATION DATE
As an accommodation to students with verified
disabilities, the University may consider
granting full-time status to an undergraduate
student enrolled for less than twelve credit
hours or to a graduate student enrolled for less
than nine credit hours. To the extent that it is
within the University's discretion, a student's
request will be granted if it can be shown that:
(1) the student has a verified disability;
(2) the disability restricts the rate of the
student's progress, in general, or in specific
courses; and
(3) it is unreasonable to expect the student to
perform well academically with an increased work
load.
For example, a student who relies on taped books
and is in an area of study requiring a great
deal of reading may need a reduced course load
every semester. However, if a student, due to a
disabling condition, experiences difficulty only
in a certain discipline, then a reduced course
load might be appropriate only in those
semesters when the student registers for courses
in that discipline.
For purposes of federal financial aid, the
granting of full-time status by the University
is not controlling unless applicable federal
regulations give the University authority to
establish its own standards for full-time
enrollment. The University may, when
permissible, assist the student in petitioning
the federal authorities for an exception, but
cannot overrule the federal government's
stipulation that for some federal financial aid
programs full-time undergraduate students must
be enrolled for twelve or more hours. Similarly,
the policy will be implemented in a manner
consistent with NCAA requirements regarding
eligibility for athletics.