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Full Time Status(The following posts were culled from the DSSHE-L archives. Some editing has been done to consolidate space and exclude extraneous remarks, but no changes have been made the to content shown. Not all posts on a given subject are necessarily included here. Information about the date(s) of appearance and subject headings are provided for those who wish to return to the full archives to research this issue in more detail.) Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1998 Does anyone have a policy at their institution regarding students with disabilities who take a PT load of courses (but I would consider it a FT load for them, according to their specific disability) but who the registrar will deem the status of FT for outside purposes, such as insurance, financial aid, etc. ? If so, how is it stated? So far, my school doesn't have something like that, but we are going to approach the registrar to start the process of putting one in place. Seems like a good idea. We've had several things come that pertain to this. I have a student who is just starting here and he's taking 11 credits (12 credits = FT). In order to stay covered under his parents health insurance, he must either be totally disabled (which he isn't) or a FT student. This is a FT course load for him, in our opinion and the opinion of Voc. Rehab. (who's helping pay for his education). It would be nice to have a policy that specifically states that students in his position are considered FT status by our institution. Thanks, Terri S. Cordle, MS, NCC ********************************************************** Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1998 Terri, I would suggest that your campus policy not call them full-time, but rather state that a reasonable accommodation for students whose disability neccessitates reduced course loads may be that they are eligible for programs and services traditionally reserved for full-time students. That's my $.02 for a friday... ********************************************************** Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1998 I've been dealing with this for some time and what we do probably falls into the area of "practice" rather than policy. We are open enrollment and students pay by the credit. Our letters state that the student has a documented disability and the College considers 9 credits (or 8, 10 , 11...) the equivalent of full-tme status for this particular student for this semester. I don't use the word accommodation because students are not required by the College to be full-time. Also, I state very clearly to the students that they are expected to make a good faith effort and to make progress (pass their courses with a C) to continue with this arrangement. This has no effect on their financial aid. They are still awarded part-time grants or loans based on the number of credits. I am a little uncomfortable with this practice. However, I feel that there are students who legitimately need to carry a lighter course load "to level the playing field" but should not have to forego health insurance. Saul Finkle ********************************************************** Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1998 As I understand the law, the University has to adopt a policy that allows students with disabilities to take a part time load and be considered full-time. That is, part time becomes an accommodation for the student. But it has to be a policy that covers any student that might need to carry a part time load as an accommodation for his/her disability. I know that the NCAA allows LD athletes to carry a part time load to remain eligible if there is a university policy that allows a students with disabilities who need this accommodation to have it. ********************************************************** Date: Fri, 21 Aug 1998 Here is Longwood's policy on reduced course loads. It is an application of our general policies on Access which cover accommodation requests. If you need more details (either the general parent policy or more details on how decisions are made, let me know. LONGWOOD COLLEGE (The procedures for reduced course loads were developed in March of 1993 (and approved by the Vice Presidents of Acadimc, Student & Business Affairs) as an application of Longwood's general Policies And Procedures For Access approved by the Board Of Visitors, October 1993.) 1) Request for reduced courseloads are submited to the Coordinator Of Services For Individuals With Disabilities with supporting documentation. Supporting documentation must include a diagnostic evaluation from an appropriate professional that is recent enough to evaluate the current impact of the disability. 2) The Coord. evaluates the documentation and the request in terms of the impact of the disability and the demands of the students current or proposed schedule. 3) If the request is denied, the student may appeal the Coordator's decision throgh the standard accommodation grievance procedures. 4) If the request is approved, the potential consequences of the reduced course load on progress towards graduation, financial aid, billing, etc. will be explained to the student by the Coord. The Coord. will indicate the approved reduced course load and explain that this credit load will be considered as the students minimum credit load for full time status for the semester in question and that he/she can not drop below this without placing their full time status in jeopardy. 5) The student and the Coord. sign the Reduced Load Aproval Form. Copies are sent to the Registrar, Financial Aid, Cashiering, Housing, the student's Dean and the student's Advisor. 6) At the agreed upon credit load the student will be considered as full time and entitled to all of the services, benefits, rights and privilages of full time status. 7) Cashiering will adjust the student's bill. For approvals dated before the end of the official drop period for the semester Longwood will prorate the students tuition based on the enrolled credit load and per credit charges if the adjustment results in a figure lower than full time tuition. Other charges (activity fees, room, board, etc.) are not affected by this accommodation. 8) Based on the billing adjustments and reduced credit load the student's financial aid will be adjusted. Within the limits of Federal financial aid regulations every effort will be made to ensure that the student does not incur additional costs. SAMPLE REDUCED LOAD APPROVAL: Mr./Ms._____ (SS# ) has a documented disablity that has been reviewed by the Coordinator Of Services For Individuals With Disabilities. The impact of the disability has been reviewed in the context of his/her proposed/current schedule and it has been determined that a reduced course load is a reasonable accomodation under section 504 or the Rehabilitation Act and the ADA. Mr./ Ms. ______ will be registering for/dropping to __ credits for the ___ semester(s). The accommodated course load of ___ credits will be treated as his/her minimum credit load for full time status and entitle him/her to all of the rights, privileges, benefits, services and responibilities of a full time student. I have explained the potential impact of the reduced credit load may have on time until completion of his/her degree, billing, and financial aid. ********************************************************** Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 A picky little thing ... On Friday, in the discussion on full-time status for students with disabilities, Debbie Hebert said, in part: " I think the issue you will face deals with saying someone is carrying a full load or is full-time, when he/she isn't. (SNIP) I would suggest that your campus policy not call them full-time, but rather state that a reasonable accommodation for students whose disability neccessitates reduced course loads may be that they are eligible for programs and services traditionally reserved for full-time students. I am going to disagree with Debbie on this one (an uncommon occurence!). Full-time status is defined by the institution for its students, not by any outside source. As such, the institution has the right to define full-time status for a PARTICULAR student at whatever level they deem to be necessary and appropriate. In this case, we are talking about defining full-time status for a SWD as being ___ number of hours for this particular student. I think that is wholy in keeping with ADA's mandate of reasonable modifications to policy/practice/procedure as necessary. If it (i.e., what constitutes full time) is a policy the institution made, it is a policy the institution has every right to modify. I only bring it up because in some instances, insurance companies have been know to be picky about granting coverage for anything OTHER than a full-time student. The institution may be obligated to provide reduced course load as an accommodation without loss of privileges and rights, but the insurance company may be able to make a case for saying the student is not otherwise qualified for coverage if they are not full-time. So I would suggest that you call them full-time (a la some well-articulated policy such as Scott Lissner shared) and move on! NOTE: As suggested by several other folks, this full-time-status-with-reduced-courseload does not affect their financial aid eligibility for things such as Pell Grants, which are based NOT on full-time status but on the number of credit hours for which the student is registered. You can't help there. For what it is worth, ********************************************************** NOTE: (This thread was culled from the archives by Jane E. Jarrow, JaneJarrow@aol.com ********************************************************** |
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