A transfer student enrolled in a private university in Spring 2023 with 57 credits. However, the university changed its graduation requirements in Summer 2023, lowering the foreign language requirement from 4 semesters to 2. The student has a learning disability and processing disorder that makes language learning hard, especially with the old requirements. The student finished the 2 language semesters but is concerned about the previous 4-semester requirement. Administrators gave conflicting advice, and the student was told to make a formal request. Can the student use the ADA to request the new requirements as an accommodation?
Yeah, the student should definitely go through the formal request process. A well-written letter might help speed things up.
Scout said:
Yeah, the student should definitely go through the formal request process. A well-written letter might help speed things up.
Definitely. It would help if they got a psychologist’s report explaining the impact of their disability on learning languages.
Scout said:
Yeah, the student should definitely go through the formal request process. A well-written letter might help speed things up.
What exactly is a formal request? Is it just an email or something more official?
@Pax
A formal request means writing a detailed letter to the dean or disability office. It should explain the disability and why accommodations are needed.
@Pax
It’s basically a letter that outlines the issue and requests accommodation. Any medical documentation should be included too.
Why is there even a debate about this? The new rules are already there. Seems like it should be an easy fix.
Wendell said:
Why is there even a debate about this? The new rules are already there. Seems like it should be an easy fix.
Probably because the student transferred in before the change. They might consider that a technicality.
Wendell said:
Why is there even a debate about this? The new rules are already there. Seems like it should be an easy fix.
But other students can follow the new requirements. It should be the same for him too, especially with a disability.
@Tanaia
Exactly. The ADA should apply, and the old rules create a real challenge for him because of his disability.
The dean of academic affairs is probably the right place to send a formal request. They should be able to give a clear answer.
Kingsley said:
The dean of academic affairs is probably the right place to send a formal request. They should be able to give a clear answer.
Agreed. If they don’t help, going to the university president might be the next step.
Kingsley said:
The dean of academic affairs is probably the right place to send a formal request. They should be able to give a clear answer.
Right. I would start with the dean to keep things moving, and if needed, escalate it later.
If the disability office is behind on processing requests, could that delay things? Could the student still graduate on time?
Annalise said:
If the disability office is behind on processing requests, could that delay things? Could the student still graduate on time?
That’s definitely a concern. It might help if the student contacts both the dean and the disability office to get a quicker response.
@Zorion
Yeah, covering both bases should help. That way, the process moves faster.