COA 09-11 Catalog - Peralta Colleges

district policies and procedures219D. Meeting General Education DegreeRequirements:When the severity of the disability of an otherwisequalified student precludes successful completion of acourse required for graduation from a college within thePeralta Community College District, despite an earnesteffort on the part of the student to complete the courseor its prerequisite—if appropriate for the disability asdetermined by a qualified DSP&S Specialist—and despitethe provision of academic adjustments and/or auxiliaryaids, the student may request a substitution of the courseas an alternative method of meeting general educationdegree requirements. The Evaluation Team will consist ofthe DSPS Coordinator, the Department chair or instructorfrom the discipline of the course or major for which asubstitution is being requested, and the appropriate Deanof Instruction. The team may consult, as appropriate,with DSPS professionals, Associate Vice Chancellor forAdmissions and Records and Student Services, and thecollege Vice President of Instruction in order to makea decision. In assessing requests, the Evaluation Teamshould consider the anticipated exit skills from thecourse that can be substituted for comparable exit skillsin another course. These comparable skills may be foundin a discipline different from the discipline of the originalcourse.E. Meeting Major or Certificate RequirementsThe process for evaluating requests for major or certificaterequirements is the same as stated in the section aboveexcept that the student may request a substitution or awaiver of the course as an alternative method of meetingmajor or certificate requirements.A course substitution maintains the standards of academicrigor of degree programs because the student is requiredto demonstrate comparable skills. Therefore, requesting acourse substitution is the preferred option to meet generaleducation degree requirements. For major or certificatecourse requirements, course substitutions and/or waiversmay be considered.Course substitutions are applicable for Peralta CommunityCollege District and may not be recognized by a transfercollege.F. Evaluation Of Substitution/Waiver Requesta. DocumentationThe student will complete the Request for Change ofGraduation Requirements Form (available in the DSPSoffice) and submit it to the DSP&S professional with thefollowing attachments:1. PETITION for Substitution/Waiver (obtained fromthe Admissions Office).2. LETTER (written by the student) addressing thecriteria listed in Part B.3. EVIDENCE FROM THE DSP&S PROFESSIONAL(DSP&S Coordinator, Counselor, Instructor,Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) Specialist, LearningDisability (LD) Specialist, etc.) verifying the disabilityand how it relates to the student’s request.4. DOCUMENTATION of the student’s academicrecord, the degree requirements for graduation andinformation about the course in question regardingwhether or not it is essential to the student’s course ofstudy, major, transfer goals and/or employment goalsas appropriate.5. ADDITIONAL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATIONcan be provided by students.b. Evaluation of RequestThe DSP&S professional will review all documents,outline evidence of the use of all appropriate and availableservices and academic adjustments and indicate that,according to CRITERIA listed below, that the requestis appropriate. The DSP&S professional then signs theRequest for Change of Graduation Requirements Formand forwards the packet to the DSP&S Coordinator, whowill convene an Evaluation Team.The Evaluation Team consists of the DSP&S Coordinator,the Department Chair (or an Instructor) from the disciplineof the course or major for which a substitution is beingrequested, and the Dean of Instruction with responsibilityfor the Division, which includes the discipline of thecourse substitution. The Evaluation Team meeting is tobe chaired by the Dean of Instruction and should consultwith the Associate Vice Chancellor for Admissions andRecords and Student Services, DSP&S professionals, andthe College Vice President of Instruction as appropriate.The Evaluation Team will assess student requests basedon the following criteria:• Documentation of the student’s disability withspecific test scores, when appropriate, and adescription of educationally related functionallimitations in the academic area under discussion.• Evidence of the student’s earnest efforts to meet thegraduation requirement, which may include: