Academic modifications refer to changes in academic requirements for students with disabilities. Modifications may be appropriate in some but not all cases. Before pursuing this course of action students should give thoughtful consideration to the long-term impact modifications may have on their future academic goals.
Procedure and Deadlines
Students wanting a formal review of their course substitution request must meet with their Access Specialist. The Specialist will explain the process, documents, and forms required. The Course Substitution Committee meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. Students must submit all required materials to the Disabilities Resource Center by 4:30 pm on the 1st Wednesday of every month to have their request considered for during that month's meeting.
Modifications versus Essential Academic Requirements
Section 504 [Subpart E -- Postsecondary Education §104.44 Academic Adjustments (a) Academic Requirements] requires postsecondary educational institutions to make such modifications to their academic requirements as are necessary to ensure that such requirements do not discriminate, or have the effect of discriminating, on the basis of a disability, against a qualified disabled applicant or student. Academic requirements that the institution can demonstrate are essential to the program of instruction being pursued by such student or to any directly related licensing requirement will not be regarded as discriminatory, even if they have an adverse effect on people with disabilities. Modifications may include extending the length of time established for completing degree requirements, substituting specific courses and course work as a requisite for completing degree requirements, or adapting the way specific courses are conducted.
Modifications at SF
Santa Fe College has a process for considering requests from students with disabilities for reasonable substitution requirements for admission to the college or to a program, as well as for graduation from the college. To that end the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs appoints a Course Substitution Committee to review all substitution requests by students with disabilities. As set forth in Procedure 7.2P, consideration of requests for course substitutions and/or waivers will only occur in cases where the person's failure to meet a requirement is related to a disability and where the failure to meet the requirement does not constitute a fundamental alteration in the nature of the program.
- All students who consider pursuing such remedies should first familiarize themselves with Procedure 7.2P Admission/Graduation Requirements: Disabled Students.
- Postsecondary Vocational Certificate Education students seeking an exemption of the Basic Skills requirement should familiarize themselves with the Exemption Criteria.
- All students seeking modifications should:
- Contact the Disabilities Resource Center to self-identify as a student with a disability.
- Provide appropriate documentation of their disability per Documentation Guidelines that apply.
- Meet with a DRC Access Specialist for an intake interview.
Mathematics Course Substitution Options for Students with Disabilities
- AST1002 Astronomy
- BSC1001 Intro to Biology
- BSC2050 Energy and Ecology
- BSC2084 Human Anatomy & Physiology
- ESC1000 Earth/Space Science
- EVR1001 Intro Environmental Science
- GLY2010 Physical Science
- MAT1033 Intermediate Algebra
- MAT1034 Intermediate Algebra Part 2
- MGF1100 Math Readiness
- MET2010 Meteorology
- PHI1100 Informal Logic
- PSC2121 General Physical Science
- ZOO1503C Animal Behavior
Foreign Language Course Substitution Options for Students with Disabilities
- ANT2410 Cultural Anthropology
- EUH2000 Western Civilization 1
- EUH2001 Western Civilization 2
- GEO2420 Cultural Geography
- HUM2410 Asian Humanities
- HUM2420 African Humanities
- HUM2210 Ancient World to Renaissance
- HUM2230 Renaissance through Enlightenment
- ISS2270 Multicultural Communications
- LAH2020 Intro to History of Latin America
- LIT2110 World Cultures in Literature 1
- LIT2020 World Cultures in Literature 2
- LIT2195 Intro to Literature of the African Peoples
- REL2300 Contemporary World Religions
- WOH2040 Contemporary World History