VENTURA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT

Graduation/Course and Requirement Accommodation Policy

GUIDELINES

It is the intent of the Ventura County Community College District that all of its graduates demonstrate mastery of the competencies required by Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations and successfully complete all of the specified courses required for graduation. The District recognizes that a disability may prevent a student from demonstrating competencies in math, reading, and/or writing or from successfully completing course/requirements in the same manner as would a student without a disability. The District also recognizes the need to provide accommodations for a student with a documented disability to the greatest extent possible without compromising either the student's chosen course of study or the integrity of any student's degree or certificate. The District also recognizes that disabilities that might preclude a student from this "same manner' demonstration of competency or from successful course completion may be overcome by providing a combination of appropriate accommodations.1

For students with verified disabilities,2 the following are required:

1. Consistent and persistent effort in attempting to meet the requirement, including at least one attempt to complete the required course or its prerequisite, using recommended academic accommodations such as: tutorial services, notetakers, auxiliary aids, testing accommodations, and taking a self-paced course when possible. except in those cases where the Learning Disability Specialist verifies that the disability in the subject area is so severe that the student has no reasonable chance of passing the required course even with accommodations.

2. The following are alternatives to the completion of the required course:
a. Substitution of another course: Substitution of another course or prerequisite course is permissible only if the course in question is peripheral to the student's course of study and the student has no reasonable chance of successfully completing the required course with all of the recommended accommodations.
b. Course waiver. This will be considered only when there is evidence that the student has met the above requirements by attempting and substituting and there are no viable alternatives.

3. No more than one out of the three competencies may be waived for graduation.

4. No more than one course (up to 5 units) may be waived.

5. A waived course cannot be used as a pre-requisite for a higher level course.

In all cases, the student must demonstrate that he or she has taken advantage of all support services available to all students (e.g., tutorial services, supplemental instruction, notetaker services, auxiliary aids, testing accommodations, and slower paced versions of the same course) and that the reason for unsuccessful completion is not due to poor attendance or failure to complete class assignments or examinations. When attempting to complete the required a course, the student must demonstrate that he or she has remained in the class at least until the twelfth (12th) week.

CRITERIA

The following criteria are recommended for evaluating a student's request:

A. Documentation of disability with description of degree of educationally related functional
limitations in the academic area under discussion.

B. Evidence of the student's good-faith effort to meet the graduation requirement including:
· Consistent and persistent effort in attempting course work,
· Regular attendance and completion of all assignments
· Use of all appropriate and available services, such as tutorial assistance or instructional support services, and
· Use of all appropriate and available academic adjustments, such as test accommodations.

C. Evidence that the student is otherwise qualified by demonstrated success in completing course work in all other areas required for the degree.

D. An explanation of how the requested substitution fulfills the intended requirement.

E. Evidence that the course in question is peripheral to the student's course of study, major, transfer goals, or employment goals, and that the student will not require further classes or training in the specified subject area.

F. In case of a requested waiver, documented evidence of course attempts and course substitutions (if available).

PROCEDURE

The student will complete Section A of the "Request for Graduation Requirement Accommodation" petition and submit it to the Campus Disabled Students Coordinator with the following attachments:

1. Letter written by the student addressing the 6 criteria (A-F above),

2. Evidence from Disabilities Specialist verifying the disability and how this relates to student's request

3. Documentation of student's academic record and requirements for graduation and evidence that the course in question is peripheral to student's major

4. Documentation from appropriate instructor(s) outlining evidence of persistent and consistent effort in attempting the course, and

5. Documentation from instructional support faculty or staff outlining evidence of use of all appropriate and available services and academic adjustments.

The Campus Disabled Student's Coordinator will complete section B of the "Request for Graduation Requirement Accommodation" petition and upon receipt of items 1-5 will then determine the most appropriate course of action. For purposes of determining the appropriateness of a requested substitution or waiver, the Academic Accommodations Committee will be supplemented with (2) faculty members from the discipline where the substitution/waiver is being requested. The Chair of this augmented Committee shall be a faculty member.

The Committee will review all evidence presented by the student. The Committee's decision will be determined by a majority vote. The Committee will forward its decision in writing to the Vice President of Student Learning within two weeks of receiving the original petition. Any course or requirement substitution or waiver will be noted on the student's transcript.

The appeal process for this policy shall be the same as that for the Student Grievance Policy as written in each College's Catalog Sections 6h through 6j.

Note: VCCCD students will be made aware that a substitution or waiver granted by the District may not be recognized at a subsequent educational institution.

Footnotes:

1 "Academic requirements that the District can demonstrate are essential to the program of instruction being pursued by the student, or directly related to licensing requirements, will not be regarded as discriminatory." -34 C.F.R. 104.44(a)

2 Physical disabilities are verified through a report from the student's attending physician. These verifications are kept on file in the Disabled Students Office. Learning Disabilities are verified through a testing process prescribed by the California Community College Chancellor's Office and administered by the Learning Disability Specialist or Technician on each campus. In order to qualify as a learning disabled student, the following must be demonstrated:
· Average to above average intelligence, and
· An aptitude/achievement discrepancy in at least one(1)area, and
· Achievement up to his or her ability in at least one or more other areas, and
· A deficit in the area of processing

If you have any questions about learning disabilities, adult attention deficit disorder, or other disabilities and how they affect learning, contact
ACCESS (805) 378-1461

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