CHRISTENDOM STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES

Under the direction of the Center Director, Peer Tutors advise students about how to develop and organize essays, conduct research, document research sources, and improve their writing style. The Writing Center, located in the St. John the Evangelist Library, is open during the evening Sunday through Thursday. Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this important aid to better writing and may schedule appointments for assistance with planning, writing, and revising class papers and portions of senior theses.

Christendom Students with Learning Disabilities

Christendom College is dedicated to helping each student reach his or her full academic potential. Committed to this goal, the College offers reasonable academic accommodations for students with documented learning disabilities. However, since a degree from Christendom College indicates the completion of specific course requirements and the attainment of specific academic proficiencies as demonstrated by an adequate course grade, the College does not waive degree requirements for individual students.

What is an Academic Accommodation?

An academic accommodation is a reasonable alteration of educational environment, format, or equipment that enables students with learning disabilities or impairments to have equal access and opportunity to participate in an academic program. An academic accommodation alters how a student learns, not what a student learns. All requests for an academic accommodation must include:  A diagnosis from a medical professional of the student’s disability or impairment, written within a reasonable amount of time (usually 5 years)  The specific accommodations the medical professional recommends for the student, given the diagnosed disability or impairment

An accommodation is considered unreasonable:  If making the accommodation means making a substantial change in a program or practice essential to the curriculum  The accommodation significantly disrupts or distorts the classroom learning environment  If the accommodation poses an undue financial or administrative burden  If the accommodation creates a direct threat to the health, safety, or privacy of others

Approved Academic Accommodations  Seat preference  Priority in registration  Peer note-takers (requires honor pledge signature by student)  50% extended time for in-class examinations and in-class writing assignments  A reduced distraction environment, whenever possible, for in-class exams  Use of a word processor for in-class exams and in-class writing assignments*  Permission to use speech-to-text interpretation software*

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 Alternative book and test formats (e.g. audio books if available, large-print font, etc.)* *The College does not provide these resources to students (laptops, software programs, alternative text formats, etc.). The College approves of the use of these accommodations; however, students are responsible for purchasing and maintaining these items. Extraordinary Accommodations There may arise a situation in which a student requires an accommodation not included on the list above. In such a case, the Academic Dean will meet with the faculty member(s) affected to discuss possible accommodations; the student will then meet with the Academic Dean and Academic Success Coach, who will negotiate reasonable accommodations with the student. If a Faculty member believes an accommodation is unreasonable given the aforementioned criteria, he or she may appeal the decision to the Academic Dean and the VPAA.

How to Request an Academic Accommodation

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