Services for Students with Disabilities

Academic Relief

for Students with Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorder

 

Read Carefully Before Applying for Academic Relief

  • All requested academic relief will be considered on a case-by-case basis and is not granted solely due to the presence of a disability. Recent or newly diagnosed disabilities do not automatically entitle students to academic relief or an appeal of suspension. Students may still complete the necessary academic relief paperwork and submit their new documentation to the SSD office. This information will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Students may want to make an appointment to talk with SSD staff prior to applying for academic relief.
  • Requests for academic relief for students with learning disabilities (LD) and Attention Deficit Disorder (AD/HD) will be reviewed by the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office.
  • Academic relief requests are for course drops (after the normal drop date for a semester), incompletes, an additional probationary semester, and withdrawals from the university.
  • Complete withdrawals from the university requires a hold of readmission until the student meets with a SSD staff member to discuss academic accommodations and services. The date the withdrawal request is received by the SSD office will be the withdrawal date sent to the registrar's office.
  • Applications are due on the date established each semester by the SSD office. Applications will NOT be considered after that date, under any circumstances. Students will need to wait until the next academic term to submit the request. The due date for each term is posted on the SSD website at http://www.ssd.vt.edu.
  • Applications will not be considered until ALL forms are completed and ALL relevant documentation is turned in to the SSD office.
  • Students requesting academic relief must first meet with the academic dean of their college to discuss their relief request and then submit the signed Academic Relief Request Form 1 before the SSD office will review the request.
  • International students requesting academic relief, must meet with the Cranwell International Center or the Graduate School and then submit the signed Academic Relief Request Form 1 before the SSD office will review the request.
  • Students requesting an "incomplete" grade must first meet with the course professor to discuss the incomplete. If the professor agrees to the incomplete, the student does not need to submit a request. However, if the professor requests verification of the disability, the student must have the professor sign Academic Relief Request Form 2 and submit this form along with the signed Academic Relief Request Form 1 before SSD will review the request. Incompletes will ONLY be considered for the semester in which the class is being taken and the request must be submitted before the last day of class.
  • Every student requesting academic relief must submit the Academic Relief Request Form 2.
  • In order to qualify for consideration of academic relief, the student must have adequate documentation indicating there is a diagnosed learning disability and/or AD/HD and that the disability has SUBSTANTIALLY interfered with the ability to meet academic responsibilities.
  • Once academic relief is granted during a semester, additional relief will not be considered unless new, compelling documentation is provided.
  • Retroactive course drops are not considered except under EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES. Retroactive requests will not be considered beyond the past calendar year.
  • The SSD office may contact the student to clarify information in the request or to offer other suggestions and alternatives to the requested relief. The SSD office may also request additional documentation and information from a student regarding the request.
  • All decisions of the Academic Relief Committee will be made via letter to the student's academic dean.
  • Students are required to pick up letters concerning academic relief requests from the SSD office and deliver the letter to their academic dean's office or their professor. Letters should be picked up within 2 weeks of notification by the SSD office.
  • Students will be notified by their academic dean as to the action the dean has taken with regard to requested academic relief.
  • The Academic Relief Committee for Learning Disabilities and Attention Deficit Disorder reserves the right to confer with the Schiffert Health Center Academic Relief Committee on a case-by-case basis.

 

Last updated: Thursday, 23-Jul-2009 11:07:14 EDT