A reduced course load is referred to by AEO as a modification to a student\u2019s academic program. Students in need of this modifications can petition the Committee on Leaves and privileges, in consultation with AEO.<\/p>\n
A reduced course load allows a student to take fewer classes per semester.\u00a0 However, all Vassar students are required to meet the graduation requirement of 34 units.\u00a0 So how do students who receive a reduced course load graduate on time? Sometimes they do and sometimes they don\u2019t.\u00a0 One student (I\u2019ll call her Jane) says that the only reason she is able to take a reduced course load and will finish school in 8 semesters is because she had many AP credits, and took classes and completed fieldwork over the summers.\u00a0 Jane also took personal leave one semester and had to petition to take classes while on leave so that she could take a reduced course load and still graduate with enough credits.\u00a0 Unfortunately, not everyone has so many AP credits and the ability to take summer credits.\u00a0 Jane says, \u201cIf I didn\u2019t have all those things in my favor, I wouldn\u2019t be graduating on time, and if I wouldn\u2019t be graduating in 8 semesters, I couldn\u2019t go to this school because your financial aid runs out.\u201d<\/p>\n
In Jane\u2019s opinion, there needs to be some way for students with disabilities to attend school longer without having to pay more.\u00a0 There needs to be a way for students to work a less rigorous course load if they have they have a disability that makes it take longer for them to get things done.\u00a0 BUT, as she points out, the principle of accommodations involves changing the way things are done, not what is done.<\/p>\n
People would say that Jane should have gone to a less rigorous school if she wanted a less rigorous course load.\u00a0 But it\u2019s important to recognize that it\u2019s not that Jane can\u2019t handle this level of intellectually rigorous work.\u00a0 She says, \u201cI can do this level of intellectually rigorous work, I just can\u2019t do four courses of it at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A reduced course load is referred to by AEO as a modification to a student\u2019s academic program. Students in need of this modifications can petition the Committee on Leaves and privileges, in consultation with AEO. A reduced course load allows … Continue reading