Curriculum Modification Policy and Procedures
for Students with Disabilities

The Disability Support Services (DSS) office will support requests for course substitutions in cases of foreign language or quantitative course requirements if documentation supports the request and the course in consideration is not essential to your major as a reasonable accommodation per New Jersey state law: C.18A:62-44.
 

C.18A:62-44 Reasonable substitution of certain courses for certain disabled college students
 

1. a. Any student attending a public institution of higher education in the State or an independent institution of higher education which receives direct State aid or a degree-granting post secondary institution whose students are eligible for State tuition grants and scholarships, who is hearing impaired, visually impaired, or learning disabled shall be eligible for reasonable substitution of specific courses required for the completion of degree requirements, provided that:
   
    

1. Documentation is provided that the student’s request for substitution of a
   specific course is related to the disability;
    

2. The substitution of a specific course does not constitute a fundamental alteration in the nature of the degree requirements and the specific course is not required for professional certification,
    

3. The specific courses are not offered by a public or independent institution of
   higher education as requirements for a health professions degree.”
    
    

If a student chooses to make such a request, the student must:
 
 

1. have on file or provide DSS with comprehensive, current and relevant
   documentation of the related disability.
    

2. meet with his or her DSS case manager to review the documentation and its relevance to the request. (Note that additional documentation may be required.)
    

3. meet with the Director of DSS to obtain a letter of support for a reasonable substitution
    

4. meet with the associate dean of the appropriate school or college to submit the letter of support and to discuss course options for substitution.
   
    

Note:
 

1. DSS will not support a petition for course modification or substitution if the course is essential for the major. Each request is entertained on a case-by-case basis.
    

2. Substitutions are not automatically supported for individuals who may have had substitutions or waivers of a course/program requirement at other institutions (including high school).
    

3. If a student is anticipating the need for a substitution, a meeting should be held with the DSS case manager a full semester prior to the semester that the desired substitution will take place.