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Reduced Course Load

Purpose and Scope

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability and establish that academic adjustments to standard course loads may be appropriate on a case-by-case basis as a reasonable accommodation for qualified students with disabilities.

A Reduced Course Load (RCL) approved by Student Disability Services (SDS) allows a student the opportunity to enjoy all the benefits afforded to a full-time student as applicable while being enrolled in less than 12 credit hours. This means they can benefit from all resources afforded to full-time students, including full participation in and access to programs, services, activities, and facilities over which the university controls.

University Policy

An undergraduate student must be enrolled in 12 or more credit hours to be considered a full-time student in any semester, including the summer term, at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Furthermore, six hours for each separate term of the summer session are required for full-time classification. Graduate students are considered full-time status if enrolled in 9 or more credit hours each semester.

Students are also encouraged to review the university’s course load policy in the Academic Policies and Procedures in the corresponding University Catalog for additional information on university requirements before applying for a reduced course load.

Parameters & Potential Impact of a Reduced Course Load

  • Requests for a reduced course load must be submitted at least two weeks before the start of the semester. If approved, the course load will apply for one semester. However, students may re-apply each semester as needed. Updated documentation may be requested to evaluate the current impact of the disability.
  • The RCL will no longer be applicable if a student drops below the approved hours as reflected on the RCL approval letter.
  • An RCL cannot be implemented retroactively. Requests for an RCL received after the semester has begun may result in the student utilizing the university’s withdrawal policy.
  • While an RCL provides students full-time status for university purposes, it may not meet the full-time status definition for federal programs such as financial aid, vocational rehabilitation, etc. Please note that aid distribution may be adjusted in accordance with a student’s enrollment hours. Additionally, private insurance, non-university-sponsored scholarships, athletic eligibility, and veteran educational benefits may be impacted by an RCL.
  • The student must maintain satisfactory academic progress and meet program requirements to remain enrolled.

Eligibility Criteria and Request Process

In order to establish eligibility for a reduced course load, students must:

  1. Complete the Reduced Course Load application at least two weeks prior to the start of the semester.
  2. Provide supporting disability documentation to SDS.
    • The documentation must establish a nexus between the requested accommodation and the current impact of the student’s disability. It should also include a detailed narrative about the student’s functional limitations and how they substantially impact their ability to take a full course load.
    • The documentation must be on letterhead and completed by a qualified professional with expertise in the corresponding field and with an established treatment relationship with the student.

Students may also request to meet with SDS if they would like to discuss their application at any point during the process.

Review and Evaluation Process

Once all materials are received, an SDS staff member will review the request and contact the student or the qualified professional for additional information about the request or the expressed functional limitations, if needed.

SDS will follow will inform the student of the status of their request.

  • If approved, SDS will contact the Director of Advising of the student’s college and the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships to ascertain if the reduced course load accommodation will impact the student’s academic progress or financial benefits. Any findings will be shared with the student in the recommendation letter.
  • If approved, a letter supporting the request for a reduced course load will be issued to the student and a copy shared with the Director of Financial Aid & Scholarships, the Director of Academic Advising for the student’s college, and other pertinent campus partners such as the Office of the Registrar as applicable.
  • The Reduced Course Load recommendation is for one semester only and is not contingent upon the information received from our campus partners. Requests may be submitted for future semesters.
  • If denied, the student will be provided with an explanation for the denial and information on how to appeal the decision.

Students are strongly encouraged to contact entities not included in the SDS review process to ascertain and understand the potential impact a reduced course load for the upcoming semester.

Appeal Process

The student may file a formal grievance with the Office of Equity and Diversity if they disagree with the decision of Student Disability Services. The student may be contacted for additional information or documentation.

 

Apply for a Reduced Course Load

 

Revised: 08.08.2023