Fundamental Alteration - Course Substitution or Waiver
400.085 COURSE SUBSTITUTION OR WAIVER BECAUSE OF A DISABILITY POLICY
Wenatchee Valley College recognizes that students facing extraordinary circumstances due to a documented disability may on occasion appeal to have course substitutions or waivers. The college shall develop and update appropriate statements, regulations, and procedures for approval of the president’s cabinet. The board of trustees’ delegates to the president or designee the responsibility for defining, describing, developing and administering the course substitution or waiver because of a disability procedure.
Approved by the president’s cabinet: 4/15/03, 8/15,23
Adopted by the board of trustees: 6/4/03, 9/13/23
Last reviewed: 9/13/23
Policy contact: Student Access
Related policies and procedures
400.075 Classroom Accessibility for Students with Disabilities Policy
400.080 Academic Adjustments & Auxiliary Aid for Students with Disabilities Policy
1400.075 Classroom Accessibility for Students with Disabilities Procedure
1400.085 Fundamental Alteration - Course Substitution or Waiver Procedure
1400.085 FUNDAMENTAL ALTERATION - COURSE SUBSTITUTION OR WAIVER PROCEDURE
A. PURPOSE
The purpose of this procedure is to outline the steps for when a student’s request for a disability-related accommodation or service may compromise the essential aspects of a course, program, or degree.
B. STUDENT PROCESS
- A student who requires accommodation or auxiliary service based on their disability can request such accommodations by following the student access services process for securing disability accommodations as outlined on the student access service’s website. The student is responsible for requesting the accommodation or service with student access service staff; a request made by the student to other institutional officials will not be recognized as an official request. Each request will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
C. INSTITUTIONAL PROCESS
Following the student access service intake process, the institution will engage in the following process:
- The student access manager will evaluate the reasonableness of the request, engaging in the interactive process used for all disability accommodation considerations. If the student access manager can establish a reasonable need for this accommodation, based on the student’s disability-related barriers, the student access manager will proceed with the next steps in this procedure. The student access manager will maintain student privacy and confidentiality as much as possible in this process by omitting, redacting, or otherwise concealing any information not otherwise necessary for the process.
- The student access manager will notify relevant institutional officials of the need to consider the request. Appropriate institutional officials will vary based on the individual request. People involved may include the faculty teaching a course, an administrative professional knowledgeable about the curricular structure, or other institutional officials with expertise related to the accommodation request. Alternative or additional staff and faculty may be included if deemed appropriate.
- The institutional officials outlined above will evaluate the request. These individuals
will consider whether the requested accommodation will maintain the integrity of the
course, program, or degree without compromising its essential components.
- If the accommodation cannot be implemented without compromising the integrity of the course, program, or degree, the accommodation request will be denied. Staff and faculty will consider alternative modifications or alterations for the student. Individuals knowledgeable about disability processes and accommodations, such as the student access manager or other student access service staff, will be involved in this accommodation consideration process.
- If the accommodation request does not compromise the integrity of the course, program, or degree the request will be approved. Any changes to degree requirements or program alterations at Wenatchee Valley College do not obligate a transfer institution to accept that substitution.
- The final committee decisions and recommendations will be provided to the student access manager. The student access manager will ensure proper documentation of the institution’s decision and provide an official written notice of the decision to the student. This notice will include an explanation of the reasoning behind the decision and any alternatives, if applicable.
- If the student disagrees with the decision made by the institution, they have the right to file an appeal, complaint, or grievance. This information will be provided to the student as part of the written notice and is publicly available on the student access service website.
Approved by the president’s cabinet: 3/28/01
Renumbered from 1400.521 and approved by the president’s cabinet: 8/23/05
Name change approved by the president’s cabinet: 7/8/25
Revised and approved by the president’s cabinet: 8/15/23,7/8/25
Last reviewed: 7/8/25
Policy contact: Student Access
Related policies and procedures
400.075 Classroom Accessibility for Students with Disabilities Policy
400.080 Academic Adjustments & Auxiliary Aid for Students with Disabilities Policy
400.085 Fundamental Alteration - Course Substitution or Waiver Policy
1400.075 Classroom Accessibility for Students with Disabilities Procedure