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Sunday, November 23, 2008
Hampden-Sydney College Learning Disability Policy

 

 Language Substitution Policy

           

Documentation and procedures for requesting a foreign language substitution:

  1. A student may appeal for substitution of the foreign language requirement based on prior testing for a learning disability or by referral of a foreign language professor because of unusually severe difficulties in a college‑level foreign language course. For entering students with prior documentation of a learning disability, the appeal may be filed prior to matriculation or at any time thereafter.

 

  1. In order to be allowed to substitute courses to fulfill the College’s language requirement, the student must submit diagnostic test scores administered by an appropriate professional  external to the College and the Office of Academic Success. The College’s learning disabilities consultant will evaluate all scores and make a recommendation to the Associate Dean and the student. The tests necessary for a language‑based disability are found under the College’s Procedures for Learning Disability Documentation. Testing must have taken place within three years of the date of application for the language substitution and the results must be based on tests using adult norms. The College reserves the right to require additional testing if deemed necessary by its consultant.

 

  1. If the test scores indicate a severe foreign language disability, as outlined in the College’s policy on learning disabilities, the student may appeal to the Executive Committee of the Faculty in writing requesting a substitution of courses for the foreign language graduation requirement.

 

  1. The student’s letter should be accompanied by documentation of the disability, a letter from the student’s foreign language professor (if the student is or has been enrolled in a language class at Hampden‑Sydney), and a letter from the Associate Dean summarizing the findings of the College’s consultant. Depending on the circumstances, the Associate Dean may also recommend that the student be granted a late drop from a language course or the removal of the grade received previously in such a course.

 

  1. The Executive Committee of the Faculty has complete discretion to determine whether or not to grant the language substitution request.

 Revision approved by Provost & Dean of the Faculty on December 20, 2007


 

Course Substitutions for Students with Foreign Language Learning Disabilities (7/31/07)

Students with Documented Language Learning Disabilities may fulfill their language requirement in one of two ways:

I. Option One

Students must satisfactorily complete a pair of courses to fulfill their language requirement.  Normally, students must select one from the following seven sets of courses. Students taking these classes to fulfill their language requirement may not use them to fulfill any other core requirements.

      1.      Select two courses from:

                     Classical Studies 203—Greek Literature in Translation

                     History 301—Greek History

                     Philosophy 210—Ancient and Medieval Philosophy

           Government and Foreign Affairs 310—Classical Political Philosophy

 

      2.      Complete both:

                     Classical Studies 204—Latin Literature in Translation

                     History 302—Roman History

 

      3.      Select two courses in two different departments from:

                     English 228—Postcolonial Literature

                     History 209 or 210—Latin American Survey

                     Government and Foreign Affairs 322—Political Development

 

      4.      Select two courses in two different departments from:

                     Religion 204—Islam

                     Religion 210—Biblical Archaeology

                     History 207 or 208—Middle East Survey

                     Government and Foreign Affairs 225—Government and Politics of the Middle East

 

      5.      Select two courses in two different departments from:

                     Religion 203—Religions of East Asia

                     History 205 or 206—East Asia

                     Government and Foreign Affairs 226—Government and Politics of Asia

 

      6.      Select two courses from:

                     Spanish 310—Latin-American Literature in Translation

                     History 209 or 210—Latin American Survey

                     Government and Foreign Affairs 227—Government and Politics of Latin America

 

      7.      Complete both:

                     History 306—Twentieth-Century Europe

                     Government and Foreign Affairs 223—Government and Politics of Western Europe

 

II. Option Two

      Students may satisfy their language requirement by satisfactorily completing six hours of course work in a non-English speaking country, either in May term or in an approved international studies program. Students taking these classes to fulfill their language requirement may not use them to fulfill their international studies core requirement. Course work may be taken in English.