Student Disability Services reviews requests for a reduced course load as an academic accommodation for students with disabilities. Unlike part-time status, authorization for a reduced course load permits a student to register for a course load that is less than full-time, while still being considered a full-time student.
Students will only be billed for courses in which they are actually enrolled. Undergraduate students authorized for a reduced course load must be registered for a minimum of nine (9) hours and a maximum of eleven (11) hours; twelve hours is considered by the University to be a full-time course load. Graduate students authorized for a reduced course load must be registered for a minimum of six (6) hours and a maximum of eight (8) hours; nine hours is considered by the University to be a full-time course load.
Reduced course load requests will be considered until the university’s official headcount day. You can find the date of the official headcount day for each semester HERE.
Students should be aware that being approved for a reduced course load may not satisfy the definition of full-time status for federally regulated agencies such as financial aid, veteran’s benefits, etc. Other outside organizations, such as the NCAA and insurance carriers, may also not recognize the University’s definition for full-time status under this policy per their own guidelines and policies. Students are strongly encouraged to contact any such agencies, including Student Financial Services at St. Edward’s, to discuss the possible impact of this accommodation prior to submitting a request for this modification to SDS.
Students should also plan to collaborate with their faculty advisor and/or Success Coach to ensure they understand the impact a reduced course load may have on their progress towards a degree.
Application Process
Student Disability Services works through an interactive process with students seeking authorization for a reduced course load. The decision to grant this accommodation is based upon several factors: disability condition (severity and duration), history of accommodation, academic record, and non-academic commitments.
- Register with Student Disability Services or make an appointment with your disability counselor.
- Provide documentation of the disabling condition and specific rationale which supports the accommodation of a reduced course load.
- Complete the Reduced Course Load Request Form and Student Disability Services will contact you upon receipt.
- SDS reviews the request, documentation, and other pertinent information and notifies the student of the decision.
Students that have been approved for the accommodation of a reduced course load need to understand that there are implications of this status.
- Students are advised to meet with their Student Financial Services advisor to discuss their student account and financial assistance.
- Students are advised to meet with their academic advisor to review academic progress.
If a student intends to register for a full-time course load in future semesters, the student must deactivate the accommodation of reduced course load by contacting Student Disability Services prior to registration.