UNIVERSITY EXPECTATIONS

Admissions	Academic Requirements
Completing Requirements	Academic Expectations
Interacting with Instructors	Other University Requirements

ADMISSIONS

Students with disabilities must meet the criteria established for admission to Colorado State University to be considered "otherwise qualifed" under federal mandates. The state and the University have established these admission criteria. Primary factors considered in the admission decision for freshmen applicants include completion of required high school coursework, SAT or ACT scores, high school grade point average, and class rank (if applicable).

Primary factors considered in the admission decision for transfer applicants include credits attempted, cumulative GPA earned in all college settings, and completion of required college-level coursework. For all applicants, the admission decision includes a review of academic rigor, trends in grades, and additional personal qualities that demonstrate the potential for academic success.

Specific types of disabilities may have had an adverse affect on a student's prior school performance. In those cases, students are encouraged to submit with their application an explanation of the possible effects their limitations have had on their academic record (i.e., test scores, grade point average, etc.). An applicant may be admissible if there is sufficient indication of strong potential not reflected in the current achievement record.

While any admission decision can be appealed, and many are, the University is under no obligation to reconsider applications regardless of an applicant's particular circumstances.

For more details contact: Admissions Office, Spruce Hall, (970) 491-6909.

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

Students with disabilities are expected to complete all academic requirements necessary for graduation at Colorado State University. In addition to courses required for a major, all students must complete general education courses, including Composition and Mathematics, through the University's Core Curriculum. The Core Curriculum includes a mandatory Freshman Seminar for all freshmen students and individual Capstone courses for majors during a student's senior year.

Both mathematics and composition must be completed prior to accumulating 60 credit hours (junior year). The composition requirement is satisfactory completion of CO150 or equivalent. The university may offer an alternative section specifically for students who may have difficulty with composition due to the affects of their disability. Contact RDS or the English Department, 359 Eddy Building, (970) 491-6428 for more information.

A minimum three (3) credits of mathematics are required for graduation. These can be obtained at the university through three 1-credit self-directed courses focusing on algebraic functions or through a 3-credit course on applied mathematics in the social sciences, depending upon a student's major. All students are required to take the Mathematics Placement Exam (MPE) prior to taking any math courses at the university. For more information, contact the Mathematics Department, 121 Engineering, (970) 491-6327.

Completion of a health and wellness requirement is also required. This requirement may be completed through physical activity classes, many of which can be modified for students with physical disabilities. Contact the Department of Health and Exercise Science, 207 Moby Complex, (970) 491-5081, for more information.

Please refer to the Colorado State University General Catelog for more details.

COMPLETING ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

If students have problems completing particular requirements due to the limitations created by their disabilities, various strategies may need to be implemented. Options available may be: taking the courses elsewhere for transfer credit; substituting one course for another; or using tutoring and/or other support to help in completing a course. Waiving any requirement for graduation is generally not considered a reasonable accommodation.

Transfer Courses: Courses from other institutions must meet the university's requirements for transfer. To receive credit for a course taken elsewhere, the course must be evaluated as comparable to a CSU course and the grade received cannot be lower than a "C." Only the credit is transferrable; the grade will not be factored into a student's CSU grade point average. For more information on transfer credits, contact the Registrar's Office, 100 Administration Annex, (970) 491-7147.

Substitutions: Individual substitutions for courses are initiated, and approved, through the department of a student's particular major field of study. Substitutions are generally not allowed for courses considered essential to a particular major. Any other alteration to a student's course of study must be supported by appropriate documentation and negotiated within the student's major department and approved by the department's college. Final approval for any substitution or alteration is required by the university's Registrar for graduation purposes. Contact your academic advisor for more information on possible substitutions. For more information concerning the requirements of graduation, please contact the Registrar's Office.

NOTE: Substantial alterations to graduation requirements are generally not considered reasonable accommodations.

Tutoring: Tutoring and other support can often help students complete difficult requirements, especially if there are no other alternatives available to complete essential courses of a major. Tutoring support is provided from a variety of sources on campus. One source is through the Academic Advancement Program; for information on other tutoring sources, go to Additional Support or contact the RDS Counselor.

ACADEMIC EXPECTATIONS

Colorado State University (CSU) is considered a Carnegie Class I Research institution. While some classes may present hands-on learning opportunities, many of the academic programs offered by CSU are theory-based.

A student can expect a learning environment that is dependent not only on lectures and textbooks but also on self-initiative. The majority of faculty are more than willing to meet with individual students to enhance the task of mastering course content. However, it is expected that students are primarily responsible for their own learning process as well as their own behavior.

Academic dishonesty (e.g. cheating, plagerism, etc.) are grounds for disciplinary action at the discretion of any faculty member. Any behavior that is considered disruptive to the academic environment may also result in disciplinary action. Disciplinary action results may include, but not limited to, suspension as well as dismissal from the university.

Students are expected to conduct themselves in a civil and respectful manner. While "heated" discussions are often encouraged, respect for the diversity of opinions is expected. Behavior that is disrespectful of differences and diversity need not and will not be tolerated. For more information concerning academic expectations, please refer to the Colorado State University Catalog.

INTERACTING WITH INSTRUCTORS/FACULTY

The provision of some accommodations or auxiliary aids often requires the student to have specific contact with individual instructors. Prior to requesting an accommodation from an instructor, students must be evaluated by the RDS Counselor to determine if the accommodation is supported by the needs created by a disability. Once evaluated, a student will be given written verification of the need for an accommodation. This written verification will be addressed to each instructor a student has for each semester. The student is responsible for providing a copy of this verification to his/her instructors at the time an accommodation is requested and prior to the time it will be needed.

If an instructor seems unfamiliar with the accommodations needed or hesitant to work with a student, the RDS staff will help facilitate or negotiate a request for specific accommodations.

Instructors are encouraged to consult with RDS concerning accommodations; therefore, it is suggested a student contact RDS early to discuss what might be needed and to obtain verification of the need. If any accommodations are needed that involve the cooperation of an instructor, students with disabilities are encouraged to discuss their needs with their instructors no later than within the first two weeks of classes.

OTHER UNIVERSITY REQUIREMENTS

All freshmen students are required to live on campus, unless granted exemption by the Office of Housing and Food Services (e.g., if current residents of Fort Collins). Students with disabilities may apply to live in any of the residence halls although not all are accessible for students who use wheelchairs. All rooms are multiply-occupied (two or four to a room) with either a shared bath between two rooms or a common bath for a given floor. Common eating facilities are present in all residence halls although all residents have the option to eat at any residence hall.

Requests for specific adaptations should be directed to the Office of Housing and Food Services, Palmer Center, 1005 W. Laurel, (970) 491-6511, including accommodations for TDDs, assistive animals, and other modifications that may be necessary. "Single occupancy" is also an option especially if there is a need related to a particular type of disability.

All students born January 1, 1957 or later are required to be up-to-date with specific immunization. A verification certificate must be submitted to the Hartshorn Health Center prior to arrival on campus. For more information, please contact the Hartshorn Health Center, (970) 491-7121.

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Resources for Disabled Students
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Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523 USA (970) 491-6385

	RESOURCES FOR DISABLED STUDENTS
RDS is part of the Division of Student Affairs	100 General Services, Fort Collins, CO 80523-8002 (970) 491-6385 (V/TDD), (970) 491-3457 (Fax)