Application for an Underload for Psychological Reasons
Students with severe psychological diagnoses that interfere with their ability to maintain full-time enrollment may request an underload to as few as 9 credits for the coming semester. Students requesting an underload should call CAPS at 9199-966-3658 between 8am and 5pm M-F to schedule an underload appointment within the first two weeks of the semester.
Students requesting an underload must supply documentation from a mental health therapist that they are currently treatment and their disorder warrants a reduced course load.
Overview of Underloads for Psychological Reasons
- Undergraduate students with severe psychological or medical problems that interfere with their ability to maintain full-time enrollment may request support from CAPS for an underload, generally not below nine credit hours. Accommodations are not intended as a way to avoid a bad grade, a challenging class or academic situation, but in recognition that emotional or psychological concerns are interfering in the student’s ability to manage 12 credits.
- We recommend that students verify any potential impact on academic progress with their advisor. They should check with funding sources to make sure loans and scholarships are not affected by reduced course-load.
- To request an underload, students should schedule an underload appointment at CAPS. At the appointment, they will review the need for accommodation and the process for making the request.
- To be granted an underload, students must provide documentation from a mental health therapist stating that they are currently engaged in therapy and that their disorder warrants a reduced course load.
- Once affirmative documentation is received at CAPS we will forward the request to Academic Advising at the student’s college for final review.
- Students in the College of Arts and Sciences should receive an email from Academic Advising notifying them that they have been approved for an underload. Students in other colleges should check with their advisor in their department regarding the request a few days after submitting documentation of treatment.
- All of the above steps must be completed no later than two weeks after the first day of classes for the semester in which the underload is requested (Documentation must be received by 5:00pm on Friday, August 30, 2024).
- Once the student receives email confirmation s/he can complete the course drop. This step can happen any time before the last day of classes of the semester for which the underload is approved. The underload is not activated until the student drops the class.
- Underload approvals are for one semester. Students seeking longer term accommodations need to submit a new request and documentation each semester.
- If a student misses the deadline for Academic Underload for Psychological Reasons they may submit an appeal through Academic Advising.
- This process applies only to undergraduate students. Graduate students must seek accommodation directly through their department.
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