Math & Foreign Language Policies

Prefatory Note: This section was drafted with input from academic areas. The Provost charged two ad hoc faculty committees for math and foreign languages to evaluate and reassess relevant policies. Because math and foreign language are also University core curriculum requirements, the Provost further requested a review and recommendation of the ad hoc committees’ final reports by the Core Curriculum Committee.

At Coastal Carolina University, course waivers are not a viable accommodation for students with disabilities. Course substitutions may be considered, however, after accommodations have been offered through an Individualized Educational Support Plan. Incidences of course substitutions should be rare.

A student has a right to petition any academic regulations of the University through the appropriate committee. General petition forms are available from the Dean of the student’s major.

Math Policy

A student at Coastal Carolina University is required to complete 6-7 credit hours in Mathematics/Statistics as part of the Core Curriculum. These hours may be distributed in one of two options:

Option I: two related mathematics courses suited to the student’s major;

Option II: a course in mathematics plus a course in statistics.

Although the Core Curriculum Goals do not specifically target the knowledge of mathematics as they do for scientific concepts, "the acquisition of mathematical skills, as well as an understanding of the development of mathematics, is essential in developing reasoning abilities" (CCU Catalog 1995-96). The study of mathematics not only contributes to a person’s ability to reason, but also provides several other capacities such as problem solving and, ultimately, the basis level of mathematics necessary for a successful life. All students graduating from Coastal Carolina University must complete the core mathematics requirement with no option of course substitution. Waivers of University math requirements are not allowed.

Students with learning disabilities affecting their learning mathematics should attempt completion of the core curriculum requirements in mathematics/statistics with reasonable accommodations, as defined in an Educational Support Plan, developed by the following support team:

1. student;
2. student’s academic advisor;
3. the Department of Mathematics LD advisor;
4. instructor in the math/statistics course;
5. Student Services Counselor.

A plan developed by this support team may include but is not limited to the following possible accommodations which should be determined by the student’s current and anticipated needs:

1. extended time on tests
2. testing away from distractions
3. alternative testing formats (written, oral, interactive computerized)
4. selective advanced registration
5. autotutorial instruction (use of technology)
6. pass/fail option
7. availability of trained tutors
8. availability of graphing calculators where appropriate
9. audio-taping class lectures

Because 1) all students must be required to pass the mathematics/statistics core curriculum requirements as determined by their majors and 2) no course can be substituted in place of the requirement, the following recommendations are presented:

1. For students attempting to major in programs not requiring advanced mathematics, the Department of Mathematics should review the contents of Mathematics 101, 102, as the course sequence of choice. The courses should reflect the mathematical needs of students to function in society. With reasonable accommodations, these should be excellent courses for students with learning disabilities not requiring advanced mathematics. All students enrolled with learning disabilities must repeat the courses until passing grades are obtained. A pass/fail option selected at registration time will ensure no adverse affect on a student’s GPA. The support team plays a key role in planning for the repeated course. Once the courses have been passed, and if the student did not select the pass/fail option, the support team may advise the student of the possible change of failing grades to a W through the normal petition process.
2. Students with LD’s who are attempting to major in programs requiring more advanced mathematics or statistics must past these courses with reasonable accommodations. It is extremely important that the support team for these students give advice based on requirements for obtaining employment or continuing education. After two unsuccessful attempts in courses with reasonable accommodations, the student will be advised to reconsider his/her major.
3. The Core Curriculum Committee regularly reviews the Goals of the core curriculum, including those regarding Mathematics/Statistics.

Foreign Language Policy

Completion of the 130 level of a foreign language is a core curriculum requirement at Coastal Carolina University. Inasmuch as the faculty at Coastal Carolina University believe that foreign language study is essential and one of the long-standing requirements for a baccalaureate degree, it is recommended that all students, including those with learning disabilities, have the experience of studying a foreign language through the 130 level. Foreign language study at CCU has several purposes in the core curriculum:

1. it assures a certain level of proficiency in the student’s practical use of the language
2. it exposes students to the culture and history of a foreign nation
3. it makes students more aware of the structure and practices of their own native language through comparison and contrast with the studied language
4. it provides a foundation for additional language study which may be useful in international business, tourism, cultural exchange and other areas

Students with learning disabilities should therefore attempt completion of the foreign language core curriculum requirement by means of reasonable accommodations. Once a student is diagnosed with a learning disability that will affect the student’s ability to study a foreign language, the student, the student’s advisor, the instructor teaching the foreign language, the Chair of the Department of Foreign Languages, and a counselor from Counseling Services will meet and develop an Educational Support Plan that includes reasonable accommodations appropriate for the particular student. Reasonable accommodations should be tailored to each student’s individual needs. Some reasonable accommodations include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. alternative testing formats (all written or all oral/aural, for example)
2. extended time on tests
3. extended time to complete a course
4. audio-taping of lectures
5. testing away from distractions
6. taking a course on the pass/fail option; passing is based on the individual instructor’s rating scale
7. reduced course load
8. priority registration for classes
9. tutorial services during regularly scheduled hours

Latin is currently among the foreign languages offered at CCU that satisfy the Core Curriculum requirement. Since Latin is basically a written language, it might be a good choice for students with oral/aural learning disabilities.

It is hoped that such accommodations and the ever-increasing expertise of the foreign language faculty in teaching students with learning disabilities will be all that is necessary to help students with learning disabilities meet the Core foreign language requirement of the University. If a student with a learning disability does not successfully complete a foreign language course at any level, under pass/fail conditions and with reasonable accommodations, course substitutions may be considered based on the recommendations of the course instructor, together with the Chair of the Foreign Languages Department, a counselor from Counseling Services, and the student’s advisor.

If a student is not successful in Foreign Language 110, then English 451 and two courses from the list below must be successfully completed. If a student is not successful in Foreign Language 120, then English 451 and one course from the list indicated below must be successfully completed. If a student is not successful in Foreign Language 130, then English 451 must be successfully completed.

Some Courses Which May be Used as Substitutes for Foreign Language Study by Students with Learning Disabilities, Subject to Approval

ENGL 275, 276
FREN, GERM or SPAN 398
HIST 320, 321, 326, 333, 345
POLI 304, 320, 321, 342

Courses selected as substitutes for foreign language courses may not also be used to satisfy any other degree requirements.