Course Registration
CAE can support students who have a disability that impacts registration for courses for their degree program and establishing a term schedule that meets their disability-related needs. Some more common support CAE can provide includes eligibility for Reduced Course Load, Reduced Fee Program, Priority Registration, and Foreign Language Substitutions, among other eligibilities.
Priority Registration
Priority Enrollment allows undergraduate students to register for courses before enrollment is open to all students. CAE generally does not provide Priority Enrollment for summer classes.
Foreign Language Substitution
A foreign language substitution is an accommodation approved by CAE on an individual basis through an interactive process between CAE and the student. It may be reasonable when it is evident that there are challenges in learning language related to a students’ qualifying disability. It is often seen specifically that there is a history of challenges related to language and learning languages in comparison with the student’s aptitude for learning other subjects.
Academic Petitions
Students often have the option to request support for adjustments to their degree plan directly with their academic unit (e.g., CAAC, individual academic advising units in the Schools, graduate academic programs). Some of the types of requests these units often see include:
- Dropping an impacted class
- Late add or withdrawal for course
- Approval for Single Quarter & Standard Reduced Fee Program Enrollment
- Extending your time-to-degree
- Extending an incomplete
In many cases, students registered with CAE can receive a letter or note of support from their disability specialist indicating the connectedness between their academic petition and the impacts of their disability. Students must start this process by directly requesting the academic petition from their college's or school's advising unit. Once you have submitted your petition with your college or school, they will reach out to CAE to get confirmation of your affiliation with the office and any other pertinent information to consider. Your CAE Disability Specialist will engage in the interactive process to determine whether your request is directly connected to disability-related impacts and if the request is reasonable within the scope of standard expectations set for all students at UCLA. Simply being registered with CAE does not automatically guarantee that your request for support will be approved. Additionally, CAE cannot waive or remove any essential requirements or expectations of a degree program.
Reduced Course Load
The CAE may support qualified disabled students with a Reduced Course Load accommodation (fewer than 12 units) for one or more quarters. While this accommodation does not officially change a student’s status from full-time to part-time, it may be appropriate for students experiencing disability-related impacts, such as increased symptoms, treatment adjustments, or difficulty consistently meeting course demands.
Students considering a reduced course load are encouraged to speak with their academic advisor, the Financial Aid Office, and their CAE Disability Specialist to understand potential impacts on degree progress, timelines, and financial aid.
Please note that CAE may also support petitions for the Reduced Fee Program and continued UCLA Housing eligibility when appropriate.