UConn's Policies and Procedures Regarding Students with Disabilities

Eligibility for Financial Aid

Students with documented disabilities may enroll in a less than full-time courseload as an academic adjustment to accommodate their disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the regulations accompanying Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Students are encouraged to discuss full-time courseload requirements with an academic advisor for their respective program. A financial aid counselor can determine how their aid will be affected by a reduced courseload.

Students should be aware that Federal law requires that federal Pell Grant funds be prorated based on the number of credits taken, and that the student financial aid budget will also be reduced accordingly. Also, to borrow under the federal Stafford Loan Program, or to have a previous loan deferred, the student must be enrolled for at least six credits. Students should keep in mind that, with the exception of the Pell Grant, it is the University's policy that students must be enrolled half time in order to receive financial aid.

Students whose disabilities warrant the adjustment of carrying less than a full-time load per semester can be determined eligible for student financial aid status. In such a case, these procedures must be followed:

1. Students must provide appropriate documentation regarding their disability that substantially limits one or more major life functions to the Disability Contact Person.
2. If a student is registered at the beginning of a semester for less than a full-time credit load as an accommodation for a disability, this must be verified by the Disability Contact Person. Students must contact the Disability Contact Person for this verification NO LATER THAN the last day of the University’s ADD/DROP period.
3. If a student is registered at the beginning of a semester for a full-time courseload but to accommodate his/her disability withdraws from a course within the approved drop period for the respective program and according to the procedures for dropping a course, he/she must discuss this with the Disability Contact Person NO LATER THAN the last day of the drop period for classes.
4. The Disability Contact Person will notify Certifications each semester regarding students with disabilities carrying less than a full-time courseload who are eligible for Financial Aid consideration under these procedures.

Students should be aware that, as always, eligibility for Financial Aid depends upon satisfactory academic progress.