While other colleges may offer formal programs for students with learning disabilities, which may include learning disability remedial specialists or tutors, or special classes or programs for learning disabled students, Dartmouth College does not offer such a program.
The academic support Dartmouth provides for its students diagnosed with learning or other disabilities is the same as for any other student. Academic counseling, the Tutor Clearinghouse, and study groups are open to all students. A student with a learning or other disability at Dartmouth takes the normal load of courses, although a reduced course load is possible depending on supporting documentation. The academic terms are very intense, lasting ten weeks, during which most students take three courses. Such courses are faster-paced than those of a semester system. As a consequence, the reading and study demands each day can be considerable. Dartmouth offers an Integrated Academic Support program for first-year students who require assistance improving their math and english skills.
Most Dartmouth faculty are knowledgeable about and sympathetic towards students with documented learning disabilities or other disabilities and, in unison with the Student Accessibility Services office, will seek to assist in providing certain accommodations such as extra exam time, notetaking, etc., with which any student with a disability can best demonstrate his/her knowledge of the course material.
There is a foreign language requirement at Dartmouth and our experience is that students who come to Dartmouth aware of their disabilities have developed ways in which to compensate for their difficulties with specific learning and/or content areas. Many of them succeed and even excel in meeting the language requirement. However, students who have a documented learning disability or other disability and cannot master languages may petition for a waiver of the language requirement.
The Admissions Department at Dartmouth encourages prospective students with any disabilities to describe how they have dealt with their academic work in previous educational settings whether it was in high school, another college or university, or elsewhere. The admission requirements for any prospective Dartmouth student with a disability are no different from any other student who applies.
If you decide to apply, please write to the Admissions Office, 1 McNutt Hall, Hanover NH, 03755 and ask for an application.
Note:
If you are an incoming 2012 freshman or a 2008 transfer student, we request that you submit an SAS Accommodations and Services Request Form via e-mail, fax, or regular mail to Student Accessibility Services no later than June 13th, 2008.
In addition, you should ensure that the associated required documents noted on the form are sent to Student Accessibility Services as soon as possible so we can streamline your transition to Dartmouth.
Questions? Contact Ward.Newmeyer@dartmouth.edu the Director of Student Accessibility Services.
For further information consult the Current Students web page.
