UC Berkeley’s fundamental alteration process is the way that our campus has implemented the fundamental alteration guidance that was shared by the UC Office of the President (UCOP) in July 2023.
In short, if an instructor believes that implementing a DSP-approved accommodation will result in a fundamental change in the goals or standards of their course, the instructor alerts the student’s assigned Disability Specialist.
If the instructor has not already done so, the Disability Specialist will typically ask the instructor to address four core questions.
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What task would the academic accommodation fundamentally alter?
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How is that task tied to a course goal or objective?
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How would the student doing the task differently—or not at all—prevent them from meeting a course goal or objective?
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What other academic adjustments have been considered in order to accommodate the student?
If after addressing the above questions, the Disability Specialist and instructor both agree that the requested accommodation would result in a fundamental alteration, the requested accommodation will not be implemented, and the Disability Specialist may explore alternative accommodations with the student and/or instructor.
If the Disability Specialist and instructor cannot come to agreement about whether the requested accommodation would result in a fundamental alteration, the interactive process can continue to elevate through DSP and the instructor’s departmental leadership.
If agreement still cannot be reached, a final determination is made by the Vice Provost for Faculty.