| Policy on Calculator
Use in Remedial Math Classes for Students with Disabilities |
| Calculators can certainly be helpful to
everyone- both people with and without disabilities. However, the
use of these tools is considered a reasonable accommodation only under
very specific circumstances. The Office of Services for Students with
Disabilities (OSSD) and the Mathematics Department have determined
under what circumstances the use of calculator during exams in remedial
classes is an appropriate and reasonable accommodation. Students with
disabilities who have requested permission to use a calculator as
a reasonable accommodation during math exams must be aware of the
following policy. |
| 1. |
OSSD will only approve the use
of a calculator as a reasonable accommodation for an exam if: |
| |
| >> |
Students’ disability documentation indicates
specific cognitive difficulties that would cause them problems
with arithmetic comprehension and computation and |
| >> |
The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide
accurately is not considered an important part of what an exam
is designed to test as determined by the professor and/or the
academic department. |
|
| 2. |
Other considerations: |
| |
| >> |
Given these very specific conditions, it is entirely
possible for the use of a calculator be permitted for some exams
and not permitted for others. |
| >> |
OSSD and the Mathematics Department will not
approve the use of calculators as reasonable accommodations
when using a calculator gives students with disabilities an
unfair advantage or undermines academic standards. |
|
| 3. |
Calculator Use in Remedial Classes:
|
| |
| >> |
Given the above criteria and specific conditions
for calculator use during exams as a reasonable accommodation
for students with disabilities, OSSD and the Mathematics Department
have determined when using a calculator is appropriate in remedial
classes. The following chart indicates when students with disabilities
are permitted to use calculators during exams in remedial math
classes: |
| |
| COURSE |
Calculator Use Permitted |
MAT010
Basic Mathematics I |
Not for exam #1 (whole numbers
exam), after passing exam #1 calculator use is permitted
|
MAT011
Basic Mathematics II |
Not for exam #1 (whole numbers exam),
after passing exam #1 calculator use is permitted |
MAT012
Basic Arithmetic & Algebra |
Calculator use permitted
on all departmental exams |
MAT051
Elementary Algebra
|
Calculator use permitted on all departmental
exams |
|
|
| 4. |
Calculator Use on CUNY/ACT Math
Exams: |
| |
| >> |
The use of calculators for students with disabilities
who have approval from OSSD for CUNY/ACT Math exams has been
approved by the Mathematics Department and OSSD. |
| >> |
OSSD and the Mathematics Department will not
approve the use of calculators as reasonable accommodations
when using a calculator gives students with disabilities an
unfair advantage or undermines academic standards. |
|
| 5. |
Type of Calculator Permitted: |
| |
| >> |
Only Calculators approved by OSSD will be permitted
for student use. Only 4-Function calculators are appropriate
for students to use during remedial math exams. OSSD has calculators
available to loan students for their use. Talking calculators
are also available for students with visual disabilities. |
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The City University
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