Students who have received the exception in the past typically have a documented history of extreme difficulty in learning a world language and one or both of the following:

• Up-to-date neuropsychological testing that indicates a language learning disability
• Exerted a “good-faith effort” (i.e. perfect or near perfect attendance; completion of all assignments and exams; frequenting instructor’s office hours) at learning a language at the college level through taking world language courses at UM

• Meet with a member of the Language Exception Committee. The committee member will talk with you about the criteria for approving an exception and about the petition process. You can schedule an appointment online.
• Contact the instructor(s) of the course(s) you have taken regarding their role in the petitioning process.
• Students petitioning on the basis of a disability should contact Services for Students with Disabilities to discuss their request for a substitution. Students are encouraged to connect with SSD through the initial contact form or scheduling a meeting with your coordinator. SSD will review your request for Language Substitution Support as an accommodation. If you are approved for Language Sub Support through SSD you will be provided a letter of support. The letter of support should be submitted as documentation within the petition, which will then be reviewed by the Language Exception Committee.
  
• Complete the petition available in MyAdvising. 

The Language Exception Commitee typically meets once a month during the fall and winter semesters and twice during the summer months. Decisions are typically sent within days after the committee meets. In order to have your petition reviewed by the commitee, it must be complete and submitted with all materials by 5:00pm Eastern time on the submission dates listed below. 

You will be allowed to substitute culture courses for language courses to meet the requirement. You will meet with one of the Language Exception Committee members to determine which courses you will use. These courses cannot be used to fulfill your distribution requirement. The courses must be approved in advance by a committee member.

You will receive an email to inform you of the decision.  You are then welcome to meet with a member of the Language Exception Committee. They will help you assess degree options and next steps.