COLLEGE PLUS PROGRAM

Available in Minnesota & California

The College Plus program is designed to provide support and assistance to young adults, who are interested in pursuing a college degree or academic certificate, to advance their education and career goals.

Our experience tells us there are learners who, with additional intensive academic, social, vocational, and independent living supports post high school, can launch themselves out of, or at least minimize, their dependence on the social service system.

The College Plus program provides weekly follow-along support on academic goals.  In addition, the program teaches:

• Social Skills:  including developing and maintaining friendships and pursuing leisure interests and hobbies;

• Independent Living Skills:  including maintenance of a clean, well kept home, nutrition basics, and money management;

• Vocational Skills:  including resume development, networking skills, and application and interview training, as well as seeking volunteer opportunities.

See what CollegePlus students have to say about their successes!

Learners participate in each of the four domains: academic, independent living, social, and vocational.  Participants start as freshmen, and move up the tiered system, until they reach the highest level of achievement as senior status.  At each level, the participant receives hourly supports, based on the individual need (freshman through senior), with the hours decreasing as independence is gained.

The learner and instructor will set realistic, attainable goals for each domain.  Instructors use an identified teaching methodology, specific to each goal, and will document performance and quantify progress in a quarterly report.  The report is provided to the learner and their circle of support.

Milestones for each domain have been developed and, once a student passes a milestone, recognition and new goals will be set.  If a student shows slow or no progress on a specific goal, the methodology will be reviewed and revised to promote learning and maximum independence. 

All services are offered in the participant’s natural environment, including traditional learning settings with non-disabled peers.  Academic supports are provided at the college; the independent living supports are offered in the participant’s home; and the vocational and social skills are provided in various integrated, community-based settings.  In all domains, students will learn to access and utilize transportation services to reach the required destinations.

Each participant in the College Plus program will be supported in completing the Ansell-Casey Life Skills Assessment (ACLSA.)  This assessment is completed electronically, and assesses the learner across multiple sub-domains.  The assessment provides detailed results on the learner’s current skill level and makes recommendations for curriculums to support the learner’s growth.

Each student can expect to leave the College Plus program with a set of core skills and experiences to maximize their strengths and talents.  Additionally, successful learners will have developed a set of skills to improve the quality of their lives, equip them for independent living, and move them towards competitive employment.

The College Plus Program is a year round program.  Supports in vocational, independent living and social skills will follow an established schedule in accordance with individual’s goals in each domain.  Academic supports will follow the standard post secondary academic calendar with educational supports beginning 30 days prior to the first day of classroom instruction. The student, along with their circle of support (interdisciplinary team), will build a summer schedule that supports personal goals in all domains.

Consumers interested in applying to the College Plus Program must complete an application and have a referral from their case manager.  The consumer, along with their family, may choose to schedule a meeting with the program coordinator to discuss an overview of the program, as well as the college admissions process for post secondary education.  It is recognized that the student may need assistance in the enrollment, application and registration processes for post secondary education, as well as the financial aid process.  The College Plus Program will support the student in these processes.

All program domains are required, unless the student can test out of the domain at the senior level.