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ACE-IT in College

ACE-IT in College
Virginia Commonwealth University
ACE-IT in College
1310 West Main Street
Richmond, VA 23284
icon name
Program Contact Jaclyn Camden
Program Contact Email aceit@vcu.edu
Phone 804-828-2548
Website Program website
Facebook link to program Facebook page

ACE-IT in College, an inclusive postsecondary education program, provides a pathway to higher education for students with intellectual disability (ID) that do not meet the traditional college entrance criteria. ACE-IT in College promotes inclusion and opportunities for students with ID at VCU. Not only do enrolled students take courses that align with their career goals, they also have paid campus jobs and community internships to help prepare them for their chosen careers.

ACE-IT students are VCU RAMS. You take VCU courses, maintain paid employment on campus, and engage in the college community just like any other college student. In fact, 90% of ACE-IT graduates are employed after graduation.

Program information submitted: January 10, 2024

General
Public or private: Public
Type of school: 4-year college or university
Is this program a federally funded TPSID program? No
Number of students: 7
Description of our summer transition program:
Affiliates
School district or agency partner: Virginia Department of Education, Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), Chesterfield County Public Schools; Powhatan County Public Schools; Richmond City Public Schools
Requirements
Program serves students who have left high school? Yes, all of our students have left high school
Regular high school diploma required? No, an IEP/non-standard diploma/certificate of attendance is accepted
Deadline to apply to this program: Generally the first week of February
Criteria for admission
  • Student must be 18 or older
Accepts out-of-state students? Yes
Please indicate which disabilities students in this program have:
  • Intellectual disability
  • Autism
Planned program length 2 years
Acceptance, Retention, and Completion Rates
Acceptance rate for the most recent fall term: 38.00%
Retention rate for first year students from the previous academic year to the current one: 75.00%
Cost
Average student tuition and fees for the current school year: $7072.00
Program fees: $4944.00
Is this program able to provide federal financial aid as a Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP)? Yes
Students pay for the program in the following ways:
  • Private pay (student and family)
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Funds
  • Scholarships
  • Federal Financial Aid
Scholarships available: We actively raise scholarship funds, so students can receive scholarships directly from our program.
Academic
Students enrolled in this program take the following types of inclusive courses (with students who don't have disabilities):
  • Typical college courses for credit
  • Typical college courses for audit
More about course access: The majority of the courses are taken for audit (all VCU courses). There a several courses that are required to be taken for credit per the university.
Students take courses that are only for students in this program:
Percentage of academic time spent in inclusive courses (with students who don't have disabilities): 100%
Do all students in this program enroll in at least one inclusive college/university course for credit or audit each semester? Yes
Credential(s) students earn upon completing the program: Certification of Completion- ACE-IT in College. Awarded and confirmed by the School of Education
Is the credential approved by the college/university? Yes, this credential has been through a formal approval process at the IHE
Other than the credential listed above, can students earn any other credentials that are available to all students? Any of the other certificates or badges offered by the university. Advising is provided to students interested in taking an additional certificate provided by the university
Students in the program have access to the following campus-wide services:
  • Career services
  • Disability/accessibility services
  • Academic tutoring services
  • Health services
  • Mental health/counseling services
  • Access to a transcript via the registrar
  • Academic advising services (not program staff)
Employment
Percent of students in this program have paid work while attending the program: 100%
Other career development activities are:
  • Internships
  • Work Study
Percent of students in this program that had paid work after exiting the program: 75%
Additional information about career development and work experience: All students work in paid campus jobs until their final semester where they enroll in a VCU internships course and work in a for credit internships in the community. Students also develop skills through mock interviews, resume development, and engaging in other opportunities offered by VCU.
Does this program have a working partnership with VR to provide funding, supports and/or services to students in the program? Yes
Housing
Housing is provided to students: No
Extracurricular
Students participate in student organizations on campus: Yes
Percentage of social time spent in inclusive activities (open to all students on campus): 100%
Students may participate in the following extra-curricular activities
  • Registered student organizations
  • Student government
  • Club sports
  • Campus events
  • Study abroad
  • Fraternities/sororities
Students participate in these campus-wide events:
  • College/University's Student orientation
  • College/University's Family orientation
  • College/University's Graduation