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Advancing Students Toward Education and Employment Program (ASTEP)

Advancing Students Toward Education and Employment Program (ASTEP)
Minot State University
Advancing Students Toward Education and Employment Program (ASTEP)
500 University Ave W. Memorial Hall 203K
500 University Avenue West
Minot, ND 58707
icon name
Program Contact Tracey Olson
Program Contact Email tracey.olson.1@minotstateu.edu
Phone 701-858-4496
Website Program website
Facebook link to program Facebook page

In an inclusive and supportive environment, ASTEP students attend college courses with students who don’t have disabilities, earn meaningful credentials, gain employment and learn independent living and social skills. ASTEP’s goal is to make the dream of college a reality for students with I/DD and create quality futures for these individuals to live and work in their communities. Located at Minot State University since 2010, ASTEP partners with MSU and Dakota College at Bottineau to provide the first program in North Dakota to support young adults with I/DD to attend college. Twenty students attended annually from all over the state as well as from neighboring states.

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: 15
Affiliates
School district or agency partner: ASTEP will partner with any local school districts, regional Vocational Rehabilitation office, and/or Developmental Disability provider agency.
Requirements
Program serves students who have left high school? Some of our students have left high school
Regular high school diploma required? No, an IEP/non-standard diploma/certificate of attendance is accepted
Criteria for admission
  • Age range: 18-26
Accepts out-of-state students? Yes
Please indicate which disabilities students in this program have:
  • Intellectual disability
  • Autism
Planned program length
  • 3 years
  • Varies from student to student
Acceptance, Retention, and Completion Rates
Acceptance rate for the most recent fall term: 75.00%
Retention rate for first year students from the previous academic year to the current one: 100.00%
Cost
Average student tuition and fees for the current school year: $4800.00
Average out-of-state tuition, current year: $4800.00
Room and board: $7700.00
Program fees: $8000.00
Additional costs:
Is this program able to provide federal financial aid as a Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP)? No
Students pay for the program in the following ways:
  • Private pay (student and family)
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Funds
  • Scholarships
  • Adult intellectual/developmental disability state agency funds
  • Local School District funds
  • Veteran or Military Benefits
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
Students take courses that are only for students in this program: Yes
Information on special classes: The ASTEP Program provides a weekly group that covers independent living and social skills using "Living In An Adult World' Curriculum and the SAFE Training Curriculum.
Percentage of academic time spent in inclusive courses (with students who don't have disabilities): 75-99%
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: Audit Students: College to Career Certificate-ASTEP Program Completion Certificate
Is the credential approved by the college/university? Awarded by program, not officially recognized by the IHE
Other than the credential listed above, can students earn any other credentials that are available to all students? Credit Students can earn any degree that they choose that is offer by Dakota College of Bottineau on the Minot State Campus.
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
  • Volunteer work
  • Community Service
  • Work Study
Percent of students in this program that had paid work after exiting the program: 60%
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: Yes
Housing options available:
  • Inclusive on campus
  • Inclusive off campus
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
Students participate in these campus-wide events: College/University's Graduation