901 South National Avenue
Springfield, MO 65897
| Program Contact | Rachel Heinz |
| rachelheinz@missouristate.edu | |
| Phone | 417-836-5282 |
| Website | https://www.missouristate.edu/bearpower/ |
Missouri State Bear POWER (Promoting Opportunities for Work, Education and Resilience) is an inclusive college program for students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Bear POWER is a two and a half year (five semester) residential program that provides the opportunity for students to continue their education beyond high school. Note that accepted students start in January of each year.
All students choose an "area of concentration" that they wish to study and will attend inclusive classes alongside their peers with modified academic coursework. Ambassadors are Missouri State student volunteers who provide support and integration to Bear POWER students within academic and social settings.
A variety of internship based experiences will also be included within the Bear POWER program. Upon completing the program, students will earn a certificate and walk in the graduation ceremony alongside their peers.
| General | |
|---|---|
| Public or private: | Public |
| Type of school: | 4-year college or university |
| Is this program a federally funded TPSID program? | No |
| Students in this program: | Have graduated or exited from high school |
| Number of students: | 10 |
| Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Deadline to apply to this program: | March 4 |
| Link to admissions process: | Admissions link |
| Requirements for admission to this program: |
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| Please indicate which disabilities students in this program have: |
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| Program length: | 2 years |
| Cost | |
|---|---|
| Cost of the program: | No details provided. |
| 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: |
|
| Academic | |
|---|---|
| Students take these types of "typical" courses (with students who don't have disabilities): | Typical college courses for audit |
| Students take courses that are only for students in this program: | Yes |
| Time spent only with other students in this program: | Less than 25% of the time |
| Credential(s) students earn upon completing the program: | Bear POWER Certificate |
| The credential(s) is/are: | Just for students in this program |
| Employment | |
|---|---|
| Other career development activities are: |
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| Housing | |
|---|---|
| Housing is provided to students: | Yes |
| Housing options available: |
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| Extracurricular | |
|---|---|
| Proportion of time spent only with other students in this program: | Less than 25% |