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Bearcat BEST

Bearcat BEST
Saint Vincent College
Bearcat BEST
300 Fraser Purchase Road
Latrobe, PA 15650
Program Contact Amy Hildebrand
Program Contact Email amy.hildebrand@stvincent.edu
Phone 724-805-2765
Website Program website
Facebook link to program Facebook page

The Bearcat B.E.S.T. program was born of the need, expressed by parents of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, for transition programming that would focus on the needs of young adults who, while they may not have the aptitude for post-secondary education, could achieve, with appropriate transition programming, a greater level of independence than a sheltered workshop would provide them. The goals of the program are to develop the students’ capabilities in each of the four pillar areas: academics, vocational training, activities of daily living and social skills. Students passing out foodTo increase the level of functional independence for all students in the program To prepare each program participant for an integrated, competitive employment environment To maximize independence in activities of daily living to empower each participant to live in the most independent setting possible; and To assist each student in creating a family/community support system utilizing self-advocacy skills. Based upon the intake assessment, a program of studies will be developed to support the student’s strength areas and to remediate, using evidence-based strategies, identified needs related to each pillar. Courses will be offered according to a schedule patterned after the type of class schedule that a typical college student would enjoy.

Program information submitted: January 31, 2023

General
Public or private: Private
Type of school: 4-year college or university
Is this program a federally funded TPSID program? No
Number of students: 20
Description of our summer transition program:
Requirements
Program serves students who have left high school? No, all of our students are still in high school
Criteria for admission
  • Student must be 18 or older
Accepts out-of-state students? No
Please indicate which disabilities students in this program have:
  • Intellectual disability
  • Autism
Planned program length 3 years
Acceptance, Retention, and Completion Rates
Retention rate for first year students from the previous academic year to the current one: 100.00%
Cost
Students pay for the program in the following ways:
  • Local School District funds
Academic
Students take courses that are only for students in this program: Yes
Do all students in this program enroll in at least one inclusive college/university course for credit or audit each semester? No
Is the credential approved by the college/university? Awarded by program, not officially recognized by the IHE
Students in the program have access to the following campus-wide services:
  • Career services
  • Disability/accessibility services
  • Academic tutoring services
  • Health services
  • Access to a transcript via the registrar
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
Percent of students in this program that had paid work after exiting the program: 100%
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
Percentage of social time spent in inclusive activities (open to all students on campus): 75-99%
Students may participate in the following extra-curricular activities
  • Registered student organizations
  • Student government
  • Club sports
  • Campus events
  • Study abroad
Students participate in these campus-wide events:
  • College/University's Student orientation
  • College/University's Family orientation
  • College/University's Graduation