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CHOICE Program for Inclusive Learning

CHOICE Program for Inclusive Learning
East Georgia State College
CHOICE Program for Inclusive Learning
131 College Circle
Academic/Student Affairs
Swainsboro, GA 30471
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Program Contact Theresa R. Davis
Program Contact Email trdavis@ega.edu
Phone 478-289-2191

The CHOICE Program for Inclusive Learning is a two-year (4 semesters) inclusive college certificate program built upon four principles: career development, academic enrichment, self-determination, and independent living. These principles provide an organizing framework of individual support for the academic and social inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities for immersion in the higher education experience.

Using a person-centered planning approach, CHOICE students engage in education that specifically targets both academic and social development, integrated work experiences such as work-based learning opportunities and work-based internships/training on and off campus, self-advocacy skills, and independent living skills that will empower students to lead richer, fuller lives in their respective communities. Students are actively involved in Student Life campus activities which enhance each student’s experience by providing opportunities for campus immersion, developing friendships, and facilitating social relationships.

EGSC Student Life activities open to all EGSC students include movies, dances, lectures, concerts, field trips, student publications, intramurals, and club activities, among other things. Important natural supports including peer mentors, drawn for all programs of study, facilitate participation in academic classes, engaging in social and recreational activities, becoming involved in student organizations, living in dorms, and developing natural friendships and relationships.

This peer support structure not only provides a high level of positive inclusive opportunities for CHOICE students, but it also provides important experience for our undergraduates without disabilities.

Program information submitted: February 23, 2024

General
Public or private: Public
Type of school: 2-year community college or junior college
Is this program a federally funded TPSID program? No
Number of students: 12
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: March 21st 2024
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
Planned program length 2 years
Acceptance, Retention, and Completion Rates
Acceptance rate for the most recent fall term: 100.00%
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: $1368.00
Average out-of-state tuition, current year: $4316.04
Room and board: $3469.00
Program fees: $5000.00
Additional costs: $0.00
Meal Plans The meal plan provided in the campus dining hall provides residents 9 meals per week (Lunch, Monday - Friday; Dinner, Monday - Thursday), along with optional dining dollars for use at the Café Window, Common Grounds Coffee Shop, and the RLB Dining Hall.
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)
  • Scholarships
  • Federal Financial Aid
  • Grant Funding
  • Available based on eligibility Private pay Scholarships GVRA Funding IPSE State Scholarship funding
Scholarships available: IPSE State Scholarship funding
Academic
Students enrolled in this program take the following types of inclusive courses (with students who don't have disabilities): Typical college courses for audit
More about course access: Introduction to Sociology Marriage and the Family Social Problems Freshman First Year courses Introduction to ART Art History 2D Art 3D Art Wellness Introduction to Business The environment of Business Public Speaking Intracultural Communication Film Theater
Students take courses that are only for students in this program: Yes
Information on special classes: First Semester CHOICE Program Courses 21st Century Skills I: CHOI 1001 Communication Skills: Social, Leisure, and Self-Advocacy Humanities (3 Credits) This is the first of two courses designed to provide students with the opportunity to gain effective interpersonal and intrapersonal communication techniques for success in college, career, and life. Well-developed social interaction skills are critical for developing positive self-esteem, building relationships, and ultimately for acceptance into society. Students will learn to communicate effectively with others, establish friendships, and develop positive social relationships. Students will also begin the process of developing their Person-Centered Plan. Students will receive guidance from CHOICE Staff and family members to develop a "toolbox" of methods and resources that enable the student to choose their own pathways to success. Tool-Box skills First Semester Learning and Technology: CHOI 1002 Strategies for success in college Social Science (3 Credits) Room Request J531 This course emphasizes learning and innovation skills, information, media and technology skills and life and career skills. This interactive learning course provides opportunities for learners to explore and build skills for college work and develop a foundation of behaviors, habits and skills that will enable students to succeed and thrive in the working world. Topics for discussion include: • Succeeding Inside and Outside the Classroom • Differences between High School and College • General Study Strategies • Effectively Using College Resources Second Semester Workplace Readiness CHOI 1003 Humanities (3 Credits) Through the instruction of soft skills associated with employment, students will gain an understanding of job management skills and building employee/employer relationships. Students will increase their understanding of workplace protocols and expectations, as well as ethical conduct, including social media. Students will also become aware of the evaluation process of job performance and the effective strategies for conflict resolution, problem solving, and resigning from a job. Students will also have the opportunity for work-based learning experiences. Students will be placed on campus or in the community at various sites from two to three hours per week for six to eight weeks. They will be supervised by program staff. This course gives students initial exposure to work in the community and allows for exploration in several career areas. With CHOICE Work-Based Training Experiences This experience provides students with opportunities to gather information on a wide variety of career possibilities before deciding where they want to focus their attention. Students visit a variety of workplaces during which time students observe and ask questions of individual workers. Work-based training experiences are designed so students take an active role in learning. Course activities conducted prior to and following the work-based training experience are designed to help students connect their experience to their course work and relate the visits directly to career pathways, and related skill requirements. Goals of the Shadowing Program: • Demonstrate the connections between academics and careers and helps students learn by making their course work more relevant • Builds community partnerships between East Georgia State College and businesses that enhance the educational experience of all students. • Introduces students to the requirements of professions and industries to help them prepare to join the workforce of the 21st century • Encourages an ongoing relationship between students and caring adults. Second Semester 21st Century Skills II: CHOI 1004 Career Exploration and Planning Humanities (3 Credits) The course is designed to introduce students to the process of career decision-making, educational planning, and job searching. Students will evaluate their personal career interests, values, skills, and aptitudes. Students will understand the importance of matching career options to their personal preferences and how those preferences may change over time due to maturity and experiences. This is a very interactive course and students will frequently use online search tools and applications including multi-media programs, career assessments and research. Students will develop a job search portfolio and participate in a mock job interview. Third Semester Independent Living Skills I: CHOI 2005 Learning and Earning Social Science (3 Credits) This course blends academic, daily living, personal/social, and occupational skills into integrated lessons designed to help students learn to function independently in society. The course highlights techniques beneficial to helping students analyze their current level of balance between work and life responsibilities and overcome internal and external obstacles to achieving balance. Strategies covered in this course include: • Recognizing the behaviors of passiveness, aggressiveness, and assertiveness and how those affect a person's ability to find balance in life, • Signs and symptoms of stress, where stresses can come from, and strategies for coping with stress and avoiding burnout. • How to positively change your responses to stress. • Relaxation techniques Third Semester Career Planning CHOI 2006 Social Science (3 Credits) This course focuses on instructional methods, materials, and curricula to introduce students to the fundamentals of planning, organizing, and implementing a comprehensive job search campaign. Emphasis is placed on identification of individual career goals, assessments of skills and abilities, exploration of career options, analysis of the job market, and effective use of employment search tools (e.g. resumes, cover letters, interviewing, networking, and management of career pathways and resources. Discussion and debate are encouraged and includes presentations by Recruiters and Employer Representatives. This course is focused on helping CHOICE students to successfully implement their career plans. This course also embeds Pre-Employment Training service methods, materials, and curricula to introduce students to the fundamentals of planning, organizing, and implementing a comprehensive job search campaign. Emphasis is placed on identification of individual career goals, assessments of skills and abilities, exploration of career options, analysis of the job market, and effective use of employment search tools (e.g. resumes, cover letters, interviewing, networking, and management of career pathways and resources. Final Semester Independent Living Skills II: Empowered Transition CHOI 2007 Social Science With a Work Component (4 Credits) This course is designed to provide students with the opportunity to show case skills learned during the entire program. Students are asked to demonstrate their ability to apply key knowledge and skills by planning, completing, and presenting a culminating project linked to one or more areas of personal interest and the individual's Person-Centered Plan. Students will be engaged in a project/experience that focuses on an interest, career path or academic pursuit that synthesizes course of study and real world. The capstone experience may include an in-depth project, reflective portfolio, community service and/or work-based internship experience. As part of the experience, the student will demonstrate research, communication and technology skills including additional relevant 21st century skills. CHOICE Work-based Internship The work component of the course provides students with on-the-job training opportunities that are directly related to their career goal and course of study identified through their Person-Centered Plan and Career Portfolio. This learning experience is designed to bridge the gap between program and work. Appropriate supervision by CHOICE Staff will be maintained. The goals of the work-based internship program are to help the student: • Develop good work habits. • Experience personal growth. • Strengthen communication skills. • Gain an awareness of the community's vast resources and the world of work. Expected outcomes of this experience for the students include: • Increased self-esteem and personal growth derived from successfully meeting new interpersonal and intellectual challenges. • Acquired new skills and knowledge. • Increased exposure to various work roles and career choices. • Increased understanding of the relationship between school-based learning and work experience. • Increased opportunities for high school students to explore areas of academic career, or service interests. • Development of positive relationships between the CHOICE work-based internship program, the school, and the community.
Percentage of academic time spent in inclusive courses (with students who don't have disabilities): 50-74%
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: The educational credential offered by EGSC through the CHOICE Program is entitled Certificate of Accomplishment in Work Readiness Skills
Other than the credential listed above, can students earn any other credentials that are available to all students? CPR certification, Community Coach Certification, Forklift operator
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: 50%
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: 80%
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
Extracurricular
Students participate in student organizations on campus: Yes
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