1301 S. 48th St.
Quincy, IL 62305
| Program Contact | Michele Westmaas |
| mwestmaas@jwcc.edu | |
| Phone | 217-641-4340 |
| Website | https://www.jwcc.edu/communityed/college-for-life/ |
College for Life offers a post-secondary community college experience for students 18 years and older with intellectual disabilities and other learning challenges in a safe, welcoming environment. Students may be graduated or exited from high school OR may be completing final years of their high school special education transition plan.
College for Life courses are designed to prepare students for successful adult life with greater participation in competitive integrated employment, valued community membership, and independent living. The focus of the College for Life course of study is personal growth in academic and content area skills as well as development of ”soft skills” required for successful contribution as employees and citizens.
College for Life courses are non-credit courses addressing a variety of topics. A College for Life Certificate may be earned through a 3-year program of non-credit courses, developmental courses, regular college courses, or individual tutoring. Core courses required for the certificate are Self-Advocacy 1-3, Person-Centered Planning, Positive Communication, Healthy Relationships, Getting Ready to Work, and Personal Finance. Flexibility in elective courses allows students to pursue an individualized course of study with the opportunity for maximum participation with the general student body.
A College for Life Certificate demonstrates that students show independence, self-advocacy, and work readiness skills in preparation for adult citizenship in the community. Throughout the core Self-Advocacy and Person-Centered Planning courses, students use Charting the Life Course tools to think about and plan for their best futures.
| General | |
|---|---|
| Public or private: | Public |
| Type of school: | 2-year community college or junior college |
| Is this program a federally funded TPSID program? | No |
| Students in this program: |
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| Number of students: | 36 |
| Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Deadline to apply to this program: | Rolling Admission |
| 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: | 3 years |
| Cost | |
|---|---|
| Tuition amount: | $2,500.00 |
| Program specific fees: | $0.00 |
| 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: |
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| Scholarships available: |
Some scholarship funding may be available from the John Wood Community College Foundation College for Life Fund, endowments funds, or local organization grant opportunities. |
| Academic | |
|---|---|
| Students take these types of "typical" courses (with students who don't have disabilities): |
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| More about course access: |
Students may choose adult literacy or typical college courses (developmental, audit, or credit) as Certificate electives; some CFL students go on to take typical college courses. |
| Students take courses that are only for students in this program: | Yes |
| Information on special classes: |
Students take College for Life non-credit core courses and electives together. Time in separate classes varies depending on the student, from 20% of the time to 100% of the time. |
| Time spent only with other students in this program: | About 75% of the time |
| Credential(s) students earn upon completing the program: | College for Life Certificate of Completion |
| The credential(s) is/are: |
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| Employment | |
|---|---|
| Other career development activities are: |
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| Housing | |
|---|---|
| Housing is provided to students: | No |
| Extracurricular | |
|---|---|
| Students participate in student organizations on campus: | No |
| Students have participated in these social/extracurricular activities and organizations: |
Currently, no students have taken the opportunity to participate in student organizations on campus. Students commute, some from as far as an hour away, so transportation issues make it difficult for students to participate in campus activities. We are exploring ways to encourage greater participation in student activities. |