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Community of Inclusive Scholars

Community of Inclusive Scholars
Salem State University
Community of Inclusive Scholars
352 Lafayette Street
Salem, MA 1970
icon name
Program Contact Matthew Nolan
Program Contact Email mnolan@salemstate.edu
Phone 978-559-9068
Website Program website

The Community of Inclusive Scholars Program at Salem State University is a MAICEI Program; Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative. Opening its doors in the Spring of 2017, the Community of Inclusive Scholars Program offers a “college experience” to high school students with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism Spectrum Disorders from partnering school districts. MAICEI students are 18–22 years old, are unable to pass the MCAS exams or have passed MCAS but still qualify for special education services, are currently on an IEP, and are enrolled in a partnership district.

The Community of Inclusive Scholar students participate in two college courses, in both the fall and spring semester. In addition, Inclusive Scholars students will also participate in at least one identified activity or club, internship opportunities either on campus or through their school district, participate in the Gassett Fitness Center, peer tutoring, and the writing center. The ultimate goal of the Community of Inclusive Scholars Program is to prepare students for paid employment through the promotion of self-determination, self-advocacy, increased independence, and improvement of social skills.

Program information submitted: February 1, 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: 20
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: April 1st
Criteria for admission
  • Student must be 18 or older
  • Age range: 18-26
Accepts out-of-state students? No
Please indicate which disabilities students in this program have:
  • Intellectual disability
  • Autism
Planned program length
  • 2 years
  • Varies from student to student
Acceptance, Retention, and Completion Rates
Acceptance rate for the most recent fall term: 90.00%
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: $3500.00
Room and board: $3500.00
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)
  • Adult intellectual/developmental disability state agency funds
  • Local School District funds
  • Grant 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 credit
  • Typical college courses for audit
Percentage of academic time spent in inclusive courses (with students who don't have disabilities): 100%
Do all students in this program enroll in at least one inclusive college/university course for credit or audit each semester? Yes
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
Employment
Percent of students in this program have paid work while attending the program: 70%
Other career development activities are:
  • Internships
  • Volunteer work
  • Community Service
Does this program have a working partnership with VR to provide funding, supports and/or services to students in the program? No
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): 100%
Students may participate in the following extra-curricular activities
  • Registered student organizations
  • Club sports
  • Campus events
  • Fraternities/sororities
Students participate in these campus-wide events: College/University's Student orientation