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Compass

Compass
Duquesne University
Compass
600 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
Program Contact Dr. Alia Pustorino-Clevenger
Program Contact Email pustorinoa@duq.edu
Phone 412-396-6696

The Compass Program is a fully inclusive post-secondary collegian program currently in pilot phase. Compass is a four year certificate program for students who are enthusiastic about the opportunity to pursue curricular, vocational, and social opportunities at college as a means in which to develop independence and future careers. Students benefit from participating in a program situated in an urban environment to promote social inclusion and greater internship and career opportunities as well as the robust social offerings of the Pittsburgh community.

Program information submitted: February 1, 2023

General
Public or private: Private
Type of school: 4-year college or university
Is this program a federally funded TPSID program? Yes
Students in this program: Have graduated or exited from high school
Number of students: 4
Requirements
Program serves students who have left high school? Yes, all of our students have left high school
Regular high school diploma required? Yes, a regular high school diploma or GED is required
Deadline to apply to this program: April 1
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
Program length: 4 years
Acceptance, Retention, and Completion Rates
Acceptance rate for the most recent fall term: 50.00%
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: $17500.00
Room and board: $12000.00
Program fees: $10000.00
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:
  • Private pay (student and family)
  • Tuition Waivers
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Funds
  • Scholarships
  • Adult intellectual/developmental disability state agency funds
  • Grant Funding
  • Medicaid Waiver or Day Habilitation funds
Scholarships available:

Students in the Compass program are eligible to apply for DREAM Partnership Grants and the program supports students in completing applications for other scholarships throughout academic year.

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
More about course access:

Compass students participate in traditional academic courses offered through the university course catalogue for all undergraduate students.

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
Credential(s) students earn upon completing the program: Compass Program Certificate
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
  • Academic advising services (not program staff)
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
  • Work Study
Percent of students in this program that had paid work after exiting the program: 0%
Additional information about career development and work experience:

All Compass students are encouraged to have work experiences throughout school and receive significant career development opportunities through internship requirements.

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): 100%
Students may participate in the following extra-curricular activities
  • Registered student organizations
  • Student government
  • Club sports
  • Campus events
  • Fraternities/sororities
Students participate in these campus-wide events:
  • College/University's Student orientation
  • College/University's Family orientation