College Search

Lions Connected

Lions Connected
Southeastern Louisiana University
Lions Connected
SLU Box 10671
Hammond, LA 70402
icon name
Program Contact Dr. Gerlinde Beckers
Program Contact Email gbeckers@selu.edu
Website Program website

The mission of Lions Connected (LC) is to provide a personalized, post-secondary educational experience for individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ID) by immersing our students into the College Experience while preparing them for vocational opportunities and becoming valued members of society. Lions Connected is apprroved by the U.S. Department of Education as a comprehension transitiona & post-secondary program. Lions Connected courses, combined with college-level courses are centered around the practice of “learning by doing”. As LC students prepare for a career they love, we work closely with each student to customize their courses and college experience. Academic mentors accompany each student every step of the way, including class attendance, in-class assignments and out-of-class assignments and homework support. Social Mentors are available to work with our students as often as needed. The entire program is driven by the importance of inclusion of students. LC students learn functional, social, employment, and academic skills needed to be successful individuals in society. Each semester, LC students audit 1 Academic Course as well as 1 Kinesiology Lab Course. In addition, LC students participate in a functional Life Skills Program and Inclusive Vocational Opportunities on campus beginning in their second year. During the final semester of the program, LC students have the opportunity for supported employment.

Program information submitted: January 24, 2023

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: 16
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 1
Criteria for admission
  • Student must be 18 or older
  • have a Career Diploma from their high school (not eligible for traditional admission to University) • be between 18-25 years of age • display appropriate University and classroom behavior (i.e. no behavior plans addressed through IEPs) • manage basic self-care skills such as toileting, eating, dressing, personal hygiene • demonstrate a commitment to work and a desire for personal independence • demonstrate the following skills: basic math/counting skills, basic reading and writing skills and the ability to operate a calculator • demonstrate the ability to conduct a successful personal interview independently from outside prompting by a parent or guardian

Accepts out-of-state students? Yes
Please indicate which disabilities students in this program have:
  • Intellectual disability
  • Autism
Planned program length
  • 2 years
  • 4 years
Acceptance, Retention, and Completion Rates
Acceptance rate for the most recent fall term: 28.50%
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: $3000.00
Average out-of-state tuition, current year: $3000.00
Additional costs: $0.00

Consumable items required for certain courses

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)
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Funds
  • Scholarships
  • Federal Financial Aid
Scholarships available:

Ruby's Rainbow, Northshore Community Foundation

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:

Student centered based on course availability per semester

Students take courses that are only for students in this program: Yes
Information on special classes:

Life Skills, social skills, and vocational skills classes

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: Certificate of Completion documenting focus area of study
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: 25%
Other career development activities are:
  • Internships
Percent of students in this program that had paid work after exiting the program: 60%
Additional information about career development and work experience:

Non-paid inclusive vocational opportunities on campus in an area of interest

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
Students participate in student organizations on campus: Yes
Percentage of social time spent in inclusive activities (open to all students on campus): 25-49%
Students may participate in the following extra-curricular activities
  • Registered student organizations
  • Student government
  • Club sports
  • Campus events
  • Study abroad
  • Fraternities/sororities
Students participate in these campus-wide events:
  • College/University's Student orientation
  • College/University's Family orientation
  • College/University's Graduation