3209 Virginia Avenue
Fort Pierce, FL 34981
| Program Contact | Marria Partee |
| mpartee@irsc.edu | |
| Phone | 772-462-7817 |
| Website | https://www.irsc.edu/programs/project-stage.html |
Project STAGE (Students Transitioning to Academic & Gainful Employment) supports students with intellectual disabilities (ID) while they pursue education and employment in their chosen occupation. Students receive academic training; job shadowing opportunities; internships; inclusive classes; joining student clubs & organizations; attending campus events and building relationships with IRSC student mentors.
| General | |
|---|---|
| Public or private: | Public |
| 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: | 12 |
| Description of our summer transition program: |
Summer session will cover topics of wellness (personal health, nutrition & physical fitness); transportation access (safely & independently accessing and traveling using public transportation); career readiness (job seeking skills, resume & interviews) and financial readiness (income and expenditures, budgeting and savings). |
| Affiliates | |
|---|---|
| School district or agency partner: | St. Lucie School District |
| Contact person: | Lesa Kitzmiller |
| Email: | lesa.kitzmiller@stlucieschools.org |
| Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Deadline to apply to this program: | May 22 of each year |
| Requirements for admission to this program: |
|
| Accepts out-of-state students?: | Yes |
| Please indicate which disabilities students in this program have: |
|
| Program length: | 2 years |
| Acceptance, Retention, and Completion Rates | |
|---|---|
| Percent of students applying who are admitted: | 32% |
| Retention rate: | inf% |
| Cost | |
|---|---|
| Cost of the program: |
$2.56 per clock hour; $103.83 per college credit, Florida Resident; and $390.49 per college credit, Non-Florida Resident |
| Additional costs: |
$1,920.00 Books and tools between $800 and $1200 per year. Meals per semester $720.00 |
| 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: |
|
| Scholarships available: |
Florida Prepaid College Program; Scholarships from the Grant at University of Central Florida - Unique Abilities |
| Academic | |
|---|---|
| Students take these types of "typical" courses (with students who don't have disabilities): |
|
| More about course access: |
Students are enrolled in the career training programs. |
| Students take courses that are only for students in this program: | Yes |
| Information on special classes: |
Students will take will take a course in Topics in Work Skills, Specialized Career Education Basic, 1, 2, and 3. These classes are not inclusive classes. |
| Time spent only with other students in this program: | Between half the time and 75% of the time |
| Credential(s) students earn upon completing the program: | a variety of certificates, based on the path chosen by the student |
| The credential(s) is/are: |
|
| Employment | |
|---|---|
| Percent of students in this program have paid work while attending the program: | 15% |
| Other career development activities are: |
|
| Percent of students in this program that had paid work after exiting the program: | 0% |
| We offer the following specialized credentials: |
OCA A: Information Technology Assistant Certificate; Specialized Career Education, Basic Certificate; IRSC Certificate for Transition to College/Employability & Career Exploration with Job Shadowing; OCP A: Basic Healthcare Worker Certificate; OCP B: Nurse Aide and Orderly Certificate; 40 Hour Statewide Child Care Certificate; OCP A: Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Heating Helper Certificate; OCP A: Automobile Service Assistor Certificate; OCP B: Front Desk Specialist Certificate; plus can choose from other certificate programs |
| Housing | |
|---|---|
| Housing is provided to students: | No |
| Extracurricular | |
|---|---|
| Students participate in student organizations on campus: | Yes |
| Proportion of time spent only with other students in this program: | 75% |
| Students have participated in these social/extracurricular activities and organizations: |
Students will join a campus club; have peer mentors; and attend campus activities and events. |