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REACH Program

REACH Program
College of Charleston
REACH Program
66 George Street
66 George street
Charleston, SC 29464
icon name
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Program Contact Edie Cusack
Program Contact Email cusackel@cofc.edu
Phone (843) 953-4849
Website Program website
Facebook link to program Facebook page

The REACH Program at the College of Charleston is a four-year, fully-inclusive certificate program for students with mild intellectual and/or developmental disabilities. The Reach Program promotes the advancement of knowledge and skill in the areas of academics, socialization, independent living, and career development and has been nationally recognized for its commitment to full inclusion and self-determination. Students in the REACH Program are able to participate in all activities offered by the College of Charleston, with individualized support for success. These include: -Attending traditional classes (with modifications and support); -Living in traditional on-campus housing and residence halls; -Completing internships; -Participation in campus clubs, activities, and organizations; and mentoring.

Program information submitted: January 30, 2023

General
Public or private: Public
Type of school: 4-year college or university
Is this program a federally funded TPSID program? No
Students in this program: Have graduated or exited from high school
Number of students: 33
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: Rolling admissions
Criteria for admission
  • Student must be 18 or older
  • The student is not under guardianship
Accepts out-of-state students? Yes
Please indicate which disabilities students in this program have:
  • Intellectual disability
  • Autism
  • '-Some brain injury, Chromosomal syndromes or other disorders that include an intellectual disability in the descriptor
Program length: 4 years
Acceptance, Retention, and Completion Rates
Acceptance rate for the most recent fall term: 20.00%
Retention rate for first year students from the previous academic year to the current one: 90.00%
Cost
Average student tuition and fees for the current school year: $6489.00
Average out-of-state tuition, current year: $17899.00
Room and board: $12761.00
Program fees: $14800.00
Additional costs:
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
  • Adult intellectual/developmental disability state agency funds
  • Federal Financial Aid
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: Students in the program take traditional courses each semester. Students meet with the academic advising office to choose classes from the college's course catalog.
Students take courses that are only for students in this program: Yes
Information on special classes: Students will participate in one REACH support course each semester. These are sessions designed to provide essential support for success. REACH support course examples include: Transition to College of Charleston Personal Finance Community Engagement Career Exploration
Percentage of academic time spent in inclusive courses (with students who don't have disabilities): 75-99%
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: College of Charleston Reach Certificate in 'a named area of study'
Is the credential approved by the college/university? Yes, this credential has been through a formal approval process at 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
Percent of students in this program that had paid work after exiting the program: 64%
Additional information about career development and work experience: Students in the REACH Program are placed in internships based on their interests and strengths beginning the second semester of freshman year. Internships are paid and are changed each semester to increase the student's employment skills, develop new areas of interest, and reinforce generalization of skills.
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): 75-99%
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
  • College/University's Graduation