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REAL Certificate

REAL Certificate
Arcadia University
REAL Certificate
450 S. Easton Road
Glenside, PA 19038
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Program Contact Jessica Mattis
Program Contact Email REAL@arcadia.edu
Phone (215) 572-8624
Website Program website

The Raising Expectations for Academic Learning (REAL) Certificate offers students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities the opportunity to participate in a 2 year post-secondary academic- vocational- and social inclusion-focused program. The REAL Certificate is designed for students who are not able to access college by meeting typical entrance criteria and students must be between the ages of 18-26 at the start of the program. Students in the REAL Certificate audit traditional undergraduate courses and participate in inclusive vocational and social experiences. Students may choose to live on campus or commute. Students have the opportunity to participate in the university’s Preview program which is a spring semester course that includes an international excursion over spring break. An individual plan for college participation is developed for each student.

Program information submitted: January 31, 2023

General
Public or private: Private
Type of school: 4-year college or university
Is this program a federally funded TPSID program? No
Number of students: 10
Requirements
Program serves students who have left high school? Some of our students have left high school
Deadline to apply to this program: February 15, 2023
Criteria for admission
  • Age range: 18-26 at the start of the program
Accepts out-of-state students? Yes
Please indicate which disabilities students in this program have:
  • Intellectual disability
  • Autism
Planned program length 2 years
Acceptance, Retention, and Completion Rates
Acceptance rate for the most recent fall term: 22.00%
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: $6000.00
Program fees: $10000.00
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
  • Local School District 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 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
Credential(s) students earn upon completing the program: REAL Certificate
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
  • Health services
  • Access to a transcript via the registrar
Employment
Percent of students in this program have paid work while attending the program: 75%
Other career development activities are:
  • Internships
  • Volunteer work
Percent of students in this program that had paid work after exiting the program: 50%
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
  • Study abroad
Students participate in these campus-wide events:
  • College/University's Student orientation
  • College/University's Family orientation
  • College/University's Graduation