RISE (Road to Independent Living, Spiritual Formation and Employment)

RISE stands for Road to Independent Living, Spiritual Formation and Employment. The purpose is to give students with intellectual disabilities the college life experience, in a Christian community, and to prepare them to live as independently as possible and to gain skills that will assist them to be competitively employed. RISE is a 2-year program that includes a customized curriculum, as well as opportunities for the students to audit traditional student courses. The customized curriculum includes independent living, personal fitness & wellness, person-centered planning, professional skills and current events. Both on- and off-campus internships are part of the program. RISE students are fully-engaged in Judson student life – participating in chapel three times per week, sporting events, music/theater/social activities, etc. Our students earn a Certificate of Completion in Liberal Arts and participate in the Judson University graduation ceremony. Two RISE students are assigned to a dorm room, with a RISE Resident Advisor living across the hall. Traditional Judson students also have the opportunity to be Learning or Vocational Advisors for the program. RISE cohorts, of 8-10 students each, begin every Fall semester; tuition, room & board match the costs that traditional Judson students pay. Each RISE cohort follows a typical academic year (4 semesters, spanning August through May for 2 academic years). Ideal candidates are students 18-25 years of age, with a diagnosed intellectual disability, a high school diploma or equivalent, practical reading/writing skills and a desire to learn with traditional students. An online application is available at www.judsonu.edu/RISE; we begin reviewing applications on February 1st and continue to accept applications until the cohort is filled.