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Sooner Works

Sooner Works
University of Oklahoma
Sooner Works
338 Cate Center Drive, Room 160
Norman, OK 73019
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Program Contact Dr. Anna Barritt
Program Contact Email soonerworks@ou.edu
Phone (405) 325-8951
Website Program website
Facebook link to program Facebook page

The University of Oklahoma’s Sooner Works is a four-year comprehensive integrated program for students with an intellectual or developmental disability who desire a postsecondary experience on a college campus. Students in Sooner Works live on campus and take traditional university courses in conjunction with courses specific to Sooner Works. In addition, students participate in internships and social organizations on the beautiful University of Oklahoma campus. Students graduate from OU with a certificate in Integrated Community Studies Certificate. To purpose of Sooner Works is to prepare young adults with intellectual disabilities for successful adult outcomes, which includes obtaining integrated employment, developing essential skills necessary for independent living, enhancing academic skills, and becoming contributing members of their community.

Program information submitted: January 29, 2024

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: 26
Summer program name Sooner Works Summer Academy
Description of our summer transition program: he Sooner Works Summer Academy serves high school students with a documented intellectual (ID) or developmental disability (DD) who seek to enhance their independent living, academic, career development, and social skills while learning about the opportunity of college after high school graduation. The Sooner Works Summer Camp program serves students who are approximately 15-19 years old, who have completed their first year in high school but have not graduated. This program is affiliated with the Zarrow Institute on Transition & Self-Determination in the Jeannine Rainbolt College of Education.
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: February 1
Criteria for admission
  • Age range: 18-26
Accepts out-of-state students? Yes
Please indicate which disabilities students in this program have:
  • Intellectual disability
  • Autism
Planned program length 4 years
Cost
Average student tuition and fees for the current school year: $30000.00
Average out-of-state tuition, current year: $40000.00
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:
  • Private pay (student and family)
  • Vocational Rehabilitation Funds
  • Scholarships
  • Adult intellectual/developmental disability state agency funds
  • Federal Financial Aid
  • Veteran or Military Benefits
Scholarships available: Will Rogers Memorial Scholarship Oklahoma City 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 credit
  • Typical college courses for audit
More about course access: Students have full access to mainstream courses that are available to all freshmen, typically any 1000- or 2000- level course. Upper level classes can be accessed with permission from instructors.
Students take courses that are only for students in this program: Yes
Information on special classes: Students take one Sooner Works class semester that are centered on a particular life skills (ex. Personal Financial Literacy, Navigating the Job World).
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: Certificate in Integrated Community Studies
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
  • Academic tutoring services
  • Health services
  • Mental health/counseling 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: 25%
Other career development activities are:
  • Internships
  • Volunteer work
  • Community Service
  • Work Study
Percent of students in this program that had paid work after exiting the program: 100%
Additional information about career development and work experience: A key reason students come to OU is to improve their employment opportunities. This is implemented through a mix of customized support while also leveraging existing career services on campus. Students in Sooner Works participate in job exploration and internships beginning with 5 hours/week the second semester of their freshmen year. Sophomores intern 10 hours/week. Juniors intern 15 hours/week. Seniors intern 15-20 hours a week, ideally in a paid position in Norman or in a nearby community. Sooner Works currently partners with over 40 internship sites and develops relationships with new organizations and businesses every semester. Some of our internship sites include Sarkeys Fitness Center, OU Athletics, the Institute of Child Development, Sam Noble Museum, OU Jimmie Austin Golf Club, the OK Center for Public Management, Gaylord College of Journalism, and many more.
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
  • Inclusive off 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
  • 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