University Participant (UP) Program
Western Carolina University
University Participant (UP) Program
1 University Drive
Killian 120
Cullowhee, NC 28723
1 University Drive
Killian 120
Cullowhee, NC 28723
| Program Contact | Dr. Kelly R. Kelley |
| kkelley@email.wcu.edu | |
| Phone | 828.227.3297 |
| Website | https://www.wcu.edu/learn/departments-schools-colleges/ceap/stl/special-educatio... |
| link to program Facebook page |
The WCU UP Program provides an inclusive, two-year, on-campus living and learning experience for college-aged persons with intellectual disabilities. The goal of the program is to facilitate UP students' transition from secondary school to adult life with education, employment and independent living.
UP students live in on-campus dormitories distributed throughout university residence halls under the same university policies that apply to all WCU students. On-campus life is fully integrated and inclusive. There are no separate facilities, settings or classes for UP students.
WCU undergraduate students are recruited to provide paid and unpaid support to facilitate UP Students living on campus, attending classes, engaging in social and recreational activities, becoming involved in student organizations and developing friendships.
Program information submitted: February 25, 2021
| 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: | 8 |
| Description of our summer transition program: | We offer a spring orientation training and invite conditionally accepted applicants for the fall semester to come while WCU students are already on campus and get oriented to a typical college week. |
| Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Program serves students who have left high school? | Yes, all of our students have left high school |
| Regular H.S. diploma required? | No, an IEP/non-standard diploma/certificate of attendance is accepted |
| Deadline to apply to this program: | December 1 |
| Link to admissions process: | Admissions link |
| Criteria for admission |
|
| Accepts out-of-state students?: | Yes |
| Please indicate which disabilities students in this program have: |
|
| Program length: | 2 years |
| Acceptance, Retention, and Completion Rates | |
|---|---|
| Acceptance rate for the most recent fall term | 70.00% |
| 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 | $17365.00 |
| Average out-of-state tuition, current year | $25425.00 |
| Program fees: | $5000.00 |
| Cost of the program: | |
| 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: |
|
| Scholarships available: | Scholarships are available (but not a constant guarantee) through our generous donors that work with our WCU Office of Development and Advancement. |
| Academic | |
|---|---|
| Students take these types of "typical" courses (with students who don't have disabilities): |
|
| More about course access: | UP students audit courses with their college peers in the same settings. We rely on the college faculty that teach all college students to also teach UP students in their combined courses as well. |
| Students take courses that are only for students in this program: | Yes |
| Are students in this program able to access support services through your IHE disability services office? | Yes |
| Information on special classes: | There is only one class specific to our program to work on individual goals and that class time is taught by their same-age peers and mentors. Our UP staff do not teach courses to UP students and they are not pulled in separate classes. |
| Percentage of academic time spent only with other students in this program: | All of the time |
| Credential(s) students earn upon completing the program: | UP Certificate of Accomplishment |
| Is the credential IHE-approved? | Yes, this credential has been through a formal approval process at the IHE |
| Employment | |
|---|---|
| Other career development activities are: |
|
| We offer the following specialized credentials: | Due to COVID, we are unable to report our career and work experiences above for 2019-2020. |
| 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: |
|
| Extracurricular | |
|---|---|
| Students participate in student organizations on campus: | Yes |
| Proportion of social time spent only with other students in this program: | None of the time |
| Students have participated in these social/extracurricular activities and organizations: | They can join any of the social/extracurricular activities and organizations found for all WCU students at our organizational website called ENGAGE https://wcu.campuslabs.com/engage/ |