UNLV F.O.C.U.S.
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
UNLV F.O.C.U.S.
4505 S. Maryland Pkwy
Box 453014
Las Vegas, NV 89154
4505 S. Maryland Pkwy
Box 453014
Las Vegas, NV 89154
Note: This program is able to provide federal financial aid as a Comprehensive Transition Program (CTP).
| Program Contact | Ryan Wennerlind |
| karl.wennerlind@unlv.edu | |
| Phone | 702-895-1749 |
| Website | Program website |
| link to program Facebook page |
F.O.C.U.S. (Forming Occupational and Community Understanding for Success) is a 2 to 4 year post-secondary education program for young adults with intellectual/developmental disability including Autism. F.O.C.U.S. uses the principles of the Universal Design for Learning and Person Centered planning to provide a 100% inclusive program to help college students achieve current and future academic, independent living, and employment goals.
Program information submitted: February 17, 2022
| 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: | 25 |
| Summer program name | Annual Project FOCUS Summer Camp |
| Description of our summer transition program: | The week long summer camp is open to all Project FOCUS students but specifically for new students entering the program. This is one of the first opportunities to learn campus in the transition into the program. In addition to learning campus and campus operations, the camp also focuses on career development. Over the course of the week, students have the opportunity to learn about various career fields and to shadow specific jobs related to each student and their personal interest. |
| Summer program link: | Annual Project FOCUS Summer Camp |
| 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: | April 1st (annually) |
| Link to admissions process: | Admissions link |
| Criteria for admission |
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| Accepts out-of-state students?: | Yes |
| Please indicate which disabilities students in this program have: |
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| Program length |
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| 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 | $6500.00 |
| Average out-of-state tuition, current year | $14000.00 |
| Room and board: | $8000.00 |
| Program fees: | $6000.00 |
| 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: |
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| Scholarships available: | UNLV Cohen Scholars Program: $1100 per semester for four semesters. Competition for this scholarship is run every two years. Ruby's Rainbow: Project FOCUS has had multiple students receive a Ruby's Rainbow scholarship. |
| Links to scholarship information: | Program Admission and Scholarship |
| Academic | |
|---|---|
| Students enrolled in this program take the following types of inclusive courses (with students who don't have disabilities) |
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| More about course access: | While students audit typical UNLV courses, students have an audit agreement for each class to hold high expectations and create requirements the student is responsible to complete in order to receive credit towards the programs certificate. |
| Did ALL students in your program enroll in at least one inclusive college/university course either for credit or audit? | Yes |
| 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 |
| Students take STEM-related courses? | Yes |
| Information on special classes: | We offer three specific courses (i.e., FOCUS Daily Living, FOCUS Career Development, and FOCUS Internship). While these classes are mostly Project FOCUS students, program interns (typical peers) attend the classes as well. FOCUS Daily Living: Course covers daily living topics including: disability, advocacy, voting, personal hygiene, healthy relations, communication, decision making, and sexuality. FOCUS Career Development: Career development related specifically to student interest. Development of job and career exploration, work-based learning, workplace readiness, and self-advocacy. FOCUS Internship Seminar: Internship in specialty area specific to student interest. |
| Percentage of academic time spent in inclusive courses (with students who don't have disabilities) | 75-99% |
| Students in the program have access to the following campus-wide services: |
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| Credential(s) students earn upon completing the program: | Occupational, Career, Life Studies Certificate |
| Is the credential IHE-approved? | Awarded by program, not officially recognized by the IHE |
| Do students earn STEM-related certificates? | No |
| Students participate in these campus-wide events |
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| Employment | |
|---|---|
| Percent of students in this program have paid work while attending the program: | 20% |
| Other career development activities are: |
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| Percent of students in this program that had paid work after exiting the program: | 59% |
| Additional information about career development and work experience | In order to earn the programs 2-year certificate, students must work in at least two semesters of an internship. All work experience include the service of a job coach. Program specific course (i.e., FOCUS Daily Living, FOCUS Career Development, and FOCUS Internship Seminar) are built using concepts of Pre Employment, Training, Services (ETS). FOCUS Career Development serves as a prerequisite to FOCUS Internship Seminar and and internship most of the time. |
| 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: |
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| Extracurricular | |
|---|---|
| Students participate in student organizations on campus: | Yes |
| Students may participate in the following extra-curricular activities |
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