University Participant (UP) Program
The 蘑菇短视频UP Program provides an inclusive, two-year, on-campus living and learning
experience for college-aged persons with intellectual disability.
The goal of the program is to facilitate UP students' transition from secondary school
to adult life with education, employment, and independent living. The UP program currently
enrolls up to 12 students at a time.
Inclusive
UP students live in on-campus dormitories distributed throughout university residence
halls under the same university policies that apply to all 蘑菇短视频students. On-campus
life is fully integrated and inclusive. There are no separate facilities, settings,
or classes for UP students.
Supportive
蘑菇短视频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.
Trailblazing
The UP Program started as a pilot program in 2007 then was partially funded as one
of the Transition and Postsecondary Programs for Students with Intellectual Disabilities
(TPSID) through the Office of Postsecondary Education and continues to serve as a
model demonstration program for North Carolina.
Program Overview
The University Participant (UP) Program is an Inclusive Postsecondary Education (IPSE)
Program at WCU. It is a two-year, fully inclusive program for college-aged individuals
with an intellectual disability. UP Program students live on campus, take classes
of their choice, work, and get to participate in all campus and community events.
Basically, if it is offered to any traditional student at WCU, the UP students get
to participate too!
UP Program students are not eligible for an undergraduate or graduate degree from
the university and are not eligible to earn college credit, however they do receive
a Certificate of Accomplishment awarded through WCU's Educational Outreach department.
Learn about the importance of earning a certificate from a quality program . UP Program students must pay all current university tuition and fees.
UP students are permitted to audit individual courses as part of the UP Program and
required to pay appropriate fees for these courses as well as other university costs
(i.e., housing, meal plan, student activities, etc). The UP Certificate of Accomplishment
is awarded after a two-year period based on satisfactory completion of at least 80%
of their goals each semester and continued growth in each of five program areas.
UP Program students typically take 3-4 courses per semester that align to their
future goals. These are selected from the course catalog and open to all 蘑菇短视频students
to take. UP Program students have the same expectations as everyone else in the class
while using accommodations as needed. Natural supports taking the same class, along
with collaboration from professors, helps to ensure UP student success.
UP Program students are expected to work at least 10 hours per week, starting in
their first semester. This is in a field that aligns to the student's future career
goals which allows opportunity for new employer partnerships every semester. UP students
typically change jobs every semester to allow for a variety of experiences. Outside
of work, UP Program students are working on other important vocational skills, such
as building resumes, career exploration, interview practice, learning soft skills,
and so much more!
UP Program students set a variety of personal development goals for themselves
each semester that are individualized to what they want to accomplish. Some examples
include learning to cook, clean, meal plan, budget, hygiene skills, and even learning
to drive. Students practice these goals with their natural supports throughout the
day in individualized shifts that the student plans in advance each week.
UP Program students create their schedules each week, including several opportunities
to get involved in the local community. Often times you will find UP students visiting
near by towns to shop, going hiking at local waterfalls, attending the Mountain State
Fair, watching the sunset at the local airport, or every 蘑菇短视频student's favorite, grabbing
dinner at El Pat. UP Program students often participate in giveback projects as well,
including roadside trash pick-up, food drives, building painting projects, nursing
home visits, and so much more! Students are able to take and navigate public transit
or find a trusted friend to ride with.
Social Participation is arguably the most important area for UP Program students
to be involved as social skills are needed in all other areas. A variety of resources
are used to help promote the learning of social skills, including the PEERS 庐 and
Circles 庐 curriculum. UP Program students then have ample opportunity to practice
those skills in real time by getting involved in clubs and organizations on campus
along with attending events. Anything from going to a football game, attending swim
club practice, going to the SGA meetings, or various pop-up events on campus, all
of it is an option for the students to be part of.
Ready to learn more?
Here are a few highlights and testimonials in our recent created in Summer of 2025.
Interested in getting on our mailing list to receive information about important upcoming
dates? Complete our
Ready to become a Catamount? Check out our admissions process, requirements, and application details!
Have some questions? Check out our frequently asked questions page to see if other people have them too!
Interested in seeing what life is like as a UP student at WCU? Check out our student life page to see what UP is all about!
Already a 蘑菇短视频student interested in volunteering? We couldn't operate without the
200+ natural supports that help out each semester. C
heck out how to get involved and make the most out of your college experience!
Have specific questions for the UP Team? Send us an email at wcuupprogram@gmail.com
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