My first thought was is this really a "new" set of students to choose from? I think that there has always been students with anxieties, dyslexia or other disorders that have chosen to go to college. Years ago, their disorders may not have been diagnosed but many of them did not let their struggles stand in the way of an education. Of course, I have no idea if these students succeeded or not, what the retention rates were, etc. How could we know if we didn't even know there were such conditions in many instances. The article, "Students with Learning and Social Issues Have More College Options," does make it sound like there are more students with disabilities are attending colleges. I am not certain that I agree with that thought. I believe there is more awareness of such conditions, better testing for these areas and an increased knowledge surrounding these issues.
What I do agree with from the article is the increasing number of programs available to such students and the identifying factors that can help such students succeed. What is even better is that many colleges are realizing that just having a resources center for these students may not be enough. My daughter has anxiety and has struggled with it for a long time. Definitely, she is challenged with testing requirements of the school. But she also has moments of a true anxiety attack and sometimes the exact cause is not identifiable. Currently, she is removed from the classroom to take exams and is given additional time if needed. This program has allowed her academic success. She will likely graduate from high school with a 3.7 GPA which is an amazing accomplishment. The article gave me a new hope for a student such as my daughter! Now, there are programs that are available to students with anxieties at the college level and not just a mere testing center that is available.
Right here in my home state, the University of Colorado at Denver has a program run by College Living Experience whereby a student can live in an apartment building that has other students attending college but struggling with various disabilities. This organization provides tutoring, counseling, social outings and living skills for a set of students. They even have a couple of golden retrievers that live in the complex that students hang out with, play with and use as a stress reliever. The program obviously costs money and College Living Experience is a for profit organization, but I found the concept quite intriguing. This program might be a little extreme for the needs of my daughter but intriguing, none the less. They handle students with autism, dyslexia, Asperger's syndrome, and severe anxieties.
Other programs, like that at Marshall University, are all university run. At Marshall University, they have a program for students with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism. Currently, they can only admit 10 students into the program but they have about 50 applicants each year. The student pays an additional $3,600 each semester for the program in addition to their tuition. Asperger's Syndrome is characterized by individuals with eccentric behaviors and social isolation. Many of the afflicted children and adults are highly intelligent but have significant struggles with the social aspects of their lives. Marshall's program staffs 3 full time and 17 graduate assistance to provide over 20 hours a week of support to these students with Asperger's.
Such programs are likely to be costly and there will always be a need to charge these students an additional fee. At the same time, graduate students and doctoral students can mutually benefit from such programs to increase their knowledge, skills and hands on experience. These programs provide new ways for students to help one another, interact and learn.
The University of Arizona has a program that serves over 600 students and is called the Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques Center (SALT). The students develop a learning plan, meet with counselors on a regular basis and have their own 16,000 square foot building next to the University's Student Union.
Other colleges are offering programs for those students suffering with ADD and ADHD which are common diagnosis for many children. There are also programs for bipolar and severe depression. The number of programs and the number of universities getting involved is growing quickly.
As Student Development Leaders, these programs, ideas and innovations are motivating factors to continue to develop students as a whole. Universities are not just for providing an academic environment and a degree. These new programs for students with learning and social issues are exciting. The opportunities of success for these students is unmeasurable but the retention rates can be tracked. If costs can be maintained and Universities can stay focused, indeed, increased enrollment may just be a secondary benefit of these helpful programs!
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