University Participant (UP) Program

The WCU 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 can enroll up to 12 students at a time. 

Now officially the first accredited inclusive post-secondary program in the country!

Program Overview

University Participant  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 recieve a Certificate of Accomplishment awarded through WCU's Educational Outreach department. 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 components. These components include the following:

• Personal development skills (e.g., communication skills, personal care skills, self-determination, etc.)
• Community participation skills (e.g., using public transportation, budgeting, grocery shopping, etc.)
• Vocational preparation skills (e.g., learning specific job skills on or off campus)
• Social participation and learning (e.g., participating in university functions such as athletic events, belonging to university clubs or organizations)
• Course auditing (e.g., auditing three to four courses per semester)

Note: UP students must pay current university fees for auditing courses.

Ready to learn more?

Here are a few highlights and testimonials in our recent UP to Date Report created in Summer of 2022.

Interested in getting on our mailing list to recieve information about important upcoming dates? Complete our interest survey!

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!

  

UP Program Staff

While the staff below oversee the operations of the UP program, it is the amazing natural supports who truly make the program happen! We couldn't operate without the 200+ natural supports that help out each semester. Interested in getting involved? Check out how to get involved and make the most out of your college experience!

Kelly R. Kelley

Program Director

kkelley@wcu.edu

828.227.3298

Alexandra R. Mathis

Program Coordinator

araxter@wcu.edu

828.227.3318

Susan K. Buchanan

Student and Career Services Specialist

skbuchanan@wcu.edu

828.227.3297

Meredith Morrison

Data and Outreach Assistant

mmorrison@wcu.edu

828.227.3297