STEPS PROGRAM INC

COLLEGE STEPS PARTNERS WITH COLLEGES TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED COLLEGE SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS LIVING WITH SOCIAL OR LEARNING CHALLENGES. COLLEGE STEPS OFFERS ITS SUPPORT PROGRAM TO STUDENTS FOR WHOM NAVIGATING COLLEGE IS CHALLENGED BY SOCIAL, ACADEMIC, OR LEARNING BARRIERS. IT PROVIDES SERVICES TO BOTH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT COLLEGE LIFE PRIOR TO HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AS WELL AS ENROLLED COLLEGE STUDENTS. EACH STUDENT PARTICIPATING IN COLLEGE STEPS RECEIVES AN INDIVIDUALIZED COLLEGE PLAN THAT HELPS TO HIGHLIGHT THEIR GOALS AND AREAS OF NEEDED SUPPORT WITHIN ACADEMIC, SOCIAL, INDEPENDENT LIVING, AND VOCATIONAL CATEGORIES. COLLEGE STEPS' COLLEGE CAMPUS SUPPORTS ARE MANAGED BY A FULL-TIME PROGRAM COORDINATOR ON EACH CAMPUS WHO SUPPORTS COLLEGE STEPS' STUDENTS IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS (A) WORKS WITH STUDENTS TO DEVISE AND REFINE AN INDIVIDUALIZED COLLEGE PLAN (ICP) THAT OUTLINES THE STUDENT'S ACADEMIC, VOCATIONAL, SOCIAL, AND INDEPENDENT LIVING GOALS AND SERVES AS A WORKING ROAD MAP FOR COLLEGE SUCCESS, (B) MEETS WITH STUDENTS DAILY TO ENSURE ACADEMIC GOALS ARE BEING MET AND SUPPORT IS BEING MOST EFFICIENTLY PROVIDED, (C) INTERFACES WITH FAMILY MEMBERS TO ENSURE FREQUENT AND DETAILED FEEDBACK ON STUDENT PERFORMANCE IS CONVEYED, (D) INTERFACES WITH COLLEGE FACULTY, ADMINISTRATORS, STAFF AND STUDENTS TO COORDINATE AND SUPPORT THE INDIVIDUALIZED NEEDS OF EACH STUDENT, (E) SUPERVISES COLLEGE STEPS NETWORK OF ON-CAMPUS PEER MENTORS. COLLEGE STEPS ALSO CAREFULLY SELECTS, TRAINS, AND EMPLOYS A TEAM OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS AT THE PARTNERING COLLEGE. PEER MENTORS PROVIDE SUPPORT WITH ACADEMICS (E.G. SUPPORTIVE TIME STUDY, ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT, ETC) AND VOCATIONAL INTERNSHIPS, AS WELL AS HELP LINK COLLEGE STEPS SCHOLARS TO THE SOCIAL ELEMENT OF COLLEGE LIFE VIA INTRODUCTION TO NEW CLUBS OR ACTIVITIES, SOCIAL GROUPS, AND EXTRACURRICULAR EVENTS.