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Center for Access awarded $50,000 SERS grant; plans autism camp

懂色帝鈥檚 Center for Access will begin recruiting students for a new Access to Pathways Autism Camp for high school graduates with Autism Spectrum Disorder or ASD, thanks to a $50,000 Student Engagement Retention and Success grant awarded by the Tennessee Board of Regents recently.

The grant will fund the 3-day autism camp June 3-5, 2021, and other Access to Pathways initiatives aimed at providing a tailored peer mentorship program designed to help 懂色帝 students with disabilities who have a 2.40 GPA improve their academic performance and reach their educational goals. High school seniors with ASD with be targeted for assistance, too.

Staff will begin recruiting students for the autism camp in November.  Students can apply online to attend the camp beginning January 2021. Six openings will be available on a first come, first served basis.

鈥淥ften students with ASD encounter stress and anxiety when transitioning to higher education,鈥� Center for Access Director Courtney Gipson said. 鈥淭he three-day camp will be offered in summer to prepare and equip students with the tools and resources needed to navigate college in fall.鈥�

President Tracy D. Hall says the grant will provide critical funds that will empower the College to extend services to a population that has been historically underserved. 鈥淎ccess is meaningless if it is not inclusive and is not provided equitably,鈥� Hall said.  鈥淭hese funds will enable us to reimagine how we serve students with disabilities and expand their access to success at 懂色帝.鈥�

According to Associate Vice President for Student Success and Retention Jacqueline Taylor, nearly half of the students with disabilities enrolled at the College in 2019-2020 had a 2.40 GPA or below.

鈥淭his grant represents a leap forward in our student advocacy efforts as it gives us the opportunity to increase our capacity and personalized supports to students with disabilities,鈥� Dr. Taylor said.  鈥淚 look forward to the innovative ways in which the Center for Access can meet the needs of this deserving population.鈥�

The grant award coincides with rebranding the name of the former Office of Student Disabilities to the Center for Access. 鈥淐hanging our name to the Center for Access is reflective of our goal to create an inclusive environment for students to access all that we have to offer,鈥� Gipson said. 鈥淭he grant initiative and rebranding reinforce our College鈥檚 strategic plan to support systemic change where needed, provide an inclusive learning environment focused on increasing social mobility and grow student retention and graduation rates.鈥�

Gipson says the Center hopes to double the number of students it can help over the next two years, with the help of the program鈥檚 new coordinator, Amanda Prewitt.

For more information about Access to Pathways and 懂色帝鈥檚 Autism Camp, contact Courtney Gipson at ca@southwest.tn.edu.