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The Clinical Center Achieve Program is an academic support program for college students with learning disabilities and/or attention deficit disorders who are enrolled at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. The Program is self-supportive and participation is voluntary and confidential.  The Program is an institutional part of the University, but separate from the University's Disability Support Services office.  We are a partial cost recovery program, and as such, charge fees for the comprehensive services we provide.

Students in the Achieve Program are included in the regular college curricula and campus life. Support services offered to all full time members on an unlimited, as needed basis include:  1) individual tutoring; 2) notes provided by hired notetakers; 3) test proctoring, including extended time, private rooms, readers and scribes (if necessary); 4) audiobooks in a variety of formats; 5) remediation; 6) developmental writing assistance (staff providing in depth writing training to meet the core curriculum requirements); 7) an Organizational Group to meet the needs of students for whom time management, organization and planning are deficit areas; 8) access to a private, modern computer lab with assistive technology; 9) LD specialists on staff, who supervise and advocate for students; 10) an Achieve Program section of University 101, a three credit hour class to help a student's transition to University life.  The Achieve Program offers full time support for students during the regular school year, and more flexible, but more limited support for students enrolled in the summer semester.  

Achieve members are matched to tutors on the basis of mutual academic strengths/weaknesses and individual course selections. Not only are individual tutors provided, but also general studies tutors are provided at the Achieve Program offices for students on a sign-in basis. There are no limits on the amount of time students can spend working with their tutors. We employ both peer and professional tutors.  Peer tutors are hired from the university student population. We focus on hiring those students finishing their degrees.  Professional tutors include Achieve Program full-time staff, and students completing their Master's or Doctoral degrees. Training sessions designed to improve the tutors' teaching skills are provided throughout the term of their employment. Feedback mechanisms built into the Program allow tutors to communicate their students' progress and concerns to staff.

The Achieve Program hires and assigns notetakers to go into classes and take notes for members, or will transcribe tape recordings of the lecture materials for classes in which notetakers are not placed.

Test Proctoring

Achieve members are given the opportunity to take their exams with a test proctor. Proctored exams may be administered with extended time, a reader, and/or a writer, if necessary. The Achieve Program provides a quiet, comfortable, controlled environment for students to take their exams.

Audiobooks

We provide audiobooks by hiring readers, recording their sessions in a digital format with state of the art machinery, and then downloading and converting the files in a variety of formats for a student's use.  Students can use their mp3 device, iPod, or flash memory stick to download recordings.  Audiobooks can also be copied to a CD for a student.  In addition, we currently have an existing taped library of approximately 400 SIUC specific textbooks.  As each semester passes, more of our taped library will be replaced with our digital library.

Remedial instruction is available for those students wishing to improve deficit areas. Remedial courses include: reading comprehension strategies; notetaking/listening skills; math remediation; organization and time management assistance. Recommendations for remediation are based on the results of the Achieve evaluation, and participation in remediation varies from semester to semester depending on the students' schedules and course loads.

Developmental Writing is taught individually with at risk students before they begin the university English courses.  This instruction is designed to prepare the student for the demands of the core curriculum at the University.

Students for whom time management and organization present the greatest difficulties are selected for Achieve's Organizational Group.  The group provides organizational materials, directed instruction, peer interaction, and feedback in organizational and time management techniques.  The group also  tracks follow-though and implementation of these strategies.

Instruction is provided to those students who will benefit from using voice recognition software. The Computer Lab also provides members access to new IBM-compatible and Macintosh computers, Internet, E-mail, scanners, and high quality color printers. The Computer Lab is staffed extended hours by personnel who know the technology, and can provide tutorial help for members, as well. The Lab is for Achieve members only. There are no time limits on computer use for members.

Achieve members are individually assigned to graduate student supervisors, who monitor their progress and intervenes/counsels when problems arise. The graduate supervisors can act as mentors and advocates for the students, and often become friends, too. The graduate supervisors and other full time staff provide an atmosphere of understanding and support for students in the Achieve Program.

Members can speak to career counselors as they progress in their degree programs, and receive instruction in resume writing and training to hone interview skills. They can also take interest surveys and assessments to provide information on the jobs available to people in their degree programs.

University 101

New students can enroll in Achieve-members-only sections of a course called University 101, The New Student Seminar. This course is a for-credit university course taught by Achieve staff, which can help students survive the transition from high school to the university environment. Members and staff are able to discuss issues that can affect students with learning disabilities in this forum without violating our members' confidentiality.

The Achieve Program Staff determines a student's eligibility for Achieve through our own testing and interview process. To be eligible for the Achieve program, a student must complete the following steps and qualify in these areas:

1. Complete regular admissions procedures to the University, as do all other students.

2. Complete a separate application to the Achieve Program.

3. Have a current diagnosis of a learning disability or ADHD as the primary disability, or a         likelihood of such a diagnosis based on current data.

4. Have an IQ commensurate with college achievement.

5. Complete two full days of diagnostic testing at the SIUC Clinical Center. The dates are      scheduled by the Program based on the date of application.

6. Demonstrate appropriate social/emotional maturity during the interview and throughout      the two days of diagnostic assessment.

Achieve students are enrolled in regular college courses. They receive degrees in a variety of areas, and they are never restricted as to course offerings/selections because of their learning disabilities. They are enrolled as full-time students but at first are restricted to 12 semester hours. Later, as they become more accustomed to college, they may enroll in more semester hours.

Prospective students are tested extensively through our diagnostic evaluation. This evaluation determines: a) what areas are strongest for learning, b) whether or not he/she has developed appropriate strategies for learning, c) if visual memory to motor deficits interfere with writing, and d) if auditory processing problems complicate learning, academic achievement, etc. In addition to determining academic/processing strengths and weaknesses, the Achieve Staff considers and discusses social/emotional growth as well. Those students who lack the social/emotional maturity to adjust to college life will be offered suggestions for alternative placements and/or delayed entry in the Achieve Program. Test results are never revealed to anyone without the written permission of the student. When an evaluation reveals specific areas of abilities and problem areas, specific remediation methods and techniques are planned for that student.

Application to the Achieve Program may be made any time a student voices interest in the Program.  However, applicants should be encouraged to apply within a year of their anticipated date of admission to the University.  Some students apply as early as their sophomore or junior years in high school.  Admission is on a first come, first served basis.

Admission to the University and to the Achieve program is separate. University application may be made by submitting a completed application form, ACT scores and six semesters of high school transcripts. Application to the Achieve program may be made by submitting completed Achieve application forms, a $50.00 application fee and documentation of a learning disability based on a previous psychoeducational evaluation.

Achieve is in place to provide comrehensive support that exceeds the madate of law.  We operate as a not-for-profit partial cost recovery program at the University.  As a permanent University program, Achieve is provided with space, heat, lights, etc from the University; the fees charged to Achieve students represent a recovery of direct service costs. The Program makes no profit from these charges, nor does the University. Below is a fee schedule of current Achieve costs and a sequence of acceptance or rejection. The Achieve Program application fee and evaluation fee are not refundable; fees for services are refundable anytime prior to the beginning of the semester.

    Application Fee:                   $50.00
    Diagnostic Fee:                $1000.00
    Full Time Support:           $2800.00/semester

Full time support includes, as appropriate and applicable, all of the services described in the previous section, including 1) individual tutoring; 2) notetakers; 3) test proctoring; 4) audiobooks; 5) remediation; 6) developmental writing assistance; 7) an Organizational Group; 8) a computer lab; 9) LD specialists on staff; 10) University 101.

After our students' first year of support with the Achieve Program, they are eligible to continue with full time support, or they can choose to use part time support.  Part time support allows students to choose from several different service plans tailored specifically to meet their needs.  These plans allow a student to choose a smaller array of services at a reduced cost.  

Part  Time Support:          $2200.00/semester

As our students begin their third year of support (or beyond), they are eligible to choose from full time support, part time support, or individual class support.  This even more specialized tier of service allows students well into their college career to choose specific services for individual classes, at a greatly reduced cost.

It is important to note that although Achieve represents a significant increase in cost for  a student, we are considered an educational expense for financial aid purposes.  There are outside funding sources available to defray our cost, including Federal Financial Aid, and the Department of Human Services Division of Rehabilitation Services.  Educational costs including transportation, special services, etc., are currently deductible from your income tax.  

We invite you to visit Achieve and compare it to any other support program in the country. We think you will agree that our fee represents the minimum cost to provide the most comprehensive services that are available at a public university.

1. Student or parent requests information about Achieve.

2. Case Information Form, Professional Reference Form, Records Disclosure Consent            Form, general University information, and Program description are mailed by request or      received online.

3. Student returns forms to Achieve office with $50.00 application fee and a copy of any          available previous test results (psychoeducational evaluation).

4. Student's completed file is reviewed and if the student appears to be an appropriate              candidate for the Achieve Program, he/she is placed on a list specifying his/her place in      line for testing dates.  We only move to this point of the application process if we feel              confident that the student will be accepted into the Program.

5. Student is offered testing dates.

6. Student verifies testing dates with the Achieve office. A $1000.00 evaluation fee is due          two weeks prior to the evaluation.

7. Student and parent(s) meet with an Achieve staff member for a personal interview. The          student completes two days of diagnostic testing at the Achieve Program.

8. The staff evaluates the results of the diagnostic evaluation, previous academic records,      and social/emotional maturity the week following testing. During this staff meeting, we          make our final decision regarding the student's acceptance into or rejection from the              Achieve Program.  Although it is very rare, there have been times during the diagnostic          evaluation that we have discovered information which makes us question whether we          are the appropriate service provider for a student. If a student is rejected from the                  Program, the student is offered recommendations and alternative suggestions for                  placement. 

The student must make a separate application to the University. University applications may be obtained by calling the SIUC Office of Admissions and Records at (618) 453-4381, or online at the link below. At no time during the process of applying to the University is the student required to identify himself/herself as having a learning disability. Although a student may be rejected by the University because of poor ACT scores or a low class rank, he/she may still be an appropriate candidate for the Achieve Program. When a student is an appropriate candidate for Achieve, but does not meet the University's criteria for admission, the Achieve Program will make the recommendation to the Office of Admissions and Records to accept that student as a regular admissions student utilizing the Achieve Program.  Achieve staff will share information with other University offices only with written authorization to do so from the student and/or the student's parents.